Loudspeaker Placement

Are your loudspeakers set up to get the most out of them, your system, and your room? When you close your eyes, do you hear the musicians as if they are performing right there in your listening room? Do you hear left, right, front and back?
In this video, Harley Lovegrove shares his general approach for placing a stereo pair of loudspeakers for maximum effect. The subject of acoustics is, at best, complex and predicting loudspeaker performance in any given room can only be estimated by algorithms and special test equipment. However, Harley's pragmatic approach to loudspeaker placement, means you can get the very best out of your HiFi investment, as long as you are prepared to experiment in the methodical way he suggests.
The set-up CD that Harley refers to is: ‘The Ultimate System Set-Up Disc from Isotek. www.isoteksystems.com. Available from Amazon and other on-line retailers.
The book on acoustics Harley refers to is: 'Master Handbook of Acoustics' by Everest and Pohlmann, published by McGraw Hill.
The outro music - 'When she wept' by Sam Vloemans can be found on Spotify at: open.spotify.com/track/7045OS...
More information on the loudspeakers can be found here: www.pearlacoustics.com

[@imarobot3757]

placement is so important , it took me a long time to get it right , now if i sit in my chair and listen with my eyes closed I can har/see where the instruments are on the stage , it is an unreal experience . Thanks for this video

[@PearlAcoustics]

You’re very welcome!

[@spunkthecombo]

Well said! Thanks.

[@7649angel]

This is great Harley. I love the Album you recommended at the end. The accordion in the mix is very special. Thank you again!

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks Paul. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@mattmason9720]

Just checked out 'We Get Requests'... bloody brilliant!

[@j.craigh.3480]

Great explanations and a good teacher. Thank you!

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thank you. You’re very welcome

[@esrb]

It's a pleasure to listen your advices. Regards from Lima/Peru.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thank you!

[@ctfaudioamp9775]

Very relaxed way of putting it without being very technical but you said it all. Tnx

[@PearlAcoustics]

You’re very kind. Thanks.

[@zeppelin2900]

Enjoy all your videos Very informative

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thank you for your kind words - much appreciated

[@chancowboy7263]

Thank you for sharing.

[@PearlAcoustics]

My pleasure!

[@StellarAudyssey]

Great info. Cheers mate.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks!

[@jaimefreundt-thurnef8226]

Great advice. And San Vloemans tunes through Tidal have a great music stage on my Maggies 20.7. Thank you for sharing!

[@PearlAcoustics]

You’re welcome Jaime!

[@JeanfiC]

Thank you sir for this very informative and wise video. In fact all of your videos are brilliant. So much too learn here about HiFi and acoustics... Bravo !

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thank you, you’re very kind. I am so glad you enjoy them.

[@lawpenner]

Love how the room sounds Lively. Notice that the space is not over-treated with sound absorption

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks!

[@stephenlegg262]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thank you Stephan

[@m.9243]

Exceptional video! Sound and sensible advice without the hysterics. Thank You so much for sharing your knowledge and thoughts. Greetings from 'down - under'.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thank you! You’re very welcome.

[@dreyn7780]

It's out of date knowledge. Sound stages are a thing of the past. New records are mixed for headphones or side mounted speakers.

[@m.9243]

@@dreyn7780 This may be true for Rock or Pop music. Many - if not most - Classical and Jazz recordings are recorded with the traditional two mikes on booms. This, if properly mixed, can give great instrument separation as well depth in the presentation of an orchestra. For example, in one of those recordings the listener can easily hear violins on the right, cellos on the left and, brass and tympani coming from the back of the soundstage. Also, in live Opera recordings, a good sound system will let you follow the movement of singers on stage quite easily.

[@marcelocampoamor4761]

Very good practical advice for the placement of the speakers, thank you very much, I also appreciate the contrasts and nuances of the technologies described and that never absent touch of pragmatism necessary to be able to enjoy music without falling into the obsessed and abstract.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thank you Marcelo!

[@JoseGarcia-oo4mc]

Excellent

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thank you!

[@araghazarossian289]

Always watching your videos you’re one of the most honest and knowledgeable person thank you keep on doing more videos

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thank you Ara!

[@daverombouts2116]

Thank You enjoyed your vid.

[@PearlAcoustics]

You’re welcome Dave. Thanks!

[@astra004]

I listened to Bord Du Nord by Sam Vloemans on Amazon Music. Great tunes, fine musicians and excellent recording.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Glad you liked it!

[@andydogdixon1]

45 years ago I bought heavy Vandenhul speaker cables, bi-wired both sides, all four cables, each 15 feet long. I am still using these today on Klipsch Cornwall Fours. Just trimmed the ends back a little, and added new connections. They sound just great. The length of these cables gives me the ability to be very creative and move the speakers all over my listening room, which I have done and found that a very interesting and fun experience! Really appreciate all your videos I have seen over the last several years. Best wishes, Mark in North Carolina

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thank you. Your comment is much appreciated

[@TheDjcarlos67]

Excellent video Harley. That music is beautiful. Even listening in bed on my iPhone it was very enjoyable🎼🎶😎

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it

[@garysmith8455]

