AV123 Strata mini, Enjoyment Manual

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Speaker Placement Considerations
Achieving the best performance from your Strata Mini speakers requires several details
to follow when setting then up in their new environment. Tips and suggestions for the
most desirable placement techniques are listed throughout this section.
Front (Left and Right) Speaker Placement
Regardless of physical placement, always try to place your main speakers (LEFT and
RIGHT) with the tweeter positioned on axis around ear level. This yields excellent sound
quality results. Physical placement of front speakers should be along the same wall of
your listening/viewing room. Although we’ve seen successful installations that didn’t
follow these guidelines, they’re generally more problematic in terms of system response
and accurate theater sound reproduction. Our advice - why re-invent the wheel?
Use the “Rule of Thirds” whenever possible as
a starting guide. This suggests that the best
placement for your LEFT speaker is approximately
1/3 of the way along the wall behind your
speakers. Similarly, the best place for the RIGHT
speaker is usually 2/3 of the way across the same
wall. If at all possible, move the speakers out from
the back wall. Although all rooms are different, we
recommend a minimum wall-to-rear-of-speaker
distance of 3 inches. Whatever distance you finally
select, use a tape measure to make sure that
each speaker is placed at the same distance from the back wall. With that same tape
measure, make sure the speaker-to-listening position is the same for each speaker, too.
If there’s a conflict here (as would happen with an irregular wall behind the speakers),
we suggest that you equalize the distance between front of the speakers and your
favorite listening position. If that places one speaker closer to the wall behind it than the
other, don’t be too concerned.
Remember that the “Rule of Thirds” is a basic guideline only. Some acousticians
recommend placing the main (LEFT and RIGHT) speakers so that they form an
equilateral triangle with the prime listening position. This is as close to ideal. Notice
different distances between speakers and left and right sidewalls. It’s worth trying for
this ideal, but don’t get overly concerned if your room doesn’t allow this precision.
Side walls have a major impact on the sound you hear. Ideally, you should not place
your main speakers close to them. Remember that the “Rule of Thirds” gives you a good
starting position, but you should feel free to experiment . Ideally, try not to place
your main speakers so they’re exactly the same distance from the closest side walls. A
bit of asymmetry here is actually preferable. Symmetrical placement generally results in
larger standing waves in the room that reinforce certain frequencies and diminish others.
Back Wall of Room
1/3 2/3
Primary Listening Position Primary Listening Position
LEFT RIGHT
Minimum of 3”
from Wall