[John B]

Just thought I'd share some rookie VMPS speaker tuning adventures with everyone.  Biggest lesson learned so far, the pots are your friend    My first impression of the 626R's, which I've had for a little over a week, was that sonically things were leaning to the left, and the imaging was off.   I tried different speaker placement and toe-in but just couldn't get it dialed in to what I was used to with my previous speakers.   Perhaps a bad ribbon panel?  Such was my first diagnosis, which Brian thought was a possibility.   Turns out the problem related to two things, neither having to do with a bad mid-range panel.   The first was my biggest problem of all, and had nothing to do with the speakers themselves.   Tis the bain of my stereo life, my big honk'n RPTV.  In the past I've experimented with putting a blanket over it, but with my Dynaudio speakers the only thing that did was muffle the tonal qualities of the music.    Just for shucks and grins I tried it again with the 626R's....and guess what, my poor imaging snapped into place, and the instruments and vocals took on a heightened clarity and definition.   Still though, I felt the sonics were leaning/emphasized to the left soundstage.   I'd tried many different pot settings previously, but that was before the blanket over the RPTV improved the imaging and tonal definition.  Tonight I discovered my ultimate tuning CD.  Harry Conick Jr. "30".  Whether you're into Connick's music or not I highly recommend this disc for VMPS speaker tuning rookie's like myself     It had just what I needed in solo piano playing, acoustic bass, and vocals; all cleanly placed to where with pot adjustments I could get the tonal characteristics right, and was finally able to zero in the center imaging to where both speakers were clearly equal in sonic output.   I'm not saying I've got it completely nailed, but it's now in the zone where were talking fine tuning, not out of tune, which is basically what I had before tonight.   This reminds me of my first experience tuning a guitar, which I never quite perfected.  I have higher hopes for my abilities with the VMPS speakers, especially with some expert help due for a visit in the a couple of weeks.

[zybar]

Glad to hear it John.

If you like "30", you really should try "She".  It wasn't as big a commercial success as some of his other cd's, but it is still my favorite by HC.  You want to hear bass?  Some of those cuts make it look like the woofers in my 40's are going to launch!

George

[jgubman]

Glad to hear you're doing well tuning your new speakers. I too was shocked by what a big difference throwing a comforter over the RPTV makes!

One CD that really helps tune/place these speakers is the Rives Audio test cd:
http://www.rivesaudio.com/Software%26Measurements/soft_frames.html

in particular, tracks 68 - 70 on this CD play a (very well recorded) track in mono, left only and right only. It also has similar tracks recorded w/ phase inverted.

Highly recommended.

[jonbee]

My 626s didn't fully stabilize until nearly 300 hours! Up to that point, it seemed that the sound got steadily smoother and more relaxed.  I wired mine with .99999 silver/teflon wire and that may have had something to do with the time it took. With that in mind, don't be surprised if  things seem to drift in and out of the "right" zone for some time. Congratulations.

[John B]

If you like "30", you really should try "She".

Zybar,

I have all of Harry Connick Jr's CDs, well almost all, I couldn't quite get into Star Turtle, I did try, but in the end it had to go.   I'm all for an artist trying new things, but that one was a might too out there for my tastes  

[John B]

One CD that really helps tune/place these speakers is the Rives Audio test cd:

jgubman,

Where's my head!  I have that disc!  That should have been one of my first efforts, totally forgot I had it till you brought it up.  Thanks, I'll try those tracks you mentioned.

[John B]

I wired mine with .99999 silver/teflon wire and that may have had something to do with the time it took

I'm using Monster X2 as an interim cord, I've got Grover SR silver reference speaker wire being made for me;  I hear it's a bear to break-in, but once there, it's pure defacto magical.   We shall see