Sorry for the longish comment: Having just discovered your video yesterday, I sat and watched over breakfast this morning and found it very interesting! I am in the electrostatic camp with Martin Logan and I appreciate your including those of us with 'exotic' speakers. Very lucky to have a dedicated 24x18' space with hardly anything in it. I too experimented heavily as you suggest, and the results really pay off! I use ATS acoustic panels behind the listening area along the whole wall. Since the estats are dipolar, nothing behind them along the front wall. You are absolutely correct on sitting close to live performance stage or further rearward. My work has me involved with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood here in the States. During rehearsals, I have sat in different positions in the 'shed'. And yes, as I moved back from the stage, the sound becomes more centered with less spread. This left only the reverberant reflections from the building's structure to fill the sides and behind my position. With this knowlege, I have since set my seating position rearward from the front wall, OUTSIDE of the 'triangle' that I was obsessing about for years, and now I am enjoying a lovely and more convincing 'audience' perspective. With that, I have subscribed to your 'channel', and will have some questions to ask of you in my future comments. Thank you (O: (PS. I am enjoying my 5th year as a subscriber to the concerts from the Berlin Philharnonie - Digital Concert Hall)

[@PearlAcoustics]

Dear Gary. Lovely to read your feedback. Very interesting. Best wishes!

[@twochaudiomg2578]

CLS

[@dreyn7780]

A lot of new music is mixed for immersive sound not sound stages.

[@JW-ym5yb]

Wow! I have not heard the radio method in years, it really helps to find out how the room works with sound. Towing in speakers, I will work for weeks to get it just right using tape just as you suggest. Also the mono reference should help many people decide how to place speakers. I had a 1950’s reference mono speaker set up that could easily match many stereo speaker set ups when playing the right music (wish I still had it). I always work at getting a good mono sound then I work at expanding the sound stage based on my listening preference. I also have vinyl and CD set up disks that have been very helpful I suggest people find one. I loved the comment on it’s your choice NOT the neighbors!

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks!

[@RichardDurishin]

Thank you Harley! I've read a couple of books and even purchased a speaker set-up CD. Measured my room. Laid out blue tape and calibrated it. But never thought to push my rear-ported speakers closer than 3 feet from the wall. Watching this video, and moving my speakers from the wall 3" at a time has given me the best bass and soundstage I have achieved in my small room so far. And at about 6" off the wall. Thank you.

[@PearlAcoustics]

So pleased! Wow that’s great

[@johnwood5150]

Lovely

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks!

[@Peter-ii4xq]

In the Netherlands I know a man who walks around with speakers one by one, to find their best place. The results are always fantastic. In my situation technical friends placed a microphone finding the best the listening position and the best place for both speakers.. This by sending out a sweep from low to high several times. Also that result was great.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks Peter for your comment

[@rayschoepfer2921]

For the last 30 years of helping friends set up their hifi system my journey of speaker placement has always started by placing both the speakers and listening position at distances that were odd multiples of the room boundaries. Simply put, make sure that each speaker and listening position is either a 1/3, 1/5. 1/7, or 1/9 of the way between the opposite walls. Try as best as possible even in an L-shaped room. Also, you will usually want the speakers equal distance from the listener. The speakers don't have to be the same multiple (eg - left 1/3, right 1/5) if the room dimension and seating position don't allow for the same multiple. This applies to both side walls and front/back walls. A few minutes with the tape measure can save literally hours of time before your ready to really fine tune the placement.

[@PearlAcoustics]

thanks for your comment Ray

[@dreyn7780]

New records are mixed for headphones though. Everyone's using headphones. The audience complained they didn't want sound stages anymore and they wanted the headphones mix.

[@PearlAcoustics]

@@dreyn7780 that’s interesting, I’ve never heard that before. I can imagine that music aimed at young people would have to take headphones into account but - can that really be true for all genres? I mean even pop music has to work on TV, the big screen, in cars, on the radio etc…. I know that on my releases, we do listen on headphones to check certain balances and very fine editing quality controls, but the entire mixing and mastering is on two channel stereo, using loudspeakers.

[@geoffparkes]

Back in the 70s, Edgar Froese (of Tangerine Dream fame) released an LP, supposedly recorded in binaural using a dummy head. I believe that this was so people who used headphones back then could experience a sound unlike anything you’d hear via standard speaker set-up. I have a copy of the album (I’m sure it was called Aqua…? don’t quote me) somewhere in my library upstairs. I probably played it less than half a dozen times before it was archived. I listened to Tangerine Dream because I heard John Peel playing Phaedra on Radio One, late one evening. I was probably drunk and or stoned at the time but the same weekend saw me in the tiny Virgin Records store in Birmingham buying the LP. Strange how your video sparked all those memories.

[@MarkJones-re3po]

The set up cd that you talk about at the beginning is actually on KZbin. I set my system up off that cd. I swear by it. 👍

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi Mark, that’s good to know. Thanks for sharing!

[@syeenam]

Your talks are very educational, thank you! I have one question. Where did you get that chair you sat on? They look classy and comfortable. @pearl acoustics

[@driesduyck469]

like your channel !

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks!

[@thomasandersen1784]

Hi Iv'e been following your channel for a while and learn a thing or two. Besides that you are a very good explanier in every subject. Me myself has a tendense to move my Lavardin - LeConture Stabile 160 Floorstanders, which in fact have the ability to being put up, right against the wall, becouse of It's Low end bass driver in the back of the cabinet, very close to the floor. But i play a lot with speaker position, and it is the best way to learn your speakers. I love these small designed speakers of miner, which in fact looks like yours in the back size wise. THX for sharing ✌️❤️🇩🇰

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thank you Thomas, much appreciated

[@deadline7610]

Nicely Done. Can you share some of your test tracks with us ? Thanks

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi, thanks for your kind appreciation. I was just wondering if you have seen the information in the description? Is it something more you are looking for? We have some free downloads on our website, that might also be useful? Please come back if I have misunderstood

[@giovannipepe5945]

Absolutely loved your approach. It has taken me four years to realise that I'm not someone who wants to be right at the front of stage looking left and right like a tennis match from the net position. I like moving around, I have multiple listening positions, seated and standing and moving around. My aim is for a more distant mono sound. And yes, experiment, experiment, experiment until you find what YOU like. Thanks for this video. Excellent.

