[Lost81]

How do you tell if your speakers are true (in the horizontal plane) facing out?

I can't use the wall behind the speakers as a reference as the wall is not true (i.e. it bows back slightly).

FWIW, the manual states that my speakers should not be toed-in (it crowds the sound stage).

Thanks!


-Lost81

[Inscrutable]

Lost81,
Can you use a sidewall as reference?  In other words, do you want the face of the speaker perpendicular to the sidewall? And do you have a flat front face/plinth on the speaker?  If so, take a framing square (one of those flat steel 24" x 18" L shaped thingies), and lay at the base of the speaker. Then measure from the sidewall to each end of the leg of the square which is sticking out away from the speaker. If the measurements are identical, then the face is perpendicular.

Or, use a laser pointer taped to the side of the cabinet and shoot to the back wall, or any surface in between. Again, the measure from the sidewall to the bulb should be the same as the sidewall to the laser dot.

[Lost81]

That sounds like a fabulous idea!
Better than my current method of squatting 3 feet from the speakers and eye-balling

Thanks! I will try it out.


-Lost81

[dado5]

Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be.  I suggest that you not  bother with referencing the room walls.  Remember, we all favor one ear more than another (and you will likely have uneven room interactions as well), so identical planar positioning of the speaker may not actually be ideal for best performance.  

In general, begin by positioning the listening chair and the speakers in the room for best bass delivery first (IMO long wall or corner orientation works better in this regard than the more conventional short wall set up). Then settle in to the work of tweaking the listening distances, included angles and toe in for best soundstaging and mid/high frequency performance.  Use your ear and take your time. The goal is the best sound possible within the constraints of your space, not measured precision.

Happy listening,
Rob