VANDERSTEEN 3A - Page 10

mounted on the side walls to control reflections.
To determine where the sound absorbent material
should be placed, imagine that the walls are mirrors
and mount the material on the walls where you would
see the reflections of the speakers when you are sitting
in your normal listening position. Before you actually
mount anything on the side walls, experiment with a
folded natural-fiber blanket to verify the positioning of
the material and that you will get the results you desire.
If your listening position is close to the wall behind
you, mount some sound absorbent material, such as a
hanging tapestry, directly behind your head. As with
the material for the side walls, experiment with a folded
natural-fiber blanket to verify the results before you
acquire or mount the material.
Helpful Hints
a. To try the speakers on different walls, set your equip¬
ment in the middle of the room so the speaker cables
can reach each possible location.
b. When you change the placement of the speakers,
listen to several different pieces of music before
judging the results of the change.
c. If you set the speakers on a wood floor, place a coin
under each cone or spike or use rounded head
carriage bolts; 1/4-20 thread bolts in place of the
cones and 3/6-16 thread bolts in place of the spikes.
d. When you have discovered the optimum speaker
positioning in your room, mark it with tape so you
can move the speakers to vacuum without losing
your placement reference.
e. If the bass is ill-defined in your room regardless of
where you place the speakers, check your windows
for loose panes of glass. Loose glass will vibrate
and can seriously impair the low frequency detail
of the system.
f. Don’t over-analyse the sound of each placement.
When the sound is right, it will be obvious.
g. Keep notes on the sound of different placements
you try. It is easy to get mixed-up and forget which
placement sounded the best.
Placement Notes
Bass problems that cannot be corrected with place¬
ment adjustments may be helped by the addition of
bass traps or other bass control devices. Follow the
instructions of the bass control devices as to their
proper set-up and placement to correct the problems
you are experiencing.
Vandersteen Audio, Inc.
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