[@PearlAcoustics]

You’re very welcome. Now you can ignore my reply to you on ‘mono versus stereo’! Enjoy your music

[@giovannipepe5945]

@@PearlAcoustics 😁. I would never ignore your views on mono vs stereo. I remain an avid seeker of all hifi info. And very much appreciate the fact you took the time to reply. I look forward to absorbing future hifi views especially from someone as experienced as yourself. Kind regards. All the best. Jon

[@PearlAcoustics]

@@giovannipepe5945 thank you. You’re very kind

[@StellarAudyssey]

Was about to say, haven't seen your vids in my feed. Welcome back.

[@ianwilliams4553]

Great recordings: I have a huge music collection and we see live performance, often twice a week. But since my teens - I’m 65 now - I’ve continually come back to two recordings. Joni Mitchell ‘The Hissing Of Summer Lawns’, and Average White Band, the so-called White Album, the one with ‘Pick Up The Pieces’. Hope you find time to listen. In particular, Mitchell’s title track and ‘Harry’s House/Centrepiece’, and AWB… Well, any track really!

[@PearlAcoustics]

Love Joni Mitchell and indeed, the housing of summer lawns. I didn’t understand what it meant at first… being brought up in the UK! Thanks for sharing.

[@deadline7610]

Pick Up The Pieces :)

[@realhi-fihelplarry8047]

Interesting.

[@Vsread21]

@pearl acoustics you mentioned a few reference tracks (willie nelson, oscar peterson trio, etc.) - curious what they were!

[@laurentzduba1298]

I wish I got your advice on how to position your loudspeakers when I got started in hi fi back in 1987. Though I managed to make do to reach a balance of soundstage width and the size of the sweet spot so that more than one person can appreciate it via trial and error - probably took me almost 5 years to more or less to strike a good balance.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi Laurent’s, I wish I had too! Thanks for your comments! Enjoy the music!

[@Fyseros]

Great video! It's nice having people with knowledge on their field sharing information on the wed. Concerning the loudspeaker placement, i was wondering if & how the horizontal / vertical orientation affects their performance.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks for your kind appreciation. The tilt of some loudspeakers can make a difference, especially if they are very directional and depending on the surfaces of the rooms ceiling, walls and floor. Again, it’s a question of trial and error. Often, a slight tilt back can make a bright loudspeaker a little calmer.

[@Fyseros]

@@PearlAcoustics Sorry, my question was not very clear. I was wondering about the 'transversal' rotation (i hope this is the right way to put it). In simple words, if we have a 90deg rotation so that the speakers lie down on their side to a shelve or a custom base.

[@PearlAcoustics]

@@Fyseros oh that should not make much difference, but ideally the tweeter should be at ear height, or even a bit higher.

[@sinbadMcCaffrey]

Recording and mixing has taught me that ears tire very quickly, especially at volume. Do you think that means first impressions are usually right for a set up?

[@workonesabs]

I use REW program and although the EQ levels of my system were not too bad, there were issues according to the graphs, although not sure if I could hear the discrepancies but sure now it does make a difference.

[@PearlAcoustics]

The absolute key point here, is to listen and be critical and compare with real life, as much as possible. But enjoying music is most important of all

[@kiwijohn3347]

For serious listening, do you and would you recommend having the tv covered with something soft? Perhaps a small mattress protector/cover would work.

[@thomas-schreiber]

Really interesting video. Thanks for taking the time to make it. What table is that, your hifi is placed on? Thanks!

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks for your kind words. The table is something bought locally and modified myself. Each shelf is made of heavy duty plywood and the whole frame is suspended on rubber. And each shelf has a plate glass top to it. Such a shame one cannot order them on line!

[@murraywebster1228]

A little trick is to place one speaker where you are going to sit and then play some music, go then to the area where your speakers are going to be and see in which position that the speaker sounds the best, then basically start off with that as your first speaker Placement

[@murraywebster1228]

@@DaleRC75 just try it

[@iand8548]

This was good overview and similar to what I've used for my system - Master Set that I first heard about from John Hunter of Rel.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks Ian!

[@hamidrezahabibi8111]

Talking about bass; the epitome of bass players is the one and only Maestro Ron Carter. His scarce album 💿 is The Man with The Bass. It’s a goldmine of beautiful musical 🎵 notes 🎶

[@PearlAcoustics]

We are totally aligned here! I don’t know the album but will check it out

[@saverioricchiuto5386]

Very nice video, tons of these on KZbin but I really appreciate yours and liked the crucial initial question re “what is your goal? What do you want to achieve?”. I have sloping ceilings like you do : in general, do you suggest to position loudspeakers in the “lower height” side of the room (like you do in your videos) or in the opposite one? Yes I know…”experiment”…but any general advice?

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi Saverio, I think probably under the slope like mine, especially if you can use a vertical wall of normal height behind you. And yes, you’ve already guessed it - experiment. And to do that, invite a friend over to help you move stuff around. It’s way easier and more fun with two! Best wishes H.

