For the longest time I also towed my speakers in slightly, and was happy with the sound. But recently I went through an extensive listening session moving them in and out and all around as far as the cables would allow to see (once again) if the placement was optimal. To my surprise, placing them with no toe-in, firing straight ahead sounded best, with a similar enlargement of the soundstage which now truly extends beyond each speaker to the sides of the listening space. At the same time I placed the spikes I had underneath the speakers in some Herbies titanium gliders that isolated them from the floor instead of stabbing directly through the carpet to the concrete slab below. This also raised the speakers about 1 to 1.5 inches higher than before, and the total effect is a definite improvement in not only soundstage width but bass solidity and articulation too. It's the best my system has ever sounded -- I only wish I had more hours in a day to listen and enjoy.
I remember, decades ago, the British audio writer/gadfly Jimmy Hughes writing that this was the best thing to do.
I have tried different approaches. I think it depends on the room shape, typed and design of the speakers, where one sits and so forth. My living room is an odd shape and it’s where my main system is located. My lefts speaker is straight while my right one is towed in. I have fooled around with the right side placement because I have room to move it around, and the differences of 6” can be audible. It’s probably due to the bounce of sound waves. Once your angles are off who knows what will be the results. So, to answer the original question, it all depends. Lol.
Another explanation from Harbeth:- Speakers in rooms - considerations for the best sound - YouTube I use a combination of my ears and a calibrated mic + REW to setup my speakers...
I used this Harbeth video when I did my speaker setup. I particularly like the ratio of the distance between the speakers to the distance to the listening position. Works for me in my room.
Enforces my thinking regarding keeping the loudspeakers and listening position well away from walls and toeing them in. Like the explanation about how stereo works and the advantages of a center loudspeaker.
I enjoyed and learned from the video as well. As Alan says several times, he describes an ideal, rather than what might work in the real world. Case in point: I can move my speakers farther apart in order to achieve the 1:1.5 ratio he describes. But in doing so, I will move them closer to the side walls!
A thought occurs, re this. Do you suppose toeing out the speakers can create a more spacious "curtain of sound" (to use Alan's term) when physically spacing the speakers farther apart is not an option?
I tried this and followed his directions exactly and I can tell you THIS WORKS! It is amazing. My stereo sounds so much better than ever before. Depth, clarity of instruments and vocals, imaging like crazy. So cool. At the end he suggests working with toe in but says that depending on your final speaker placement you may or may not need toe in.
Decided to play around with toe in on my KEF R7s this weekend. Speakers and listening spot are equally distanced at 10’ per my room size. Bringing the speakers in to around 18 degrees really snapped things in to focus and added spatial detail. I was finally able to hear the 3 dimensionality of my MoFi 45 RPM mono pressing of Pet Sounds. Incredible!
I do toe in my speakers. I play them in a nearfield triangular position. The reason I don't position my Polk speakers straight is because the room I have them in is small, and the sides are irregular. I also configured my amp for nearfields. Sure, I lose some spaciousness and a bit of depth, but the diffusion is lessened.
