SDA-CRS+ placement questions

NeilGabriel

I set up the CRS+ that I retrieved from Stubby's home. The fire damage didn't seem to affect them too much (just kidding). Speakers were in great shape and sounded awesome with Stubby's $5,000 worth of electronics. And he is a great guy.

My set up is this. I have a big screen TV and HT equipment on a stand that is about 4 feet wide. On either side of the TV stand are my Polk 10Bs (about a foot off the ground). I placed the CRS+ on the outside of each Polk (inches apart). For now, I made sure 10Bs were parallel and not in front of the CRS+. I would guess that the CRS+ are about 8 feet apart (space in between). Both speakers are backed up against a paneled concrete wall. The left channel is probably 6 feet from side wall and right channel is about 3 feet from sidewall.

The speakers have a lot more clarity with many instruments. They lack the bottom that the 10Bs have, and the 10Bs which I have listened to for 24 years still have more music going on in the mid and upper mid range (includng vocals). When I switch from 10Bs to CRS+ there is noticeable drop in amount of the mid range and the volume. Maybe this is what some would call muddy since is it not precise like the CRS+. Some CDs and DVDs sounded awesome with the CRS+, others not so much. Some songs seemed really right channel heavy, including vocals which I would expect to be centered. On one CD with a lot of native Am flute music, one song would have the flute far right and the next would have it centered.

Any thoughts on this placement. Do I have too much stuff between the CRS speakers? To have them up against the back wall, the big screen TV is probably going to be between some of the "cancellation" signal. My sitting spot is triangulated at about 8-9 feet in front of speakers. Stubby mentioned that the SDA compendium might cover this?? My concern at the moment is how right heavy a lof the music seems. Phew, time to get back to the day job. This is my first venture into SDA and patience is not one of my virtues!! Thanks a lot for any opinions.

Mike

engtaz

I have heard that they work better closer to the back wall. I think someone said about 6". You can search for CRS info on this site.

DarqueKnight

NeilGabriel wrote: »

Both speakers are backed up against a paneled concrete wall. The left channel is probably 6 feet from side wall and right channel is about 3 feet from sidewall.

If wall next to the right channel speaker is a hard reflective surface (wood paneling over concrete versus drywall) and is closer to the the speaker than the left wall is closer to the left speaker, then wall reflections can cause the right channel to be overemphasized.

I realize moving the speakers may not be an option. Try placing some soft material along the right wall and see if that helps.

rskarvan

Move them at least 12" away from the back wall. Speaker placement is critical. Keep them parallel to the rear wall and far away and centered from side walls.

madmax

Move them from close together to further away, sit in the sweet spot and at some point they will have their best soundstage. Hopefully when that happens they will be in a location where you can leave them. A few inches off either way and you will notice a drop in performance. Its a lot easier if you have someone move them around for you while you listen. If not it takes awhile to figure out what is best.
madmax

NeilGabriel

Thanks. Listening to them makes me feel young. Picking them up and alternating places with 10Bs make me feel old! I also downloaded the Instruction Manual and will look at its set up procedure. Mike