[@armarra]

I like listening to your videos. I'm a technics devotee. I like the detail and passion you bring to the oratory I'm reminded how the idea of stereo is so that you aren't tied down to one position, the music is more lifelike and brighter because of the separation of channels. Two ears... Two channels, at least for music. Where is your part three of vinyl versus digital? I listened to your top 10 turntables list twice and then your rega p10 ..but what happened to your can analogue ever sound better than digital? I'm keen to hear that one. Please... I've got a few others to hear of tours but I'd really like to hear that one

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi… so pleased to hear that you are enjoying my videos. part 3 will be coming out in mid January. Happy year end.

[@hilde45]

I've moved my speakers many times trying to eliminate a difficult null. One placement that really wowed me was diagonal placement -- the soundstage! But, it also aggravated some tonal features and I abandoned it.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Indeed! Sometimes compromises have to be made, or look to using absorbers or reflectors in your listening space. + don’t forget to walk around the room. Maybe the loudspeakers can stay where they are and you move! 😉 good luck!

[@timothywild9670]

I have a difficult null or maybe two in my listening space. This causes big suckouts at midbass frequencies around 70-100Hz. It takes all the punch out of music. I find moving the speakers around doesn't help much. This is because my listening spot is in the area of the nulls, one meter from the back wall.. I should change my listening spot but sadly that is not an option and I just have to live with it.

[@dreyn7780]

You bought the headphones mix LP.

[@michaelhastings7060]

Great information…thank you…love the Rolling Stones…and their sound …always said to myself they are the best bang &crash Friday night band

[@panagiotisargyropoulos2217]

Welcome back.

[@neurodiverse4414]

Before spending loads on equipment. The biggest upgrade to a system in my opine. Sort the room out.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Absolutely!

[@tony-hifi-music951]

Thanks for anther great video. Do you have any more recording with good sound stage for me to help set up my system. cheers

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks Tony

[@john-giovannicorda3456]

There still is a bit of the "black art" ( or esoteric) element to all of this. One aspect of that is even when listening to a cheap solid state mono AM radio playing music that we know and love, we are still able to detect well recorded players playing really good instruments and the resultant expertise in the final mastering.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Dear John-Giovanni, that is very true! The difference of what comes from the loudspeaker and what our imagination fills in, can be enormous. There is a point where our imagination seems to stop and pure HiFi takes over. And it is often in this grey zone where we become disappointed. It’s neither ‘real’ or different enough to tell our brains to take over on the interpretation. And this is why many non HiFi people have no problem listening to music through a smart phone loudspeaker!

[@john-giovannicorda3456]

@@PearlAcoustics Thanks for your reply. And my example would certainly lead to all that you've said once the initial fun of hearing our favorite song starts to wear off. To my better judgement credit I always observe that, when listening to other peoples small "soup can" sized powered speakers, the first thing I notice is that there is absolutely "zero headroom" left. All of the music is within a range of perhaps only a three or four decibels with highly limited bandwidth. So, my being a trained and enthusiastic musician might be what leads to the "imagination filling in" where the electro-audio physics falls off.

[@dreyn7780]

Though the headphone mix.

[@peymey]

Calm and clear explanation! You might add some drawings next time to illustrate the points more clearly.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks Paulus, I’ll take that on board.

[@michaelk6566]

Great videos! How do you get a big sound out of such small drivers and could these speakers be used in a relatively small room, say 12 by 10 feet?

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks Michael, very kind. The secret is an amazing driver design from Mark Fenlon and 35 years of experimenting with cabinet design - with a strong influence from double bass and organ pipe technology, and yes they work fine in small rooms as they have a very wide dispersion. Many of our clients have rooms your size.

[@dreyn7780]

@@PearlAcoustics which is no good for today's immersion sounds.

[@TheFreakonhell]

Love your videos! Will the Sibelius be available as CG ever again? And what do you think of Spendor? The Sibelius are giving me the only reason to doubt, about spending almost twice as much for floorstanders 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi! Yes, I have good news... due to popular demand we have gone back into production of the CG. I still have two pairs left. In six weeks we will have some more. Not big numbers but hopefully enough to cover demand for the rest of the year. If you are happy with what you have now - don’t change. Spendor are great speakers. Ours are very different. Handmade solid French Oak, made snd built like musical instruments. Designed to last indefinitely.

[@TheFreakonhell]

@@PearlAcoustics Tempting news! 😋 I was planning on buying a pair of Spendor's D7.2, 'cause i absolutely fell in love with their totally open and also natural sound... I'm just wondering if your Sibelius might be the "ultimate" affordable speakers? Your batches are too small to have a chance in an audio store listening room 😩 A hell kind of a decision 😅

[@PearlAcoustics]

@@TheFreakonhell where are you based?

[@chrisguygeezer]

@@TheFreakonhell I've been running Spendor S100s for nearly 25 years. Spendor's hit the spot for me, just a neutral presentation, accurate and non fatiguing.

[@mrcleanxxx]

I always get pulled up about my speaker placement when people see my set up and they're forever telling me my speakers are too close together. However, I am stone deaf in one ear (Birth Defect) and having the speakers closer together for my sitting position helps me to hear everything. So a lot of speaker placement is very relevant to a persons hearing. Too far apart for someone who is left ear dominant will lose some of the right. Stereo sound on a set up with speakers far apart sounds atrocious to me.

