Where to place stereo equipment

Find out where best to place your equipment. And check out our new KZbin channel, Octave Records / @octaverecordsanddsdst...

[@cardo1111]

Always a pleasure to watch someone who does what he loves for a living and lives and breathes what he/she speaks of 👍🏽🎧🔊👊🏽

[@thomasandersen1784]

The problem with this one is that, maybe only 10% of us, has the ability to build and set-up a stereo that way. Most of us live with hour Hi-fi, in the living room, and has to concider furnitures and space to a life in generel. But the lucky ones, u go for it 💪 ✌️❤️🇩🇰

[@Chrisspru]

i use multiple bookshelf speakers and a sub to get a good soundstage with a hidden wall of sound

[@djbusters]

Well, about the turntable ... getting up and playing it gives a feeling of more of active listening, not skipping tracks (streaming). That was the major reason for me to get into Analog audio. :)

[@disnaess]

I feel the same nowadays, streaming is good, flac is good, I have no issues with digital at all, but the capability of quickly skipping a track does not 'force me' to focus on the music, with LP it's different. For just having some background music I don't put on an LP to wear out earlier, on the other hand it doesn't allow me to focus actively on one thing for 2-3 hours, it needs to be turned around, while digital is completely okay for this (e.g. a full playlist, autoplay). What can have digital focused/enjoyed too are tubes (a tube preamp or power amp) for me. I don't burn precious tube hours just for background music, so when I use tubes, I again sit down and focus on the music rather than just doing something else.

[@R0hi]

Limitation is feature!

[@djbusters]

@@R0hi I think there someone who was interviewed by Steve ( @audiophiliac) who said the same thing. its not a limitation it is a feature. I sit down to enjoy the music. I am loving the part that I can slow down.

[@justitgstuff5284]

@@disnaess Same, if I'm going to fully utilize what I have, I want to be actively listening and enjoying it, especially with vinyl since good needles aren't cheap. I stick with my FLAC library for any other situation, like when I'm busy or just have an album in the background.

[@stpd1957]

Lovely sound advice, thank you

[@fixnreview]

Subscriber here from Philippines watching & listening everyday. Happy Valentines!

[@dougg1075]

That’s a serious looking speaker you have there Mr Paul A home run on looks.

[@gotham61]

Putting the equipment on low stands in front of the listening position is popular with Japanese audiophiles. The main problem is that the sound can reflect off the stands and equipment, causing confusing short term reflections that can affect imaging. Putting the gear behind the speakers really isn't a problem it the speakers are far away from the front wall, and the equipment stands don't influence the speaker placement. Putting the source equipment on the side and running a longer interconnect between the preamp and power amp, really depends on the output impedance of the preamp and input impedance of the amp. It can work fine, even with single ended RCA connections, if the preamp's output impedance is low enough.

[@roundearthshill248]

In Mother Russia stereo play YOU

[@FOH3663]

If the surface geometry is executed appropriately, gear in front of the listening position is fine... as most proper mastering environments can attest to. With effective front side damping, accompanying a modestly sized work station, it's all good.

[@musamusashi]

@@FOH3663 true, but how many people can properly execute that geometry in their homes? To put the equipment (and every other objects like tables etc. ) out of the triangle between the speakers and the listener, is the safest bet.

[@FOH3663]

@@musamusashi How many? Anyone, given a basic conception of acoustic ray tracing. That said, you do make a valid point. Thanks

[@alekskot9240]

Thank you

[@scottyo64]

My last set up had all the equipment between the speakers but about 3' behind. This time I put the equipment to the side and the monoblocks between the speakers. Wish I could of put the side equipment furture away but we deal with the cards we are dealt

[@Saphire_Throated_Carpenter_Ant]

In the thumbnail it looks like you're rocking out with some hardcore air guitar...

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

Classic setup here. Broad atacama cabinet, so its lower. Tv on the wall above it. Speakers to the sides and in front of the cabinet. Unfortunately its also my livingroom with an L shaped couch, so don't get me started on room acoustics. No real issues though

[@joz411no8]

I would love to set my system up as Paul suggested, but that would mean purchasing a second regenerator and cables that (based on their new length) would rival the cost of some of my components. The easier/more cost-effective way (also no recommended), would be to use longer speaker cables.

