Posted by Dan (208.201.224.36) on May 09, 2000 at 18:38:40:
Hello all,
Somebody emailed me recommending the Cardas setup method (sorry, I forgot who). I haven't been tweaking the placement too much, but in any case I sent away to Cardas Audio for a catalog which came with a nice paper detailing the setup method. I recommend getting this, go to the cardas website and sign up. The catalog is pretty wild in its own right.
So I did it. I tried this before, but at the time I don't think I knew about his recommendation for how close to sit. Now my room is 12 ft wide, narrowing to 10 ft about 1/3 the way in the room (old house in the days before the modern "big room" houses). I computed all the values assuming a 10 ft wide room. This places the speakers out further into the room than I would like unfortunately. Now the key part that I didn't see before when I got the instructions from his web site is that you sit as close to each speaker, as they are far apart. The speakers are about 5 ft apart, which means I'm 5 ft from the center of each. This is pretty close!
So what, how does it sound? It sounds really good! The best two channel effect I've gotten in this room yet. Details went up, volume went down. An effect of this of course is it sounds louder without stressing the amp. Now Cardas suggests 1/4 to 1/2 inch toe-in, more for box speakers. I found however, with stereo recordings and a center soloist (Jascha Heifetz for example) that his different strings would apparantly come from the two channels. So his violin is way too wide. About an inch or two of toe in corrects for this and integrates better.
Side panels are needed to keep the balance correct, I have the tweeters inside now, they might be better on the outside. The best part is that the music is more spacious, and more intimate. You feel much more like you are there in the concert hall. Its taking some getting used to however, being this close to two big panels. I mentioned details, now I hear so many of them its amazing. Accidental finger brushings against strings, different strings! Each string on Heifetz's bow has its own character, just like they do when you sit close to a violinist.
I tentatively recommend this placement, I like it very much and will know better how much I like it after some more time. Go to the Cardas site and put your name down for a catalog. The placement brochure is well worth it. Or just read the instructions off the web page, and make sure you sit close to them.
-Dan