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Hi All,
I learned about this speaker placement process a few years ago that promised amazing results and had some secret mythical quality as for a stage it was (some say the process in full still is), a closely guarded secret. I tried it then with very little success and in the end reverted to the LOTS system described here.
After a DAC and streamer and power supplies upgrade, I wasn't loving the sound and decided to revisit the Sumiko method, but with a tweak or two of my own. And it's the tweaks that made it more doable and moderately successful so far. (i.e. I have a sub and use REW to put in room correction filters that previously definitely improved my sound, but after applying the Sumiko method without the sub or filters, my system already sounds better than ever and I'm sure that once I add the sub and filters, it will be to a much smaller degree than they were involved before).
My tweak: use a long towel or long piece of cardboard under the speakers and have a willing assistant pull them for you while you listen to the changes in sound. Also, if you have a laser measurer it makes recording speaker location so easy. Oh, and like it says, play the track LOUD! My volume control has never been that high.
Here are links to the system but as said, instead of getting up and moving the speakers yourself or having a friend move them and then jump out the way, do the towel thing. I could not believe how the sound changed over an inch or two of movement on the fly.
Also, measure exactly and note or mark where your speakers are before you begin so you can put them back if this doesn't work out.
1. A nice step by step: https://www.thesoundapprentice.com/2019/11/sumiko-speaker-placement-guide.html
2. Another version: https://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?p=979168
3. A video by the main protagonist in the world of the system:
4. Another guy's description.
Some notes:
I didn't toe in at all because my speakers don't do well with toe in;
The rake angle thing is good, however you position your speakers;
I still have a sweet spot, but I may try perfect it more..
Enjoy!
I learned about this speaker placement process a few years ago that promised amazing results and had some secret mythical quality as for a stage it was (some say the process in full still is), a closely guarded secret. I tried it then with very little success and in the end reverted to the LOTS system described here.
After a DAC and streamer and power supplies upgrade, I wasn't loving the sound and decided to revisit the Sumiko method, but with a tweak or two of my own. And it's the tweaks that made it more doable and moderately successful so far. (i.e. I have a sub and use REW to put in room correction filters that previously definitely improved my sound, but after applying the Sumiko method without the sub or filters, my system already sounds better than ever and I'm sure that once I add the sub and filters, it will be to a much smaller degree than they were involved before).
My tweak: use a long towel or long piece of cardboard under the speakers and have a willing assistant pull them for you while you listen to the changes in sound. Also, if you have a laser measurer it makes recording speaker location so easy. Oh, and like it says, play the track LOUD! My volume control has never been that high.
Here are links to the system but as said, instead of getting up and moving the speakers yourself or having a friend move them and then jump out the way, do the towel thing. I could not believe how the sound changed over an inch or two of movement on the fly.
Also, measure exactly and note or mark where your speakers are before you begin so you can put them back if this doesn't work out.
1. A nice step by step: https://www.thesoundapprentice.com/2019/11/sumiko-speaker-placement-guide.html
2. Another version: https://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?p=979168
3. A video by the main protagonist in the world of the system:
4. Another guy's description.
Some notes:
I didn't toe in at all because my speakers don't do well with toe in;
The rake angle thing is good, however you position your speakers;
I still have a sweet spot, but I may try perfect it more..
Enjoy!
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