Positioning & Alignment - PMC IB1S-AIII User Manual

Positioning & Alignment
With their unique cabinet design, wide dispersion, ultra-low distortion, and smooth bass roll-off, PMC
TM
Advanced Transmission Line
loudspeakers are more forgiving of difficult room conditions and placement constraints than conventional
designs – you will be able to achieve a superb sound throughout the room with little effort. However, we
encourage you to spend some time experimenting in your own room to achieve the very best results,
remembering that small changes in location can often influence system performance significantly. The
following guidelines are suggestions for a starting point to locate your new loudspeakers. Fine-tuning of their
positioning can start from there.
When initially positioning the loudspeakers, they should ideally be located at two of the three corners of an
equilateral triangle, with the listener slightly inside the third corner. If the monitors are spaced too far apart
the stereo image will be wide but central definition will be impaired. Use a well recorded vocal track to
judge the ideal placement.
Dispersion and Toeing-in
Most loudspeakers have a relatively narrow dispersion and are designed to be aimed directly at the
listening position, as shown in the left-hand image below. However, the excellent stereo imaging which
PMC monitors are known for is due, in part, to their wide dispersion characteristic, as shown on the right-
hand image. To optimise the stereo imaging, PMC monitors should be angled so that their axes cross about
0.5 metres (2ft) behind the listening position (as illustrated below). Varying this toe-in angle will subtly affect
the vividness of the audio soundstage. A good music track with vivid vocals will help to determine the best
position.
Conventional Monitor PMC Monitor
Narrow Dispersion Wide Dispersion