[@robertpenning3501]

I totally agree. One of my gripes is the fact that modern amps do not offer balance control. I have an hearing inbalance and although i like to sit half way between the speakers I now have to reposition myself that is right for me. I am a fan of Audiolab and have just bought an new 8300A but it doesn't offer balance control but my old 8000A does so I'm now wondering whether I've made the right decision and also the fact that the new amp doesn't offer a headphone socket either. Is this progress?

[@damnspynovels]

One thing you could do is add an attenuated plug to one source channel - eg a 10db attenuator on the left channel.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi, I can totally sympathise either way your situation. In many ways, mono has its advantages in this situation. But it seems you have it about right.

[@johnholmes912]

bookcases help diffuse reflections

[@markorchard2272]

I have a test CD. It is 'World Citizen' by David Sylvian. From the start there is an electronic beep that sounds every second or so. Only when your speakers are ideally positioned does this beep sound like it's behind your left shoulder. It only happens in a 2"x2" position of your head weirdly. But then all the bass/midrange is great too. Sadly I can't achieve this for 2+ people.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Interesting! I will try it tomorrow. Thanks for tip!

[@markorchard2272]

My suspicion is that it’s very system-specific. I used to have bi amped Linn Isobariks. Not too position sensitive and before that Mission 753s. Also not top position sensitive. But I collapsed and lost my memory and all my hifi. Now I’m starting from scratch. Dali Oberons. VERY position sensitive.

[@PureMoods85]

Hi What make and model is that CD player on your table ... Is it Quad ? Also Which Amplifiers do you recommend for your Speakers I have Naim Nova at the moment which is really good but I'm thinking of purchasing Hegel H190 as well .... Thanks

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi, yes, well spotted. It is a QUAD but it is the play + For power amplification, I like to use my tube monoblocks or a whole number of different amplifiers. (See my video ‘What Amplifier?’) Naim is very good but I have clients who loved the Hegel H190 match to the Sibelius. Hope that helps?

[@danmarjenka6361]

We want a Harley Lovegrove approved playlist.

[@PearlAcoustics]

one day… 😉

[@SimonLloydGuitar]

The biggest upgrade I ever did was move my seat over a few inches. Im joking of course (sort of), but also adding three attractive acoustic panels on the opposing wall made a large difference. I also spent an eternity toeing in/out and moving the speakers in/out from the wall.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Absolutely! Managing Room nodes and decay times can make a much bigger difference than changing and amplifier or loudspeakers

[@ikemi1]

Great video Harley. I was curious about the importance of each speakers distance from the side walls. Do you think it must be equal?

[@PearlAcoustics]

Dear Joseph. No not necessarily. You really need to try it and experiment. Not many of us have symmetrical rooms and yet great results can still be obtained. Good luck!

[@ikemi1]

@@PearlAcoustics Thank you Harley😇

[@dreyn7780]

We're doing immersion audio in 2022. You're supposed to be in the sound not worried about the walls. Sound stages are a thing of the past.

[@jimsimon5706]

Forgive me for bothering you, if you do go back and read comments..., but watching this I was minded to ask you a couple of things. Firstly, mono. You mention filling a room rather than analysing detail, and I recall a moment - a formative moment for me - as a child when someone had found himself with what I now know must have been a Tannoy corner GRF, and he used a simple Rogers valve amp and voila! The sense of music is still with me, there was, clearly, no soundstage as such, but there was a roomful of wonderful live, dynamic, music. Which goes to your section on what one listens to music for. Going on - have you an opinion on mono recordings on stereo equipment? There's a whole world of discussion re. mono v stereo cartridges, but if we forget that, what about speakers? Lastly, my Tannoy MG 15's in my own 300 litre cabinets, do resolve soundstage very well as you might expect, and they do, in the cabs I have, stay flat to around 30Hz then drop to just above 20Hz with audible results (though to be honest I can't hear that, but I can hear the doors and picture frames pulsing), but, and here's the point, one of the characteristics I enjoy with the system I have is how good the sound is in the next room! The balance is still there, and the dynamics, but whilst it can't be a great hi-fi pin-your-ears-back-and-shut-your-eyes demo moment, it is great! Some of this is because the Tannoys go loud without distortion (which helps because it has be loud to make it through a hallway and into the kitchen) but it also plays to your point about what one wants from a system. Ones goals. I'm not making any particular point, but wondered if you had any thoughts.

[@PearlAcoustics]

No need for forgiveness, 😉 🙏. I found your comment very interesting. We’ve had a similar experience when recording a pianist in a chateau in Spa Belgium. The photographer was told he could only enter when we were not recording, but spent a whole morning on playback (not knowing he was waiting outside) and he couldn’t tell the difference between playing and play back! (We were using our Sibelius loudspeakers on that project). However, you might find it interesting to watch my video on ‘Mono versus Stereo’. Loudspeakers with a wide dispersion factor, especially when pointed into the room, square with the back wall. Can also be very pleasant. When it comes to vinyl, a mono cartridge is always better for old recordings, but to be honest, I don’t use one, as I do not have that many 😉

[@douglasacker4923]

Why isn't sam vloeman's bord du nord album available for purchase in the US? Can't find it anywhere, in any format.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Oh. I don’t know. I’ll reach out to him and ask.

[@rcpmac]

Wondering if I should hang a drapery over my flat screen. It's both reflective and resonant. I also wonder if there is an Audyssey tool for stereo. Spotify does have some speaker placement tracks and blogs.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Screens can be a nuisance. A simple trick is to find a nice oil painting or similar, with a deep frame, and simply hang it over the screen. Works wonders!