[@FOH3663]

@Douglas Blake Exactly... spot on. Dedicated circuits, and ideally, upsized one size to avoid potential voltage drop on peak demand. Then, and only if needed, I'd suggest an oversized balanced iso tranny. It's worth noting, any dedicated circuits are best served as unbroken home runs all the way to the panelboard... ie., they're easy to re-purpose as 240v feeds or whatever, plus it's simply good practice. Regarding the need for wire awg up-sizing; a big amplifier tracking a mammoth LF centric broadband peak signal... can ask for more than what's available of the ampacity headroom ... prior to voltage drop. It's the soft limiting of voltage drop..., when a system needs stiff voltage high current draw, it encounters a soft limiting. It's not huge, but it is impactful and worth addressing when practical.

[@MH-rl9ep]

Paul…I’m curious. Can you get the benefit of balanced cable while converting to unbalanced at the end of the run? My preamp has balanced outs but my poweramp has only rca inputs. I’d like to place my poweramp between the speakers as you suggest, so am wondering if I can use balanced cables to the amp and then use an xlr to rca adapter to convert to the rca inputs at my amp. would i still get the low noise benefits of balanced cables this way?

[@hchavez]

Do you find that running that air conditioner next to your speakers distorts your sound? I know when I run my fan I hear a muffle in the sound.

[@paulhunter6652]

What’s the brand of shelf that your gear is on? I don’t want to break the bank on over=priced audiophile racks.

[@finscreenname]

Thinking the turn table needs to be away from the speakers so the tone arm dont pick up should waves from them. Besides that which we used to just record albums on tape to listen to it loud, everything is between the 4 RS IIIa's on one wall. Maybe if I built a sound room but then I think it would look like a recording studio where I sat at a sound board.

[@manganzon81]

What are some examples of good solid long XLR interconnect cables? All the ones I see like Audioquest, dont go 20-30 ft long. I need mine to be that long. Why i went with 25 ft speaker cables instead.

[@sadsazzad12]

Which suggestion is better for stereo, like according to Paul place stereo/ mono amps between the speakers for shorter speaker cables but longer interconnct's?? or place everything away/ between from speaker's including stereo/ mono amp's but having longer speaker cable's but shorter interconnect's ?? Thanks Paul😊 any suggestion's ??

[@volpedo2000]

What about putting the gear in the room behind the speakers. If you are splashing out the big bucks for a dedicated room might as well.

[@NoEgg4u]

That would probably sound the best. But people like to be in the room with their equipment. Also, if done right, you can get amazingly great sound quality with the equipment setup the way Paul has his setup.

[@JD-mm4ub]

Hey Paul, How far from the front wall are those beautiful new speakers of yours.

[@octaverecordsanddsdstudios1285]

About 4 feet as measured from their rears to the wall.

[@jamesplotkin4674]

Now that the FR30's are the new "reference" are you going to redesign your electronics that were originally voiced using the IRS V's?

[@googoo-gjoob]

guess what the FR30s were voiced to.....

[@jamesplotkin4674]

@@googoo-gjoob I may be mistaken, as I often am, but didn't Paul say the FR30's sound better and that they are the "new" reference?

[@mostirreverent]

Since i don't have balanced equipment (Threshold FET 10 to an Adcom GFA-555), I opted for long speaker cables. I sometimes keep my mac to the side with the rest of the electronics, and use an iphone remote. Other times, I put the laptop next to my chair, with a probably too long USB cable to the galvanically isolated input on my moon CD player's DAC. Can't say I can hear a difference...

[@adamk4716]

Don’t the amps piled high between the speakers as you have them negatively impact the sound stage? Wouldn’t it be better if each amp was slightly behind the speaker and/or to it’s left and right so that there is nothing in between the speakers ?

[@thedalailmao]

Whatever one puts in between should stay below the midrange and the HF drivers on the speakers by at least a ft or two. For stand-mounted bookshelves, I'd raise them to stay well above the equipment.

[@saint6563]

Remember, Paul is in a PS Audio Showroom so...

[@musamusashi]

I agree and would personally back of the power amp, even if just a foot behind the baffle of the speakers.

[@D1N02]

My gear is on a low table against the wall behind the speakers, nothing in between the speakers. Short interconnects

[@rolandschlangen1860]

But if you place the turntable aside and in the sound path from the speakers, doesn't the turntable be influenced by the soundwaves?

[@musamusashi]

In a non treated room, every location will be subject to wave that can interfere with the TT. You should look for the point of less pressure and put it there, but that would not always be feasible so an isolated TT o some isolation device under it, can surely be useful.

[@frankbose544]

maybe you should do more technical videos im an electronics guy who would love to learn some of that amplifier design knowledge

[@3Q2HFNILQHF]

And, that's just my opinion, DO WHATEVER THE F*CK YOU WANNA DO!! I imagine him saying this lol

[@techno_magnus9616]

I almost always have on or near the left front speaker.

