Laser, Tape, Sharpie. Aiming my A9's

Inspector 24

Sunday afternoon. What to do. I know! Play with the rig!

After a friend noticed the center image moved around a bit, namely vocals as the singers pitch changed. He noticed it was more solid if he sat ~ 8" higher which got me thinking. I've got my speakers laid back as far as they will go, what would happen if I leaned them toward the listening position, putting the tweeters more on axis?

Previously I just eyeballed and used a level. This time I got out the blue painters tape, a sharpie and a lazer!

Started with taping the laser to the top of the tower, squaring it and taping the button down.

Using the level, measuring down from the tweeter, and transferring that to the masking tape on a spare sound panel. A little sharpie work, adjustment of the spikes and a slight toe adjustment on the left speaker and and there's where the tweeter is aiming.

The end result after doing both sides, and roughly marking where my ears go, we can see how much toe out I've got and that the tweeters are now pointing level with my ears. I also did this for the center channel. While it only gets used for movies, It can't hurt. Fortunately the end table I'm using (looking for a good stand) has adjustable feet. Now all that's left is to level the speakers and listen.

End result was subtly noticeable. While vocals have always been locked on center, seemingly coming from the center channel making the left and right disappear, now they are more solid, no wandering when the singer changes pitch. Also, Diana Krall's Piano seems more evenly laid across the front stage, where before the notes would jump around a bit. Definitely worth the effort, now off to do some more listening, still have a few reference albums to go!

specd_out

Thats pretty much what I do. I use a laser line leveler but it accomplishes the same goal.

mantis

I use some of those technics when I calibrate a system. it also depends on the dispersion of the speaker how I point them. Depending on Tweeter height will determine the tilt I put on the cabinet. I always level the speaker side to side but usually never front to back. Thats usually tilted slightly back.
Center channels I like the Tweeter to aim directly at someones nose in the sweet spot. This usually works out very well. I'm also no fan of the center channel being underneath the screen. I like it behind on a micro perf or above hung on the wall. When I have to use a free standing center channel , I like to get it up as high as possible then tilt it upwards to get the best overall sound. I also try to get it to the front of the cabinet so I don't have to deal with first order reflections off the cabinet surface.

Inspector 24

I'm also no fan of the center channel being underneath the screen. I like it behind on a micro perf or above hung on the wall. When I have to use a free standing center channel , I like to get it up as high as possible then tilt it upwards to get the best overall sound. I also try to get it to the front of the cabinet so I don't have to deal with first order reflections off the cabinet surface.

I'd love to be able to do that! Maybe some day when I can build a dedicated room...or house! Fortunately my setup allows me to get the center right below the edge of the screen and didn't take very much tilt to get it pointing just like you said, right at my nose. And doubly agree on those first order reflections, very annoying.

Still liking the results, re-ran Audessy, no big changes, but seemed to apply a more similar equalization than before, but it also set the right channel .5db higher than the left...time to get out the SPL meter! Um...know any good apps for the iPhone?

michael1947

I luv this hobby...so much to work out.

Inspector 24

michael1947 wrote: »

I luv this hobby...so much to work out.

Ha ha yeah right! It gets a little daunting, I'll usually go in spurts of changing a bunch of stuff in a short time period, get annoyed with how pedantic I am about it, go be pedantic about something else for a couple weeks and come back for more.

RamZet

Ha! This is so cool. Im going to have to bust out a laser and do mine the same way.

How are the A9s? They have such a nice finish, does it stop there? I have M70s in my HT setup. I think they sound great but the finish isnt anything to brag about on the M70. Are the A9s just M70s with more bass and awesome cabinets?

Inspector 24

The A9's are gorgeous, more so in person. Pictures do not do them justice. They have a presence a photograph can't capture. Finish quality is very nice to. Not LSiM nice, but from 20' away you might think so!

While I've never heard the M70's I'd say the A9's with proper power would blow them away if driver technology and especially price point are concerned. A9's are around $750ea most places while the M70's are ~$200? However, the more expensive speaker does not always sound better to everyone. I will say that I've been to CES a couple times, spending a day each time at the Venetian tower high end audio rooms and to my ear I've heard a lot worse that cost a lot more than the A9's. I also heard things that made me want to cry. RBH Status 8t for example... That said I continue to be impressed enough with the A9's that I haven't run out and bought something else yet. LSiM is on the short list of things I'd seriously look at as a significant enough upgrade. In the mean time I'll do little tweaks like this to extract all I can from the A9's.

Definitely try laser aiming! Experiment with different aims, crossed in front of you, behind you, combos of leaning forward to leaning back, left-right spacing, spacing from the wall, it's all $Free.99, you've nothing to loose and better sound to gain!

62caddy

Thanks for the tip!

RamZet

Inspector 24 wrote: »

The A9's are gorgeous, more so in person. Pictures do not do them justice. They have a presence a photograph can't capture. Finish quality is very nice to. Not LSiM nice, but from 20' away you might think so!

While I've never heard the M70's I'd say the A9's with proper power would blow them away if driver technology and especially price point are concerned. A9's are around $750ea most places while the M70's are ~$200? However, the more expensive speaker does not always sound better to everyone. I will say that I've been to CES a couple times, spending a day each time at the Venetian tower high end audio rooms and to my ear I've heard a lot worse that cost a lot more than the A9's. I also heard things that made me want to cry. RBH Status 8t for example... That said I continue to be impressed enough with the A9's that I haven't run out and bought something else yet. LSiM is on the short list of things I'd seriously look at as a significant enough upgrade. In the mean time I'll do little tweaks like this to extract all I can from the A9's.

Definitely try laser aiming! Experiment with different aims, crossed in front of you, behind you, combos of leaning forward to leaning back, left-right spacing, spacing from the wall, it's all $Free.99, you've nothing to loose and better sound to gain!

How about that tweeter? Do your ears ever feel fatigued after an hour or so?
The only thing I would replace on the m70s are the tweeters.

I too want LSim speakers. I think at the end of the year I will have to buy myself a pair. I would love to see how they stack up to a pair of CM9s. I have always wanted A9s but for what ever reason I never made the move. They do look awesome.

Inspector 24

RamZet wrote: »

How about that tweeter? Do your ears ever feel fatigued after an hour or so?

To my ear they are a bit fatiguing after a while, and a very in your face speaker. However Audessy rolls off the top end a bit which makes them an absolute pleasure to listen to for as long as I like, gives them a more laid back relaxed sound that I quite enjoy.

Here's what the Marantz SR7002 Audessy had to say about the speakers. I've since applied a couple of my own small tweaks:

RamZet

Ha cool I have the Marantz SR6002 connected to my M70s.

Thanks for the feedback on the A9s

amgala

I'm going to have to get a laser leveler, thanks for the tip!

jaf09

hi yes good ideas, specially since the a 9's are very tall,i have the m70s in my room and the a9s in living, and the 9s are much better in every possible way