Laser speaker aligment tool?

Rob Babcock · « **on:** 9 Nov 2006, 05:38 am »

I remember once seeing a really need laser tool for aligning speakers- seems like it stuck onto the front baffle. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? If so, can anyone link me or steer me to a place I can get one?

bubba966 · « **Reply #1 on:** 9 Nov 2006, 06:48 am »

I bought a speaker alignment laser from M&K a few years ago. Works great, have used it many, many times. Not sure if they still sell it or not.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #2 on:** 9 Nov 2006, 07:07 am »

I've read about that online but I've never found one. Is this essestially what you have?

jeffreybehr · « **Reply #3 on:** 9 Nov 2006, 07:47 am »

This http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/a/ab/robo/rt-7610-5.htm?L+coastest+zvsv2987ffd125d1+1163152289 may be useful. When Sean Casey of Zu came to town this year for one of our Club meetings, he had a couple nifty tools that helped align things. I've just asked him exactly what he has, and I'll pass the info along.

I know that the linked tool would be very handy to sqaure speakers with seating positions, etc.

bubba966 · « **Reply #4 on:** 9 Nov 2006, 08:06 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock on 9 Nov 2006, 07:07 am

I've read about that online but I've never found one. Is this essestially what you have?

Yup, that's exactly the same model I have. With the exception of mine being red instead of blue and mine's got a fancy looking Miller & Kriesel logo on it as well.

Oh, and mine was $89.95 from M&K...

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #5 on:** 9 Nov 2006, 08:37 am »

Quote from: bubba966 on 9 Nov 2006, 08:06 am

Quote from: Rob Babcock on 9 Nov 2006, 07:07 am
I've read about that online but I've never found one. Is this essestially what you have?

Yup, that's exactly the same model I have. With the exception of mine being red instead of blue and mine's got a fancy looking Miller & Kriesel logo on it as well.

Oh, and mine was $89.95 from M&K...

Looks like inflation has run it up a ways. Still not bad @ $150. Thanks to all you guys for the info.

John Casler · « **Reply #6 on:** 9 Nov 2006, 09:15 am »

If you want to save money simply attach a pair of "mirrors" to the front of your speaker.

Sit in the sweet spot and adjust each speaker until you can see each ear in the appropriate mirror.

Cost about 69 cents each.

BobRex · « **Reply #7 on:** 9 Nov 2006, 03:02 pm »

If you really want a laser, just go to Sears and buy their $30 laser level. It comes with a levelling base and projects either a vertical or horizontal line. I found aligning cabinets using a line instead of a point is more accurate.

TomS · « **Reply #8 on:** 9 Nov 2006, 03:10 pm »

Sears, Lowe's, Home Depot - they all work great and simple ones are all less than $50 now.

Daygloworange · « **Reply #9 on:** 9 Nov 2006, 03:13 pm »

Quote

If you want to save money simply attach a pair of "mirrors" to the front of your speaker.

Sit in the sweet spot and adjust each speaker until you can see each ear in the appropriate mirror.

Cost about 69 cents each.

Hey, I like that.

Don't know if it'll work for Vincent Van Gogh though....

Cheers

Carlman · « **Reply #10 on:** 9 Nov 2006, 07:22 pm »

Are you trying to align the height of each speaker?

I use a laser-measuring device (this one) to point my speakers to a spot at the center of my listening position to within a mm of each other. When I do that, the imaging and overall experience improves SIGNIFICANTLY compared to 'eyeballing' it...

-C

John Casler · « **Reply #11 on:** 9 Nov 2006, 07:46 pm »

Quote from: Daygloworange on 9 Nov 2006, 03:13 pm

Quote
If you want to save money simply attach a pair of "mirrors" to the front of your speaker.

Sit in the sweet spot and adjust each speaker until you can see each ear in the appropriate mirror.

Cost about 69 cents each.

Hey, I like that.

Don't know if it'll work for Vincent Van Gogh though....

Cheers

I don't think anything will work for Vincent

Daygloworange · « **Reply #12 on:** 9 Nov 2006, 09:10 pm »

Quote

I don't think anything will work for Vincent

Poor bugger...

Cheers

Brucemck · « **Reply #13 on:** 9 Nov 2006, 11:35 pm »

How do you "attach" these levels, or, how do you ensure they're aligned with the center line of the speaker in question?

I've got Salk HT2s. There is no "center line" on the top of the speaker, so there's no way to ensure that the laser is pointed the exact same direction as the speaker?

Thanks

DSK · « **Reply #14 on:** 10 Nov 2006, 12:00 am »

Quote from: Brucemck on 9 Nov 2006, 11:35 pm

How do you "attach" these levels, or, how do you ensure they're aligned with the center line of the speaker in question?

I've got Salk HT2s. There is no "center line" on the top of the speaker, so there's no way to ensure that the laser is pointed the exact same direction as the speaker?

Thanks

I guess you could use a ruler and temporarily mark the centreline (at front and back of speaker top) with sticky Post-It notes.

mgalusha · « **Reply #15 on:** 10 Nov 2006, 04:26 am »

Quote from: Brucemck on 9 Nov 2006, 11:35 pm

How do you "attach" these levels, or, how do you ensure they're aligned with the center line of the speaker in question?

I just hold the laser against the side of the speaker. I put a strip of 2" wide masking tape along the wall behind my listening chair and then mark the center of the tape and place lines at 1" increments going out from the center. You can compensate for holding the level on the side of the speaker pretty easily this way and having a target with various toe in angles makes it very easy to experiment with accuracy. You can of course use smaller increments, depending on how small of toe changes you want to make.

mike

jeffreybehr · « **Reply #16 on:** 10 Nov 2006, 05:29 am »

Here's the one that Sean Casey of Zu recommends and apparently uses.

http://www.amazon.com/STRAIT-LINE-6041300CD-Intersect-Laser-Level/dp/B0002VM7NA

Only $35 delivered. I'll have one in a few days.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #17 on:** 10 Nov 2006, 06:50 am »

I have a laser level, but it swivels- makes it hard to get it square with the cab fronts. I want it not to level them but to aim them. You're idea is good, John C, but I want to be able to do all 5 speakers, not super practical with that method.

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #18 on:** 12 Nov 2006, 08:41 pm »

I use a combination ruler/level/scredriver from Rat Shack and a triangular builder's square.

ted_b · « **Reply #19 on:** 12 Nov 2006, 09:36 pm »

I use an inexpensive 16" laser level ruler (Amazon has the Emerson for $30). I simply put the ruler flat against each side of the speaker and align to a spot on the seating area (depends on toe-in, etc.) I usually toe-in to cross in front of me, so I sit a flashlight down on the front of the sofa where the center point of my listening position would be, then align the inner sidewall of each speaker to point the laser directly at the flashlight's front lens. It takes 30 seconds and, as one already pointed out, makes a SIGNIFICANT impact. The alser ruler also has an adapter that changes he point to a line source, and can be used to level (i.e lay it on the top of a level speaker, assuming the top is flat, of course). However, I simply now use a bubble level for that purpose (my Sason's have three adjustable spike points).