Axpona 2026

I'll be there tomorrow, you retired guys

Everyone needs sub taller than 6 feet.

SCompRacer wrote: »

He had a neat Bluetooth level too! No having to get up and read a bubble level.

Ah, the Digi-Pas. Yes, these are awesome at precision leveling the speakers to the inth degree. Mine is the model that will go to 1/100" accuracy. Looks like Skip's will go to 1/1000". I have found that when the sound is "off" for some odd reason and I can't quite put my finger on why, I will use this to see if one or both of the speakers had shifted one way or another. 99% of the time, that was the cause.

Using this is very easy. You set the Digi-pas on top of the speaker, turn on your phone or tablet and connect the devices. Now you have the screen you see in the photo below. All you do from here, is adjust the spikes to achieve getting both axis' zero'd out.



I can see that the speaker he is adjusting is off, ever so slightly. The X-axis is off by .003" and the y-axis is off by .002". That's actually pretty precise already. As soon as you get the x and y axis spot on in the middle, the speakers are perfectly level and this is where you achieve optimum sound.

Now, of course, you can't just plop a pair of speakers down and use this to call it a day. There is much more to it, but this tool will ensure that the speakers are perfectly level once the initial placement has been determined for optimum lower end response, the relationship between the back wall and the speakers, as well as the relationship between the speakers and the listener. After all of those are determined, you can use lasers and your ears to ensure proper toe in, also to the inth degree. The Digi-Pas finishes up all that work and ultra fine tunes the already fine tuned speakers to the room/listener.

After having one, I consider this essential in my system. Even though my speakers weigh in at 250 pounds a pop, it is amazing how just one bump, seasonal flooring change, or even my belly barely brushing the speaker can knock the angles off (keep in mind, my speakers are taller than I am). After about an estimated 10 minutes per speaker to get them back to the middle of the axis', the sound returns to what I now consider "unskewed". I can tell when the speakers are out of whack, and I know without ever specifically asking him this question, Skip can as well. It doesn't take much to skew the sound ever so slightly and this thing is the ticket for a quick recovery back to optimum sound.

Unless Skip has changed something recently with his measuring tools, we both pretty much use the same things for speaker setup:

DigiPas DWL-1300XY 2 axis precision digital level (his is the DWL-1500XY)
Takamine GM160 Pro self leveling 16 line laser
Bosch Professional GLM20 digital tape measure
Stanley Powerlock tape measure
Johnson 40-6184 laser level

All of these tools help to achieve optimum sound. The Digi-Pas, to me, is the icing on the cake.

Tom

With live music, it isn't needed. With a stereo reproductive effort, it is. Otherwise the stereo affect is FUBAR'd or skewed.

Back on topic. The WBF has a good thread going with the coverage of AXPONA, if those who can't attend are interested in seeing more. FWIW.

Tom

Skips room was by far the best room I heard today. Many of the rooms had issues. The Indy labs room with the 40th anniversary Aragon amps was eye opening. 4 sealed subs 2-18" in front and 2-12" stacked in the middle back wall that were dialed in pretty good. Had a great time with Brian and Jeff, I bowed out early. I was running out if gas and the 3 hour drive was looking less and less attractive 😬
The cost of new gear is stupid stratospheric.

That being said, I'm sure I got a silly look on my face in the Focal room, that large soundbar, well the sound was stupid spectacular at what it did, throwing sounds! If that sucker has longevity, it should sell very well.

This coming from a guy who has a strong dislike, verging on hatred of soundbars.

Yeah, I heard that tonight too. A Harp guitar, live. Did it sound live? Absof'nlutely not. It was amplified. I had no idea it was live, until I walked by her playing said instrument. Walking by was wonderful and acoustic!!!!

Later on in the wedding, family members came up to me expressing that I should interject and take over. Honestly, with the crap the DJ had, there was no hope. It was what it was. I tried to explain the year before but...

Pick your battles. During a wedding? This was not my battle. I was there to introduce a beautiful woman into our family.

Tom

I wish that room we were in where they were trying to use the R2R as the source a couple or three years ago would’ve cooperated. I’ve yet to hear a good example of what’s possible there.

I don’t know why, but Tom’s simple post finally clicked with me on the 2-channel vs. live disconnect I had. I think I get it, now. Thanks, guys.