OPTIMIZING THE SYSTEM
Improving Bass Performance
Select a music track with
Typically, moving them towards the walls will increase low bass output, but can result in more unevenness higher up the musical scale. Moving them closer to the side walls will not produce the same effect as moving closer to the back wall, so try experimenting moving both ways for the most pleasing sound.
Also listen to drum sounds. The kick drum should sound tight and fast, without
A useful tip to speed up the process is to have a partner move around the room while talking. Listen to where the voice sounds most natural, without added chestiness, and position the loudspeaker in that location.
Improving Imaging
Now select music with a strong center image. Listen for that image to be exactly centered between the loudspeakers, and to be
16 TAD Reference One Owner’s Manual
performance of the CST driver, the strength of the
Now listen to music with
front wall. Try moving them forward.
Final Optimization
You may find that as you move the loudspeakers to optimize one aspect of performance another worsens; for example, trading improved image accuracy for poorer bass response. If this occurs, try moving your listening position. Bass response is governed strongly by both loudspeaker and listening positions, whereas
imaging is mostly determined by the loudspeaker position. Therefore, you may find that if optimizing for imaging compromises bass, then changing the listening position will bring back bass performance.
The room characteristics will also have a profound influence upon the sound. Live rooms, with few soft furnishings and hard floors, will impart an artificial sense of spaciousness to the sound but reduce the intimacy and accuracy. Overly dead rooms, with lots of furnishing, carpets, and drapes will produce a very dry, lifeless sound and require lots more power to drive the loudspeakers to adequate sound levels. The optimum is somewhere