To toe in or not?

halo71

So is it the design of the speaker or what? Some speakers I have now, or had in the past, sound better toed in. While some sounded better sitting straight on. My mains right now are Infinity RSIIIa's. They sound better straight. While my Kef C55's and Monitor 10's sound better (to me) toed in a bit.

Mystery

Really depends on the speakers and room.
Some manufactures specifically mention not to toe-in such as Polk SDA's, Boston A400's etc... while others mention to toe-in and most don't say anything.
Except SDA's, I have to toe-in everything on my left channel due to the weird design of my living room.
I have to put my left speakers way to the left and right front speaker is very close so if I leave them facing front, it's hard to hear from left speaker.
Also, in bedroom, I toe-in so I can listen at low volume.
I have to increase volume little bit if they are not facing me.

kuntasensei

Yeah, I would think that depends on the dispersion pattern of the speaker and the sidewall reflection points of the room itself, if untreated. In my room, I toe in my speakers because they're widely spaced due to my projection screen.

Ultimately, the right position is the one that sounds best.

B Run

I always figured it was the speakers and room in relation to your sitting position. I don't toe in my Rti12's in my theater but in my living room I feel like my Klipsch's image much better with a little toe in.

soundfreak1

Put your left toe in and move it all about, put your right toe out and than begin to shout you do the polkie pokie and turn yourself around!

halo71

Is that what it's all about? :cheesygrin:

mhardy6647

The old "Monitor Series" (5,7,10) - from my perspective - definitely benefit from being toed in (and away from walls and corners).
Other speakers can and will vary. Quad ESL-57s, do best parallel to each other and perpendicular to the listener's line of sight.

soundfreak1

I toe in my RTA 12C'S as well as most all speakers i have owned. Just seems to sound better to me

scottyboy76

halo71 wrote: »

Is that what it's all about? :cheesygrin:

Groan:razz:

scottyboy76

I am no expert on toe in or toe out, but i used to enjoy my speakers more when i was flat toe up.

soundfreak1

scottyboy76 wrote: »

I am no expert on toe in or toe out, but i used to enjoy my speakers more when i was flat toe up.

Are you sure it was the "speakers " you were enjoying? Think not! LOL

steveinaz

I have never cared for speakers aimed right at me; If the center of my couch is the sweetspot, I prefer the speakers aimed at each end of the couch. I believe it's a personal preference and stereo seperation thing.

My speakers are 8ft apart, and the primary listening spot is 9ft back from the front baffles, and use about 1" of toe-in.

Face

As stated above, it depends on the speakers and room. But, the further speakers are toed in, the less you're listening to room reflections and the larger the sweet spot.

amgala

The Dolby speaker placement guide also shows toed-in rear speakers

http://www.dolby.com/us/en/consumer/setup/connection-guide/home-theater-speaker-guide/index.html

kuntasensei

steveinaz wrote: »

I have never cared for speakers aimed right at me; If the center of my couch is the sweetspot, I prefer the speakers aimed at each end of the couch. I believe it's a personal preference and stereo seperation thing.

I agree. Mine are toed in so the center axis of the mains is about a foot to either side of my main listening position, since that gives me the best imaging. The rest of the people in my room when I have people over? Well, they can suck it! :razz:

@arbiter

design of the room, acoustics of the room and acoustics of the speaker are a big factor. also using built in eq or manual are determining factors. if you're looking for the best imaging, especially with eq software, toed in is probably better in most situations. i have a friend though who doesn't really care for audyssey or any other eq enhancements and actually has his bookshelf speakers on stands toed out a little, the right a little bit more because of an angled on that side. the center is also in the most unideal position, basically floor level inside his entertainment center. sounds really good for music, and it gets the job done for movies.

hochpt21

I aim the tweeter of my 15's about a foot directly behind by head. If the tweeters were guns they would just miss my ears on both sides.