[@iamraymon]

Who is the manufacture of the chair you are sitting in? love the chair.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi, I really don't know ;-). I know it's Italian. My interior design and furnishing people purchased it for me, many years ago and unfortunately, I don't think they are around anymore... But thanks anyway!

[@brianvportugal1155]

Great sound, what is the recording?

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi Brian, which recording are you referring to? The intro or outro? The outro is Sam Vloemans, when she wept.

[@roberte.andrews4621]

Good speakers will sound reasonably good in many positions. A bad speaker design will not improve, no matter what orientation you try. No current small speakers are able to replicate the pipe organ. It's a matter of volumes of air the transducers can process without strain. Little speakers are working very hard and their interface cone or dome or ribbon, whatever, must perforce be quite active with relatively large excursions. This introduces various forms of harmonic distortion. Larger speakers have only to move their diaphragms and cones over a small excursion and the distortion is generally inaudible. Typically, thousandths of a percent, even at concert volumes. The analogy between a car with a large, high-torque engine and a small four-cylinder power plant is apt. At full volume, the larger speakers are just idling and the small speakers are working very hard to attempt equal sound pressure levels. Hardwood floors, bare walls and untreated ceilings are the next thing to address. Room acoustics will ruin the output of very expensive speakers systems, because of excess peripheral reflections. The individual voices of voices and instruments, as well as the sound stage is smeared and blurred. Good, big speakers and acoustic treatments are primary matters, if a realistic presentation is desired.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thank you for your contribution, Robert

[@mikafoxx2717]

A small driver would need high excursion if it had nothing more to match the impedance of that driver to the air, as most designs do. Porting, passive radiators, horns, and transmission lines(like here), use a small excursion with higher force that then gets coupled to the air through a long, tuned passage of air. Look at Klipschorns, those achieve 105 dB/1m because of the efficient coupling to lots of air from a pretty normal woofer. Those old woofers don't have a huge Xmax. A few mm.

[@garyashdown1239]

I know you use Mark Fenlon drivers in your speakers. When you came to choosing the best one out of those he produces did you compare paper against the metal cones Mark uses? What were your conclusions? What are your views concerning paper verses metal.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi Gary, thanks for your question. The thing to remember here is that Mark’s paper cones are not pure paper, ie they often have stiffening material or treatments. So it’s not quite the same as comparing a 1950’s paper cone with an alloy one. The paper ones I tried were a bit ‘harsher’ in the upper mid range which is not what you might expect. The thing to remember is a drive cone totally depends on the enclosure design and materials. And vice versa. I hope this helps?

[@Antoon55]

Blasphemy! REL is great for hi-fi and by no means to be used to get a boom. Nice video though so I subscribe ;) BTW the name of you friend Sam is pronounced Vloumance (Vlou like You). Great album btw :)

[@mediapc4747]

How can an instrument 'come back out of phase' from a surface when it's playing a range of frequencies? You'll only get standing waves if you're playing pure tones.

[@marioaugustoj6393]

Where can I buy that CD? (Bord du Nord) or buy high resolution downloads?

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi Mario. I know it’s available on Spotify (not sure of the resolution) - here’s a link: open.spotify.com/track/7045OS7A2sRNFN4K8Bmdws?si=usGJflxcR1GwtdDpauM5MA I am trying to get hold of some cd’s to put in the shop.LPMC.be webshop.

[@alfredowieneke449]

Deezer has it, much higher quality recording.

[@lizichell2]

I have four large quad panel speakers in a 12 by 15 ft room 😁

[@donk1822]

T'would be interesting to see how these compare to my TDL Studio 1's.

[@PearlAcoustics]

You can always contact us and we’ll see if there is someone near you where you can hear them?

[@edverbeek6292]

What about putting the speaker at your listening position and moving yourself around the room ?

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi Ed! If you follow my advice, experimentation is not exclusive. 😉 However, if you are in Stereo, you need two point sources. The most important thing is to make sure your point sources are producing their sound in the best possible location acoustically, otherwise it matters not where you sit, it will always sound bad. Hope that helps?

[@helge2183]

Hi so i wonder if i am doing anything wrong; so my seating position is 1/3 out in the room from backwall, and i only get a good depth and soundstage when speakers are 1/3 from front wall, is it possible to move my speakers further back and still keeping that good depth in the soundstage?

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi, unfortunately, without a lot more information. It’s impossible to say. What I would say though is, experiment. Get a friend round and move loudspeakers and furniture around until it works. Thus can be a long snd slow process. But try moving the loudspeakers and gab a little stool and sit on that in various positions, there are so many variables depending on whether you want a great sound stage, maximum bass or both etc. Good luck!

[@helge2183]

@@PearlAcoustics ok, thanks a lot!

[@garyashdown1239]

I am now in my 60's and have been an avid hi-fi user since my student days. Now however I have some loss of sensitivity at high frequencies like most older people. How do I compensate for this. Do the recording engineers compensate? Do any of them realise they have hearing loss so that their mixing sounds different to different people. I do not want to listen to my speakers with a hearing aid, nor do I want to fiddle with treble boost every time I listen to a different piece of music. Do you have any advice?

