Making the most of a bad lot (Sumiko Master Setup)

The reaction of most was that they either needed servicing, that he was deaf or insane. Helpful stuff, you have to love Facebook and it’s army of armchair keyboard warriors.

Anyway somebody did input something of interest. Sumiko master set-up. I’d never heard of it.

I’ve been setting up my speakers with more luck than judgement over the last 30 odd years so I thought I’d give it a go.

I’m getting some pretty damn good results. Anybody can have a go, you just have to listen to the ballad of the runaway horse from a Rob Wasserman LP called Duets, while moving your speakers around.

There are YouTube videos on how to follow the procedure (who knew) and involves you pushing both speakers against the wall, setting your listening position and moving one of the out until all the sound appears to come directly from this one speaker.

Once you’ve done this move it around in small increments listening to the bass notes (from a double bass) until it sounds right (a suitably grey requirement for the none music types like me). Moving the speaker away from the sidewall changed the dum dum notes to a thrum thrum along with an increase in perceived loudness.

Next step is the bring the other speaker out to bring the singers voice into the centre of the soundstage adjusting the toe-in to get her mouth the right size and the rake to put her at the right height (she’s 5’ 6” apparently). This all takes patients and imagination two qualities I’m not particularly gifted with.

Anyway, I’ve had a go and I’m really pleased with the results. I haven’t spend an age on it but it’s certainly made a difference. The soundstage stays in the centre of the speakers as I move around the room, the bass response is much improved and the sound in more cohesive with better separation of instruments.

Has anybody else tried this approach the positioning their speakers? I’m half expecting a didn’t you know to do this!

If anything it’s a good way to spend a couple of hours ‘improving’ the sound of your system.