[Brucemck]

A "dumb" question ...

To save me some trial and error time ...

If the soundstage image is shifted a bit to the right, do I shift the right speaker to aim a bit more in (towards ears), or out? 

If the image is shifted to the right, can I address it by shifting the left speaker out?

I already know that to make a soundstage "tighter" you aim both in a bit more, and to make it more "expansive" you aim both out a bit more.

Thanks.

[Big Red Machine]

I vote out.  If you have some blue painter's tape, mark the presnt locations of the feet or outline of the speaker, so you can use that as a reference when you move the speaker.  SOme of us at times have multiple locations marked out all the time.

[BobM]

It's fun, looking through those old posts, to see some familiar names that are still hanging around, and a few others that are gone (one way or another). Those were the good old days ... no wait, these are the good old days ... oh Damn, I'm old either way. 

 

Bob

[Wind Chaser]

I'd pull the left speaker forward.

[Stu Pitt]

My soundstage is shifted a bit to the right.  My situation is due to the shape of the room.  The balance control works far better than anything else I've tried.  Its been the only thing that didn't have any obvious trade offs.  Everyone's room and system is different, and nothing will work in every situation.  The best thing is trial and error.  Marking speaker positions is will help out a lot when moving speakers around.

As stupid as it sounds, some cables have caused my soundstage to shift, and some pre-amps have as well.  If the channels aren't prefectly matched volume-wise or if the cables sit on opposite ends of their manufacturing tolerances, and inbalance can occur.  Most of the time its due to room acoustics and speaker placement, and not the equipment.

One other thing...  Have you tried moving your seat?

[ted_b]

I use a laser level and make sure the toe-in/out is symmetrical (lay laser levl on inside edge of speaker and have horizontal yardstick set up in line with listening chair) , as well as their position in the room.  Rather than toe-in angles I agree that absolute speaker positioning is first in order.  Make sure they are symmetrical as they can be (same side wall, same front wall measurements) and then measure them from the listening chair.  A few inches will pull the image one way or the other.  i also agree that room issues can affect image balance (one side of room has a reflecting wall angle that other side doesn't, etc.).  I love preamps with balance controls, although my prized LS 36.5 doesn't....

[BobM]

I had a problem in my room also, because I have a wall to my right but an open room to my left. I got some GIK panels for the 1st reflection points, hanging one on the right reflection point, and using the other as a kind of fake wall to the left. That locked things dead on center.

Once you position your speakers correctly you may want to investigate treatments. They do work!

Enjoy,
Bob

[ted_b]

Bruce,
Post a picture of the room/speakers if you can.

[Imperial]

Make sure that the bolts that hold the drivers have the very same torq...
If they are tightened differently, sometimes the whole soundstage can "wander" a bit.

Get yourself a torq wrench. That is a very handy tool to have, for dialing in a set of speakers.

Imperial

[satfrat]

You could simply give the left speaker a little more DB from the speaker calibration settings. The problem could be room related and I'd rather have my speakers correctly positioned and use the speaker calibration setting than to start reajusting speaker placement. I in fact have my right main loudspeaker set 1 db higher than my left which is probably because I have a huge recliner planted in front of that right speaker.

Cheers,
Robin

[ted_b]

Robin,
If he's using a standard analog stereo preamp he doesn't have speaker calibration capabilities.  Balance control would do the same (relatively) but so few preamps have balance controls, as stated earlier.

[Folsom]

I think a lot of you are spot on. It has a lot more to do with the room than anything else. There is some equipment that will reveal this more... or less... I find the differences get smaller the better the stuff you have as the drive, presentation, is so much stronger.

Do room corrections or get a DCX2496 (whatever the code is). I have OB speakers so I have to pull them way out from my huge tall subwoofers to get the correct room so one side is not loading in bad ways that make it quiet. I also have to keep the vent near it closed.

[satfrat]

Robin,
If he's using a standard analog stereo preamp he doesn't have speaker calibration capabilities.  Balance control would do the same (relatively) but so few preamps have balance controls, as stated earlier.

Hea but I don't think the Meridian 861v4 processor is a standard stereo preamp and I was assuming he's using this so I using my own experience with my Sunfire processor as an example. Looking closer at his system now, he's probably got 2 systems so my advise is probably a moot point.

Cheers,
Robin

[ted_b]

Robin,
If he's using a standard analog stereo preamp he doesn't have speaker calibration capabilities.  Balance control would do the same (relatively) but so few preamps have balance controls, as stated earlier.

Hea but I don't think the Meridian 861v4 processor is a standard stereo preamp and I was assuming he's using this so I using my own experience with my Sunfire processor as an example. Looking closer at his system now, he's probably got 2 systems so my advise is probably a moot point.

Cheers,
Robin

\

Ah, good point.  I didn't bother looking at his system.  Heck, the DEQX ought to be able to fix the balance issue electronically.

[Folsom]

You will always be off with better room treatment. I mean the less things the signal goes through the less coloration or worse things...

Although sometimes rooms are too much to deal with, with certain speakers, and a DEQX2496 thing is the ticket.

[ted_b]

You will always be off with better room treatment. I mean the less things the signal goes through the less coloration or worse things...

Although sometimes rooms are too much to deal with, with certain speakers, and a DEQX2496 thing is the ticket.

I'm not recommending he add it...he already uses it.  Yes, room treatment is no.1, as we've all told the Op since the first response.  I'm addicted to room treatment (see gallery) 

[richidoo]

Soft furniture close to the line from tweet/mid to listener will skew the image toward the furniture. If that's the cause in your case, you can remove the cushy chair, or get another one for the other side. Maybe cover it in clear vinyl?  Changing the speaker angle or position away from symmetry will cause more problems than cure.