[@najdier]

Is setting up a stereo system in a brick-and-mortar room more advantageous to the listening experience than in a room built from standard construction wood, all things being equal?

[@najdier]

@Lloyd Stout Thanks for the reply. When the room is purpose-built to house a system such symmetry should be built in.

[@najdier]

@Douglas Blake That's a good idea. I think thick wall to wall carpeting and acoustic panels spread around the walls and ceiling would supress any reflections.

[@jorgerodriguez6042]

those f30 speakers i think they well look better other way around

[@watchnut]

Hi Paul, what placement would you recommend for an integrated amp?

[@henrym78]

Horizontal

[@JC-lk3oy]

I personally would recommend you treat it as a power amp and put it between the speakers. In all honesty, Paul is being a bit too anal here imo. I've tested with everything in the center vs how he has it off to the side, and I don't hear a difference. If you have a TV between your speakers you've already caused way more problems than audio equipment near the floor ever will.

[@bikemike1118]

Between and slightly behind the speakers! That also keeps speaker cables reasonably short.

[@disnaess]

@@JC-lk3oy how can a TV between the speakers affect sound ? I mean I agree, just looking for a correction. The front of the speakers are about 1m towards us, not really in-line with the tv's surface so I assume there isn't much sound (especially high freq) reflecting back from the tv itself. A more comfortable solution could be to dampen highs like e.g. using some absorbers, a piece of felt, any other material .. on the tv-pointing side of the speaker cabinets, especially for the tweeters, so that less is going towards the reflective tv screen in the middle. Damping midrange toeards tv would need way more absorption material and I'm not sure if it's needed at all, but maybe yes.. damping bass not needed at all (within this context) .. they even see through building walls if they're not solid concrete (and they also don't have a pronounced directivity, they just appear for the brain to come from everywhere).

[@JC-lk3oy]

@@disnaess There's really no solution for a TV between the speakers. Yes you are correct, it adds a reflection point. The solution I went with was to move to an acoustically transparent screen with a short throw projector. The acoustically transparent screen does 2 things. First it allows you the option of mounting your center channel behind the screen which means dialog will come from the screen instead of below of above it. 2nd, it allows you to add room treatment behind it as needed. This obviously isn't an option for everyone, but it's what I did.

[@BoviDaze]

And I'm this guy who just bought long RCA cables. But I have no other choice since my system doesn't support XLR inputs.

[@peterw2714]

Just make sure your cords are RF shield protected.

[@NoEgg4u]

Choice of components and their placement is always a compromise. We do the best that we can with our budget and our listening space. Even if your stereo supported XLR interconnects, then you still compromise on which brand and model within the brand. You could spend $100,000 on XLR interconnects. If you did not, then you compromised. Unless you have a briefcase full of $$, there will always be compromises -- even with high-end, there is always something that could be better.

[@RickMahoney2013]

Hey Paul when are we going to hear the FR 30’s

[@NoEgg4u]

The likely answer is: never. You will always be hearing your speakers, on top of the myriad of denigrating processes that will happen between his speakers and your speakers (analog to digital conversion, and back to analog, internet and youtube issues, etc). I doubt that Paul wants anyone to hear such a distorted version of how is speakers actually sound. Anything that anyone would hear in such a manner will be a far cry from how his speakers actually sound, and will likely have people complaining about the sound quality. I suspect that Paul wants the only comments to come from people that actually heard his speakers as they truly sound.

[@RickMahoney2013]

@@NoEgg4u that is sad he needs to get them out to the public so we can listen to them

[@michaelwright1602]

How long can you run a Toslink or HDMI cable? Or would you need to use an ethernet balun? I could do this if not for the toslink/HDMI connection... On edit: Well, I checked, I can run TOSlink and HDMI 50 feet. I may just do this, and clean up the living room. Would be nice having my Cambridge streamer right there behind me in the dining room. The amplifier can go behind the TV using long XLR cables, and use those wifi remotes for the two subs. Hmmm... This is doable.

[@bryandepaepe5984]

A turntable could be remote controlled but it would require a small robotic arm and a lot of programming for each individual record or impractical.

[@apexracing741]

That's called a jukebox.

[@jc6993]

And stereo 2.1?

[@idkisaidit]

Hey sorry for this total noob question, but when he says long cables are OK so long as they are “balanced,” what does he mean?

[@nicolasjoly1755]

it means that the low level signal runs on 2 wires plus a ground shield as third wire, in studios you may have low signals sources as microphone ,running up to 200 yards

[@WSS_the_OG]

Balanced cables cancel out any noise that might get picked up over longer runs, unlike RCA cables. They're designed for this purpose, in fact.

