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S P E A K E R P L A C E M E N T
Speaker placement is a key factor in any listening room
setup. Finding the optimum locations for your I
LLUSION
A7s
is just as important as selecting power amplifi er or source
components—indeed, potentially more so. However, every
listening room and arrangement is different, so without
being on the scene we at Snell Acoustics can only advise
you as to general principles; there are few “rules.” Your
Snell Acoustics installer/specialist will be happy to help you
evaluate your room and setup options, and can bring con-
siderable practical experience to bear upon the challenge.
NOTE:
The I
LLUSION
A7s are large, very heavy loudspeak-
ers. We strongly urge you wait until at least one assistant
is available to help you in moving and positioning your
speakers. We know from experience that when working
alone it is far too easy to injure yourself, your speakers,
or both. A “two-wheeler” hand-cart, suitably padded with
carpeting or similar material, is of incalculable value when
positioning the A7s.
The I
LLUSION
A7s’ cast-alloy feet are integral to the loud-
speakers. Their extremities are threaded to accept the sup-
plied carpet-spikes or glides, four to each speaker. In most
cases, it is best practice to approach the fi nal placement of
the A7s before installing the spikes, as the loudspeakers are
diffi cult to move with spikes in place. The choice of spikes
or glides is up to the individual. In most cases, for both
physical stability and acoustic performance, spikes will be
preferred on carpeted or other soft surfaces while the glides
will better serve wood fl oors.
As a general rule, any loudspeaker with low-frequency
capability will produce more audible bass output as its
location approaches the junction of two room surfaces, i.e.,
fl oor and wall; as the location approaches the junction of
three surfaces (a corner), bass output increases exponen-
tially.
Unfortunately, these increases are not smooth and linear. In
fact, since they are ruled by the standing-wave “modes” of
a particular room they are almost invariably just the oppo-
site, lumpy and severe. Consequently, the fi rst (and virtually
the only) “rule” of placement: avoid corners.
Similarly, the A7s will almost always perform best when
located well away from the wall behind them. Though this
distance is impossible to specify, the optimum location will
usually be found somewhere between one and three meters
from wall to speaker-baffl e, occasionally even approach-
ing half the distance from wall to listening position. Try to
place the A7s at least one meter or more away from any
large items of furniture, room-dividers or screens, or other
large refl ective surfaces.
