Stewart has acknowledged that his Apogee's (which are indeed amongst the
best I recall hearing) are not placed in the "optimal" (conventional wisdom)
position. However, very few of us are able to place our systems in the
"optimal" position. But that does not mean that they still don't sound
exceptional. It just means that, perhaps, they are capable of even better
performance. Stewart uses the word "subtle" to describe the differences he
hears when the speakers are in the "party position" compared to when they
are in the "serious listening" position. "Subtle" can mean wildly different
things to different audiophiles, but I think I understand what he is talking
about.

For what it is worth, I have quoted some excerpts taken directly from the
Duetta Signature owner's manual. With some navigation the Adobe Acrobat
printout can be found at:

http://www.apogeespeakers.totalserve.co.uk/

I would have provided just the link, but some may find it difficult, as I
did, to access the owner's manual.

Speaker Placement

"Outlined below are parameters which should be followed; although room size
and other variables must be considered"

"Place Duetta Signature Series speakers three feet or greater from the rear
wall... (Experimentation is advised.

Rear wall should have no damping material or very light damping material.
Experimentation with degree of damping is advised. Our own experience has
taught us that too much damping can cause upper midrange and tweeter
suck-out resulting in a somewhat lifeless quality.

Separation of speakers should be approximately 6 feet; greater depending on
the width of your room. Experimentation is advised.

Speakers should be placed with virtually no toe-in. Should you insist in a
gentle toe-in, this should not exceed more than 3/8 inch. The Duette
Signature Series has exceptional dispersion and focus; stage and imaging is
at its best with no toe-in or very gentle toe-in. Never place the Duetta
Signature Series in a position in which the speakers touch the side walls.
Allow them to breathe by maintaining at least a distance of eight inches
from the side walls. This figure will change, however, with respect to room
size.

Placement of speakers on carpeting as opposed to bare floors is preferable.
Adjust the leveling bolts to provide a tilt-back of approximately two and
one-half degrees from the base to the top of the speaker.....

....Note the woofer ribbons should be closest to their respective side walls
and the midrange ribbons should be approximately six feet apart."


(Back to live)

So as not to take any of this out of context, the entire owner's manual
should be read. Although even what I have excerpted there is "room for
error" in some of the parameters.

My take is that Stewart's "serious listen" position keeps the compromises to
a minimum. For example, no damping (I admit to my surprise) to the rear
wall, as well as overall positioning seems to be right on target (what the
manual calls for). The "party position", however, "seems" to go
diametrically against the manual in several key areas, including speaker
distance from the rear wall, opposite placement of the woofer and midrange
ribbons and the 45 degree toe in. Steward has provided an explanation why he
finds this positioning works.

One thing I would like Stewart to comment on is the substantial equipment,
CDs, etc., being placed between the speakers and seeming between the
speakers and the listening position. "Conventional Wisdom" (in quotes
because I realize that conventional wisdom often does not mean much)
suggests that this should be avoided, if possible, because it can cause
serious issues with imaging and sound staging. And that even decent imaging
and sound staging will be enhanced if equipment and the like are outside of
the listening triangle. In A-1 demonstrations this rule is *usually* adhered
to whether a speaker be a dipole or not.

Robert C. Lang






(Mkuller) wrote in message
news:gUHJb.50437$I07.159932@attbi_s53...
Terry Zagar
wrote:
I note in Stewart's description that he moves his Apogee's 5 feet out
from the wall for "serious listening".
snip

(Stewart Pinkerton) wrote:
I would point out that I very seldom use them pulled out these days,
because the difference is subtle, just a touch more 'air' to the
sound. Imaging is excellent in either position, and pretty much
unaffected.


Once again, I don't want this to appear to be a personal attack - but for
the
person with the single most posts on RAHE last year to make such an
unbeleivable statement as above merits a comment.




Robert C. Lang