[@joz411no8]

The most common audio cable connection is RCA - cable with the simple male-to-female terminations on each end of the wire. The balanced cable he's referring to are XLR - a 3-prong cable. Not confuse you, but even though a cable (XLR) may be balanced, it does not necessarily mean the component itself is fully balanced, even if it has the XLR terminals.

[@allansh828]

your listen room is only 30 m^2? Wow, that's much smaller than it looks like.

[@AllboroLCD]

This brings up an issue ive heard about shows where many brands fail to treat their listening rooms and quite often short change themselves and misrepresent how their stuff sounds. I do very much wanna check one of these audio shows soon as I can!

[@petercoosen7713]

Funny, without even knowing it, that's how I set up my audio room in the attic.

[@FOH3663]

On this very topic, I learned a good firsthand lesson back in the 80's... What's between the speakers is huge. It was killer... my wonderful two channel system... big huge room, an apartment w/high ceilings renovated 1800's schoolhouse. Speakers well off side walls and four or five feet off the front wall... In the middle, between my mains, a tiny little stand with my electronics... Killer, big lush, immersive, nicely dimensional soundstage with a full, diffuse amount of secondary energy. Newly married, received a huge oak all in one AV cabinet... a piece of furniture! Obligated to use it, ... from my parents, we installed it front center... Visually; gorgeous, modern. Sonically; annihilated everything. It was stunning has it destroyed almost every good attribute of my rig. A short time later... we bought a home ... picked it out expressly for it's nice primary, listening room! Ah... got those sonics back!

[@paw45]

Just have the butler attend the phonograph. 😜

[@dandonna852]

If won the lottery? I Have shelving with very good air circulation in wall then have glass doors with lights ( everything be tuck in the. wall so be a nice flat wall)

[@occiditumbra8493]

I'm so sorry for you.

[@outside-man]

Ah..! Power Amps, If Only..!

[@tommy1065]

You can if you want for a reasonable price buy a old Sony TA-N80ES or even two N55ES poweramps. High quality at a affordable price!

[@GK-rw2op]

Paul talks like everyone has balanced cables. Hello !! real world here

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

Balanced is best for a longer run like that.

[@cdr1576]

@Douglas Blake that way it defeats the purpose of XLR.

[@NoEgg4u]

@My Dead Channel Please quote where Paul talked as you are asserting. Also, would you prefer for Paul to advise the wrong use of cable types when trying to achieve the best sonic results?

[@Snook_]

@Douglas Blake This doesn't work? You need to be terminating the balanced cables on the equipment itself... Got a link to explain what your on about? Everything I have ever read says what you are doing achieves nothing because the ground needs to touch the circuit to make it a balanced run.

[@dinoso]

I respect Paul’s advice not to put the source gear between the speakers, but he doesn’t explain why he thinks it’s a bad idea. Anybody?

[@saint6563]

Interferes with the soundstage; as a flat screen display will as well!! Enjoy.

[@NoEgg4u]

In addition to what SAINT 65 wrote, it is not good to have any gear in a position where it will be vibrated form the sound -- especially tubes. I heard a wildly great stereo in the store where I purchased my stereo, and their setup was the same as Paul's.

[@saint6563]

@Lloyd Stout hahaha You need to work on your comprehension skills! Specifically stated "soundstage"; specifically pointing out the detrimental reflective aspects of a flat screen display. Hopefully you're better able to comprehend good sound. LOL Enjoy.

[@NoEgg4u]

@Lloyd Stout You wrote that I am not 100% accurate, which is fine, if you feel that is the case. What is not fine is for you to make that claim, and not quote anything. When you assert that someone is wrong (or not accurate), you should point out what it is that is wrong (or not accurate). You did not. Now that you know, please copy/paste the words that I used with which you took issue.

[@NeilDSouza7]

I tried placing them on my head but that did not sound right - LOL🤣🤣🤣

[@Crokto]

i usually place them near the stereo

[@lekmannen9990]

Makes sense

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

Given the price of cables, that's a pretty pricy move.

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

@Douglas Blake You're hilarious, but then again anyone who takes the time to you know, actually listen to their system can hear the difference.

[@joz411no8]

I just said the same thing. And anyone arguing that cables can come from Lowes or a hardware store, should ACTUALLY sit and listen to the difference between "courtesy cables" and even the most modest, audio-specific upgrade.

[@poserwanabe]

@@VideoArchiveGuy you don't happen to live in the Pittsburgh area do you ?? I have a pile of cash you can take from me if you can pass abx listening tests, if not, I'll take your money, peace.

