Yes I moved them away from the front wall until the bass became thin and the highs and mids were too prominent. Then I moved them towards the wall until the bass became too big and lacking detail. I started moving away from wall until the bass notes became big, powerful and well defined. When I thought I was close I started to move the speakers away from the side walls then back towards the barrier/wall until the sound was being reinforced to my liking. Then I played with toe in, including having the tweeters cross in front of me. I found what I liked after some tweaking in very small increments.
You're sitting where the couch and chair were and there is an enclosed stairway rising from the floor behind your right into the ceiling to the left, am I remembering correctly?

samhar December 02, 2011 02:51

I think I'm saying the same thing Kevinzoe is sonically. I have rear firing ports also so I started with position related to the front wall and approximated side wall distance and toe in from past experience to start. I used "Solar Energy" to find the bass I liked stand up bass is great for this.

samhar December 01, 2011 02:56

Kevinzoe nice articulation of the situation!! If you mostly listen to TT use it and not the CD player to tune, there is a difference, I was using CD's and had problems when my listening became 98% vinyl so now I don't bother or want to use CD!

samhar November 30, 2011 15:52

Should be "start moving away from front wall..."

samhar November 29, 2011 15:47

You might be defeating what you have gained with the wood!! I would first try more inward cant of the speakers in small increments all the way to crossing the tweeters firing line in front of you. Now return the speaker to their original position. Start moving away from the side wall in 1/2" steps, can fine tune with small steps later, keep moving to hear what's being reinforced by side wall. Again put the speakers back to original position and start moving away from back wall until bass is lacking then start moving towards front wall until bass becomes mushy then start moving away until you get a well defined strong bass. All these adjustments should give you a good feel for what combinations will give the highs you like with full mids and a strong well defined bass. Oh I for got the bass port!!! LOL

samhar November 29, 2011 06:32

Thanks!!! It too is a work in progress!!

"I need to play a bit more with speaker positioning but what I'm hearing is definitely a step in the right direction"

This sounds like something I'd say!!!
Well we both know the work/time behind statements like these. I hope you get as much enjoyment from the struggles/successes as I do.

samhar October 01, 2010 06:39

That must be a big improvement, looks better too!!! Care to comment on the improvements in tone, soundstage and imaging? I have a rack between my speakers and am continually fighting it like you were with the old TV!!!

samhar September 30, 2010 01:18

That's great!!!! I'm glad to hear your finding a solution to a very challenging situation!!

samhar April 24, 2009 15:48

Hi, you were correct about the sound stage snapping into place. I placed med hard egg crate foam in front of the flat screen and upholstery foam behind the system in front of the wood. The soundstage became very defined and vocals became more "human", less strident. I ran Stereophile test disc #1 to check and everything was in the correct position within the soundstage. Thanks for the input!! Sam

samhar October 25, 2008 22:56

Believe me I understand one early morning I did it three times, that's 3 times to the same name!!!!! Thanks for the original response, I'm trying to find a good screen cover material that will cancel the reflection and soften the sound a bit.

Sam

samhar September 07, 2008 21:43

How does the panel in front of the TV change the sound, would you explain the differences in the sound with and without the panel. I have a flat panel between my speakers and have been wondering what a commercial panel will do, thanks.

samhar September 06, 2008 15:59