[@PearlAcoustics]

Dear Gary, hearing loss is one of those sad facts of life. Of course, me being in my mid sixties, I have the same challenges as you and as everyone else (it's worse for men than women). However, the good thing is that hearing loss is in most cases, very gradual and our brains compensate, allowing us to enjoy our music just as much. Especially because much of the treble information is under 8KHz, so we can still hear the tingle of triangles, cymbals and bells and the 's's in peoples voices. Having said that, for professional studio recording it would be way too risky for me to record alone (I might, for example, not hear a very high pitched whine of a ventilation pipe or lighting rig - studio lights can be a very big problem). For that reason, I always bring a young engineer, with excellent hearing with me, to be sure nothing is missed. In this way, the young engineer learns from me and I enjoy the company with people with new ambitions, ideas and energy! + They can help with the heavy lifting!!! So enjoy the music, and no, you don't need to adjust your treble. what you cant hear you cant hear, turning the treble up, is not going to do much good if your natural hearing is minus 40db at 16Khz! ;-)

[@ianstorm45]

Wow" sounds really good , is this a 2 or 3 way speaker ?

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi Ian. Thanks! It’s not a two or a three way loudspeaker. It’s a single drive unit loudspeaker. More info. Here: www.PearlAcoustics.com

[@mediapc4747]

They sound just like my 10mm phone speaker but I watched it on my pc they sounded like my pc speakers.

[@VicenteSansaloni]

Nice video. But I missed in this kind of videos a practical demonstration. It helps a lot. The first question is very important... Waht do you want to us the speakers for? This is one of the reasons I use my multichannel AV receiver in the living room. I get a very wide "sweet pot" And listening to music at my desk En near field is a complete different world.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks for your comment. Maybe one day a demonstration would be possible but that would en ok en a sound and film crew. A film set and a large budget and no Covid-19 restrictions 😉

[@VicenteSansaloni]

@@PearlAcoustics Yes nowday we should to manage things with a lot of restrictions and limitations.

[@brunorivademar5356]

Have you tried the Sumiko method?

[@PearlAcoustics]

Dear Bruno, thanks for this. No I hadn’t heard of it. Having just quickly read about it, it seems to follow every much what I was saying. But in a more structured way, perhaps, and with less of my emotional approach to bring comfortable. Thank you for sharing. I found this link to an article on it. Feel free to share a better one. If you have it? www.thesoundapprentice.com/2019/11/sumiko-speaker-placement-guide.html?m=1

[@brunorivademar5356]

@@PearlAcoustics Oh absolutely. Here´s a link of an RMAF talk about the method. Time well spent I assure you!. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmWzl2OvmMeseK8 And here´s the link to the best step by step written explanation I´ve found so far. www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?t=46634

[@wa2368]

You talk about concert halls. However, you seem to resort to a 2 speaker stereo setup which is grossly inadequate to reproduce what you hear in such venues. Try a well setup 5.2, 5.2.2, 7.2 etc surround/atmos type systems.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Dear W A - thank you for your comment and tip. Indeed some surround set ups can work very well, if the source material is suitable. Nothing beats a live, in hall performance though. But, in general, I like our two channel option, except when watching live stream concerts recorded in the correct format to begin with. Enjoy!

[@Mrhifitunes]

You should try to get good stereo playback first. You will be amazed how you can create an illusion of the recording room. I had a friend who came over one day...and asked what surround system I had because it sounded good to him...Was he surpriced it was only stereo. " Amused to death" is good recording. you can hear sound effect 5-6 meter from outside the speakers. There is a bomb blasthing too. You can follow the dropping of the bomb and then feel and see the impact waves spreading out . Even creates the illusion that the sounds comes from behind.

[@PearlAcoustics]

@@Mrhifitunes totally agree! I can do neatly everything in two channel

[@wa2368]

@@Mrhifitunes Cost of my stereo setup exceeds 60k. Cost of my 5.2.2 multichannel setup = 20k......and there is not even a comparison on what it achieves way better than stereo. Stereo's limitations are not talked about by old school guys who just don't know any better. Modern advancements in audio engineering and multichannel is way above basic stereo.

[@Mrhifitunes]

@@wa2368 I have never said that multichannel is less then stereo. Where you read that? I just pointed out that if you just make some effort with your stereo system you go a long way. You spend a lot of money and probably sorted everything out well. For people who spend less budget on a system...getting the right sound of a multichannel system is even harder.

[@John-ic6zo]

Thanks Harley I enjoyed that. For a good easy to follow introduction to acoustics I would recommend Geoff Martin on you tube he is Tonmeister at Bang and Olufsen.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thank you John, I will certainly check him out.

[@Nightjar726]

Where can I get that CD you speak about ? Thank you

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi. You can find it on our website. Www.PearlAcoustics.com go to the shop and click enter and you should come out in the right place! All proceeds go to the musicians.

[@carlitomelon4610]

@@PearlAcoustics I'd love to own some of your records, however your website wants to add €25 shipping to the US 😳 Fortunately you can find this artist on Amazon music for an audition. I will try to Google for US distribution

[@PearlAcoustics]

@@carlitomelon4610 hi, yes, indeed. We’re not really in the logistics business and for ease of use we stick with FEDEX express. If I can find another retailer to link to I will post them there too. Good luck and Thanks for your comment. Our next CD will be on the Naxos label and their distribution is better (I am told).

[@carlitomelon4610]

@@PearlAcoustics Thanks for replying. Congratulations on the Naxos deal! Maybe a postal shipping option wouldn't be too complicated? Most CDs are still shipped this way. Or a Dropbox download? Very much enjoying the videos and would love to hear your work. I found Sam Vloemens (?) on Amazon music streaming BTW.

[@PearlAcoustics]

@@carlitomelon4610 thanks for your reply and suggestions, I will give your postal option idea, to the web team.