[@NoEgg4u]

@@VideoArchiveGuy Correct.

[@NoEgg4u]

@@joz411no8 Correct.

[@garysmith8455]

How many of us have a coffee table in front of our listening position? They are usually LOW and out of the way. For me? I moved my LOW audio rack in place of the coffee table and have my gear right at hand. One poweramp on a dolly between the speakers 20' away, and 18' of QUAD XLR cables for the signal to it. I tried the gear off to the side, but trying to see displays at that angle and finding that remotes are troublesome off axis was a pain in the arse! Having my preamp/volume knob right at hand is instant, no need to fumble with pointing remotes in low lighting at the gear with hit or miss communication.

[@davidfromamerica1871]

Where to place stereo equipment..?? Those that are confused where to place your stereo equipment..?? In my house..🤔…😀👍🤗😎

[@ThinkingBetter]

Convenience matters and as every person on this planet gets used to just clicking on a song on their mobile app to play it instantly, convenience will matter even more. The time it takes from your brain thinks about adjusting volume or skipping a track until it actually happens has become much more important today than decades ago when we stood up and walked to do those things. Yes, perhaps some fraction of consumers are still willing to move their butt to skip a song, but the trend is in favor of convenience. In the 70s people were starting to realize remote controllers were needed for TV channel control. Nowadays a TV without remote would be laughed at. I have an old rotary phone that I keep as a decoration and recently tried it for the fun of it. It's funny how old things can become so unacceptable when we get used to better things.

[@cablebrain9691]

I didn't hear much of the "why" in that explanation.

[@bikemike1118]

Two disadvantages of „Paul‘s solution“ are: depending on the XLR interconnects (and/or your preamp) these long ones oftentimes do NOT sound as good as shorter ones - (that can even be detected with XLR cables in a high resolving and good chain) - with a reasonable length of 1 to 1.5 meters (3 to 5 foot)! AND if you’re going for HighEnd interconnects …the price increase because of 5 to 8 times the length is ridiculous. Even a third disadvantage comes to mind: your sensitive source components are prone to vibrations coming from the sound of your speakers. My tip: set up your system between and slightly behind your speakers…therefore you can keep all cables pretty short (which is always an advantage), you don’t get any interference with sound waves, it saves you a good portion of money and as most components have a remote …it’s comfy as well!!

[@jamesplotkin4674]

3 to 5 inches? Guys are going to disappoint their friend by claiming they're 1.5 meters. I suppose it depends upon what country they're from ;-)

[@bikemike1118]

@@jamesplotkin4674 foot … my friend 😆

[@JC-lk3oy]

This is the way.

[@bikemike1118]

@Douglas Blake sure, not a problem technically…but sonically those lengths are inferior to shorter length

[@richardt3371]

That doesn't make much sense, tbh. If your favourite setup is with power amps between the speakers, then surely the advice is simply to have your separates between your speakers but on low shelves.

[@Snook_]

You didn't actually say 'why' you put it off to the side instead of in the front like 99% of setups???

[@Snook_]

@Douglas Blake except he harped on about remotes…

[@Snook_]

@Douglas Blake typical deflection from internet troll

[@poserwanabe]

Wherever your wife tells you.

[@the_normal]

Turntable on the sound path?? Bad idea.

[@SwoOopy]

At least do not place them on floor area between speaker's front & listener.

[@thunderpooch]

Nobody has ever heard these have they?

[@NoEgg4u]

Someone might not have on them because they did or maybe not when those were what they have, depending on what they claim they heard. That's what I heard.

[@peterw2714]

@@NoEgg4u 🤔

[@paulb.3227]

@@NoEgg4u Can you translate this please ?

[@NoEgg4u]

@@paulb.3227 The comment to which I replied was meaningless, as was my reply.

[@bloodcarver913]

The most stupid thing I see ppl do is placing 2m3 of rack and equipment in the middle of the main speakers. Consider what that does to blocking your 3D effect from your mains?

[@ryanschipp8513]

Powerplant................lmfao...snake oil city. What a waste of money.

[@johnholmes912]

Paul is standing in front of a system that has the turn-table in front of the speakers.. that is an awful set up

[@matthewsallman1700]

Where should he put it? It is a long way from the speakers. Between the speakers or behind would be much worse. My system is similar and I have no problems with feedback. Of course my Sota Star Sapphire is a floating chassis. With the exception of putting the turntable in another room I think he has it optimized.

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

Npt at all, plus the isolation of the VPI HW-40's feet is truly wonderful.

[@saint6563]

It's a showroom.

[@googoo-gjoob]

no... it is not. as stated..... it is off to the side. try & keep up