[Rclark]

As a former conductor, I was given to nearfield listening; not from the podium but rather row four center. In my home office I listen from about six feet. My speaker array is made up of several small speaker pairs which are selectable and work with a JBL sub woofer and work quite well for my taste. I have, for instance, pairings for Mozart and different ones for Beethoven and yet other pairings for jazz etc. I find this excellent for my listening.

Which speakers do you use? And do you have pictures of this arrangement?

[HsvHeelFan]

nice post - that is exactly the metaphor I had been going to propose. A sea of sound. I always sit on the floor of my local symphony hall (Roy Thompson-Toronto - a pig's ear of a hall, but that's what we've got) and often right at the front, row 2 or 3, opposite the cellos. Sitting further back does give the best overall sound in the hall, but there is something visceral about the closer seating positon - expecially with a piece like a Shostakovich symphony. Pretty much unreproducible at home I think sadly - and of course, not ever recorded from that perspective.

Occasionally, we'll let guests (most likely donors) sit on stage with the Orchestra during rehearsals.  Ask the Symphony office if that's possible for you.  I'm sure you would get a totally different perspective of what it sounds like.

Next up for the Orchestra here is Strauss's Also Sprach Zarathustra and Orff's Carmina Burana.

HsvHeelFan

[JohnR]

I get closer every day (seriously).

[hesson11]

As a former conductor, I was given to nearfield listening; not from the podium but rather row four center. In my home office I listen from about six feet. My speaker array is made up of several small speaker pairs which are selectable and work with a JBL sub woofer and work quite well for my taste. I have, for instance, pairings for Mozart and different ones for Beethoven and yet other pairings for jazz etc. I find this excellent for my listening.

I, too, would like to know more about your setup, what speakers you use and how you have them set up, if you'd be so kind, Maestro! Thanks.
-Bob

[jimdgoulding]

In a 12' wide room, I listen at 62" with my standmount monitor speakers in an equilateral triangle. 

[JLM]

Cardas prescribed room shape and speaker/listener set up:

Room is 8 ft x 13 ft x 21 ft

Nearfield set up is 68 inch equalateral triangle.

[no1maestro]

First, I'm sorry to be so late getting back to you folks; I didn't realize the questions were on a second set of pages.

I am using a Luxman R-1040 receiver to power all the sets of speakers through an Adcom speaker switcher. The speakers consist of pairs of Velodyne, small Bostons, NHT Ones, Optimus Pro44s and Polk Minis as well as a B&W center channel.