[@vo364]

What is the speaker in the video? thanks

[@PearlAcoustics]

The loudspeaker is ‘The Sibelius’ from Pearl Acoustics. You can find out more at Pearlacoustics.com

[@vo364]

@@PearlAcousticsThank you

[@donaz1500]

Forse è possibile avere sotto la traduzione in Italiano?

[@PearlAcoustics]

Indeed that would be nice. You can always translate the transcript in DeepL. ?

[@Sams911]

I use the DG-68 by Accuphase to make up for a poorly laid out room and it works like magic... best $24000 Ive ever spent in terms of audiophile returns..

[@menfallinloveandwomenmakeplans]

I am not techy, but fascinated by the idea of your speaker having no crossover or internal circuitry of any kind. Just one more point on simplicity of design. Do the Sibelius have any internal wadding or other such material for vibration dampening of the cabinet? Best wishes, Anthony

[@PearlAcoustics]

Dear Anthony, thank you for your question. The Sibelius cabinets are made of 3,3cm thick, solid French Oak. Any vibration is extremely minimal. We do use some internal damping, but this too is minimal. Think of it like a double bass. The notes are produced by the vibration of the bridge, where the strings go over. This tiny movement is enough to excite the air in the body of the bass and to push deep notes, powerful enough to travel to the back of even the largest concert hall. Hoping that helps?

[@jaysx1]

Short wall or long wall placement?

[@PearlAcoustics]

That’s an interesting question, it really depends on the room. We were once setting up a listening room at a hifi show and the logical thing was to place the loudspeakers facing down the room, but it sounded terrible, so we moved them to the long wall and they sounded great! The lesson learned is, you have to experiment and never assume. Acoustics can be unpredictable (perhaps not on a scientific level) but certainly on a day to day level.

[@user-tk7kz1fl2r]

I like this video, but it's so simple, and there really is no need for software, CDs or taking measurements. Place the speakers as far apart as possible. If the systems up to it, you will hear height and a very wide and deep sound stage. Toe in increases treble which is not a good thing. You really don't need to do all that moving of speakers. Just set it up and enjoy the music! Don't toe in speakers! I use a very high end system and it sounds sublime just placing speakers far apart, and not messing any further!

[@cord636]

Nice, but when can`t pleace my speakers on the right place! What do I have to do then?

[@PearlAcoustics]

Then the best thing to do is to use acoustic room treatments or invest in a Lyngdorf TDAI 1120

[@cord636]

@@PearlAcoustics Thanks for your answer! Next week on saterday comes Joep Slooten installate an NAD M 10 Amplifier with Dirac. I am very curious what it will do in my room. 👍

[@PearlAcoustics]

@@cord636 yes, me too. I believe it works in a very similar way to the Lyngdorf. 🤞

[@unepanthere]

ew, Icon Audio amp on the bottom right corner? That looks like a big tube; like an 845?? Thanks!

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks for the comment. Actually, it’s a highly modified Ming-Da Cavatina, from my friend Mark-Manwaring White of Ming-da UK. It uses an 805A tube with a 300B. It’s a great combination.

[@brucermarino]

(1) Would not a curved/rounded front panel be helpful with correction? (2) Your radio test is a good idea but is not the radio's low frequency response especially important in this context? I very much appreciate your design philosophy. Thanks, my friend!

[@PearlAcoustics]

Hi Bruce - thanks for your comment. In listening tests, a correction is not needed. The imaging is excellent and distortion, not an issue, because the cone is concave. I only mention it because it exists as a fact , nothing more. It can, sometimes become an issue when you have protruding ‘convex, dome shaped tweeters. But there are hundreds of these designs without issue. Re the radio, I really mean a cheap portable radio. We are listening for normal speech. Podcasts can be excellent for this. Or BBC Radio 4! it’s true some radio stations put way too much base into their presenters voices!

[@brucermarino]

@@PearlAcoustics Thanks! I'll happily consider this.

[@Thomas..Anderson]

9:24 Sound "bouncing back" from rear wall is not called edge diffraction. It is called reflection. Edge diffraction is something completely different.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks for the comment. Indeed… if I implied otherwise it’s an error in a one take recorded video.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thanks again for your comment. Just seen the video again and the point I was trying to make is that when an enclosure is placed near a rear wall, the effect of edge diffraction can be more noticeable than when it is standing in the Middle of the room because in some circumstances, the rear wall acts as a kind of ‘soundboard’ / reflector that can emphasise the edge diffraction occurring at the front edges of the enclosures more. Hoping that clears it up?

[@bubbleone6526]

Thanks so much for turning me on to Sam Vloeman.

[@PearlAcoustics]

Thank you. You’re very welcome. Enjoy

[@dbmccoy12]

Show the damn book, so I can take a screen shot!!!

[@MarkJones-re3po]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnirl3lqhqqdjrc This is the link to the exact set up cd that you talk about. Made a huge difference to how my system sounded after I set it up off this. Enjoy. 👍

[@Kukkema]

I have a 4x4 meter little room and the sound/bass is terrible!

[@PearlAcoustics]

Square rooms can be a challenge but, take a look at my video on ‘Building a listening room’ or contact GIK Akoustics - they can certainly help you. A solution is always possible. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZape5ariMqfp5Ysi=jFgH_HaZST1A6aQF

[@chrisguygeezer]

Probably 90% of us are compromised within our listening space. I would love perfect placement, but I'm compromised because my living and dining are are one. One day 🤞😊

[@PearlAcoustics]

Indeed, most of us are compromised in some way. Enjoy what you have! It’s the music that matters!