JRSBat
Well-Known Member
When I set mine up for the first time I followed the instructions - had each speaker pointed directly at me. After a lot of moving around they now have very little toe-in. The location is not a perfect triangle either. I have them further apart than the distance from my head to the speaker. In my room that gives me a broad sound stage with no loss of center stage. It's fun to hear vocals and instruments coming from outside of the speaker footprint.
I've read Focal reviews and discussions giving all sorts of toe-in variations. Some advise pointing them directly at you to experience the full effect of the tweeters. Others advise very little to no toe-in. A few people suggested having them directly face you then rotate them out just enough to glimpse the inner sides of the speakers.
It seems the final answer depends a lot on the room acoustics and the listener.
Whoops - ignore what I said about my latest speaker positioning. I have been so involved with work lately (very foggy brain) I forgot the last iteration of changes I made.
It turns out I am in the "glimpse the inner sides of the speakers" group. I guestimate the speakers are toed-in about 18 degrees - big difference from your set up. Possible reasons for the difference:
- My set up is along the longer side wall and towards one end of the room. I don't get even dispersion throughout the room.
- I keep the speakers further apart than the distance from the speakers to my seat. If I toe them out too much I lose the center. It then just sounds like two speakers instead of one soundstage.
- Very old ears - probably need a more direct hit from the tweeters.