Balance adjustment can compensate for some physical location difference
between left and right. Time-delay adjustment of surround sound can
compensate for some physical location difference between front and rear. With
mono signals equidistant, symmetrical location is still desired to minimize
balancing requirements. Proximity to additional side wall, ceiling or floor surfaces
will cause increases and decreases in frequency response which are very difficult
to electronically equalize for smooth response overall—particularly when only
some of the speakers are affected.
All CustomSound models are designed to maintain the same tonal balance when
different models are mixed in a system. The same model should be used in
symmetrical listening locations in a system—front left and front right; rear left and
rear right.
Each CustomSound speaker carton contains a full-size template of the front of
the speaker. These templates can be used when initially locating speakers and
then when marking and cutting out speaker locations. We encourage temporarily
taping templates in the intended locations and then sitting in the primary listening
location and considering the above guidelines again—also realizing that behind-
the-wall conflicts will probably require some adjustment to the intended locations
before they are final.
C. You in Relation to the Speakers
Where you sit in relation to your speakers obviously makes a difference too. The
proportions of the particular triangle formed by your front left and front right
speakers and you matter. (You may need to send more power to the more
distant speaker to compensate if you get much further from one speaker than the
other.) The overall distances involved also matter. As you get further from the
speakers, more sound reflected from your room’s surfaces (in contrast to the
sound coming directly from the speakers) reaches your ears, and the original
spatial relationships in a recording are changed as your room “takes over.”
Sometimes the result is a mellower, more “integrated” sound. Other times, it’s a
more strident or annoyingly “echoey”—or other—quality. Once again, the
particular dimensions and surface materials of your room play a part. And
depending on what seems more realistic and/or enjoyable to your ears, you may
choose to sit at a great distance or have close-up, “near-field” sound.
D. You in Relation to Room Boundaries
Changing your own position with respect to a room’s boundaries may also bring
a big effect, sometimes for a small change. Getting further from the wall behind
you may make sound more precise and localized. Getting closer may make
sound more “mellow” and integrated. Coming too close—to back wall, side wall,
or (especially) a corner— you may experience a major peak or cancellation of a
certain band of frequencies. It depends on factors we can’t cover fully here but
do get into on our web site.
As you consider the three relationships we have outlined, the idea is to
manipulate whatever variable is easiest and most productive for improving your
listening experience. Be sure to base your judgements on listening to a good
variety of recordings of vocals, and acoustic instruments, soloists, different
movies and musical instruments to most easily recognize tonal balance shifts.
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