Custom 1.7 stands and moved 20cm...

[Direct Drive]

A month or so ago I made some custom stands for my 1.7s out of leftover kitchen butcher block worksurface and broom handles.
I had been using Midas stands which I had bought in the 1980s for SMGa. They were great because they lifted the speakers off the floor, but did not help with rigidity.
Also I wanted to make a smaller footprint.

Transformation. I can't believe the difference. Tighter, more focus, imaging and bass improvement.

Anyway yesterday I decided to play with Cardas speaker placement calculator which has a specific calculator for planar speakers. It resulted in moving the speakers back to the front wall by 20cm. Again quite a staggering positive change in the bass. Cardas Speaker Placement Calculator

 

[christoph]

Congrats and thanks for the link to the calculator.
Your selfbuilt stands look very stable and well made for the "cheap" ingredients you used
I quickly measured the room and placement of my Apogee system that I setup by listening and guess what, I ended up within centimeters at the same position the calculator spit out
Do you think I should try it also to the absolutely exact numbers?

Does this Cardas method also say where your listening seat should be positioned?

 

[Direct Drive]

Does this Cardas method also say where your listening seat should be positioned?

Christoph, thanks for your kind words.
Unfortunately it doesn't say where the ideal listening position is. I have moved my seat forward slightly to experiment.

Do you think I should try it also to the absolutely exact numbers

That is what I did. Mine were 1.53 m from wall, Cards recommended 1.33m...hey presto.

 

[christoph]

Cardas says 1.48m and mine are out 1.43m so I guess I can't be arsed to move them out only 5 cm more
Do you implement some toe-in?

How far is your listening chair from the speakers plane and from the back wall?

PS: you have some very interesting and very rare old japanese DDs along with the nice Garrard and Thorens idlers. Very impressive collection

 

[Direct Drive]

you implement some toe-in?

Yes, only slightly with tweeters on outside.

How far is your listening chair from the speakers plane and from the back wall?

About 65cm at present. Seems to work which is against popular convention.

PS: you have some very interesting and very rare old japanese DDs along with the nice Garrard and Thorens idlers. Very impressive collection

Many thanks. Far bit more either tucked away or on loan. I THINK I have 3 or 4 other pairs of Maggie's hidden in their boxes....just can't help myself.

 

[christoph]

Yes, only slightly with tweeters on outside.



About 65cm at present. Seems to work which is against popular convention.


Many thanks. Far bit more either tucked away or on loan. I THINK I have 3 or 4 other pairs of Maggie's hidden in their boxes....just can't help myself.

I'm a bit of a hoarder myself