Adjusting tilt with a laser level.

[Steve Edwards]

One other question on tilt; is the left to right being level as important as the forward / back and why?

[GdnrBob]

@Steve Edwards,

Great question!

Enquiring minds want to know...

B

[Bill]

Good method.  Note however that your ears are not at the exact same height on each side of your head.  Especially if the doctor used forceps during your delivery, so adjustments may be in order.  😄 

[ctsooner]

That's some funny stuff. lol. 

[Leo hi-fi]

On 5/6/2021 at 7:19 PM, Richard Vandersteen said:

Use the laser to point at a "X" on a piece of cardboard in the listening position 8 inches above your ear height.  Use whatever amount of washers on the rear spike to get the laser on the X exactly.  Do the same for the other speaker which will automatically compensate for the floor problems.

Can anybody confirm that this method suggested by Richard Vandersteen, with the "X" on a piece of cardboard, works for the Treo CT? This may be only for the Kento. Thanks for any information you may have. 

[GdnrBob]

27 minutes ago, Leo hi-fi said:

Can anybody confirm that this method suggested by Richard Vandersteen, with the "X" on a piece of cardboard, works for the Treo CT? This may be only for the Kento. Thanks for any information you may have.

I should work for all his speakers.

B

[Leo hi-fi]

Thanks for the reply. I would assume the same, but the height is different. The Treo is 43" and the Kento is 47". It would seem to me that this difference in height would have an impact when setting the tilt. 

[TomicTime]

i believe the design. constant is the distance of the center of the acoustic lens  to top of cabinet which is constant, the aim point of laser is also a constant, the amount of tilt required to hit target varies. hope this helps.

[Richard Vandersteen]

The 8 inch target is correct for the TREO, QUATRO and KENTO.  Obviously some of the speakers have different heights and some people are putting the speakers on granite of different thicknesses so the tilt will vary but the ear must be 8 inches below a plane defined by the top surface of the speakers.

RV 

[Leo hi-fi]

2 hours ago, Richard Vandersteen said:

the ear must be 8 inches below a plane defined by the top surface of the speakers.

Thank you so much Richard, for the explanation. That is exactly what I was not getting. Concise and clear explanation. 
My Treo  CTs sound really good but once I make this adjustment of the tilt, I’m sure they will sound even better. Thanks also to TomicTime. 

[ctsooner]

This is why the forums are awesome.  We can all get the correct answers for legit questions very quickly.  

[Tom]

Richard - Is this method valid for 3A Sig's and 1C's as well? If not, what would be the correct distance? Thanks

 

[TomicTime]

1 hour ago, Tom said:

Richard - Is this method valid for 3A Sig's and 1C's as well? If not, what would be the correct distance? Thanks

 

Well, you have stumped the 24/7/365 Vandy help line dude…. me. I think the acoustic center of those two models are different relative to the top plate, so i don’t think so……

One thing would be setup w laser measure exactly as manual describes using ear ht, distance and then use correct washers, then put laser on top of speakers and calculate offset from ear height.

Otherwise wait for wizard of Hanford to weigh in…

 

ha.

 

 

[Tom]

If my measurements are correct, it looks like the 3A's offset should be about 11.25". Haven't tried the 1C's.

[Holmz]

I find the term “Laser level” disturbing, when laser should be used.

For 2c do I just shine a flashlight in and measure the tweeter offset?

[GdnrBob]

@Holmz,

35 minutes ago, Holmz said:

I find the term “Laser level” disturbing, when laser should be used.

What is disturbing? You just use a laser level placed on the top of the speaker and point it at your listening area.

 

37 minutes ago, Holmz said:

For 2c do I just shine a flashlight in and measure the tweeter offset?

No, this is why you use a laser level. It directs a concentrated beam of light (unlike a flashlight), so you can accurately measure the difference between the top of the speaker and the tweeter.

B

[Richard Vandersteen]

Jim is correct.  You would follow the instructions in the manual (with a plumb bob) for tilt and use the laser to make sure both are right on.  On older models one would find the sweet spot in mono (one speaker) and use the laser to get both speakers exactly the same.  I do not have exact numbers for any of our speakers referenced to the top surface other than the ones stated above.  2C speakers are 35 to 40 years old and I don't have a pair in the shop as we don't have a museum.  

RV

[Holmz]

Ok Guys - I’ll read the Instructions again.

 

14 hours ago, Richard Vandersteen said:

….  2C speakers are 35 to 40 years old and I don't have a pair in the shop as we don't have a museum.  

RV

It’s o’roight… I have your museum here 😉 

(Free admission to who’s ever in the area and signs the guest book.)

[Richard Vandersteen]

16 hours ago, GdnrBob said:

@Holmz,

What is disturbing? You just use a laser level placed on the top of the speaker and point it at your listening area.

 

No, this is why you use a laser level. It directs a concentrated beam of light (unlike a flashlight), so you can accurately measure the difference between the top of the speaker and the tweeter.

B

The Tweeter is never the focus point of an aligned array.  It varies but will be centered somewhere on the midrange.

RV 

[Holmz]

Here a “laser level” is orthogonal to the direction gravity.

So I was imagining a “laser pointer” so I could lean em back. With alevel  till a level slide off and it would still shoot at like a definition of a flat earth plane.

In the manual for the 2Ce (sigs) I could not find it buys the tree says :

Quote

“Use a laser pointer on top of the Treo you just added
washers to and mark the rear wall. Use however many washers required on the second speaker so that the laser points at the mark made earlier. Both speakers should now be at the same angle. It is important that both speakers are perfectly parallel with each other.

 

[TomicTime]

Laser measure is all you need . It can be used as a pointer. Yes tilt important in almost all cases. In all but rare cases some tilt required. 

call or text me if this does not make sense 253-431-6735

Jim

 

[Holmz]

It makes sense, I brought my pointer home from the office.
(I might use the pointer and the level.)

Edited September 11, 2021 by Holmz

[bkeske]

@Holmz I have 2CE Sigs. I use the manual to set the recommended tilt. Oh course I play around with that bit, as it is based on ‘avg’ ear height, distance to the speakers, etc. I then use my laser just to make sure each/both are adjusted the same.

There is no guidance for laser height for the 1, 2’s, or 3’s that I know of.

[Stringreen]

I put a Post It on the wall in back of my listening chair, used a laser pen pointer on top of the left 5A, and put an "X" on the Post It where the laser hit the wall....I put the pen on the other speaker, raised the speaker so that the the light hit the  X.  I was careful  to mark the top of the laser pen so not to rotate it ...its position remained the same on both speakers.   

[Richard Vandersteen]

On 9/11/2021 at 3:13 PM, bkeske said:

@Holmz I have 2CE Sigs. I use the manual to set the recommended tilt. Oh course I play around with that bit, as it is based on ‘avg’ ear height, distance to the speakers, etc. I then use my laser just to make sure each/both are adjusted the same.

There is no guidance for laser height for the 1, 2’s, or 3’s that I know of.

There is no need for the laser height as the instructions use a plumb bob (or string and a nut) which compensates for any floor issues.

 

RV