From: jarnold@spot.wrc.xerox.com (jeff arnold esc1-318)
Subject: Re: Problems with my system ... 
Organization: Xerox
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 23:07:40 GMT

> Naturally, I'll assume you have all loudness contour switches on your
> pre-amp turned off.

Yes.  I do have all the loudness switches off.

> Pull your speakers farther away from the walls.  If the tweeters aren't
> already at ear level, get them up on stands.  Your room may also be too

They are positioned at ear level.

> "soft."  Lots of couchs, plush rugs, drapes, etc tend to absorb the
> higher frequency.  If two of the dimensions in the room are equal
> (ie., a 14' by 14' square room) you can get some nasty standing waves.

I have 2 sofas, a glass coffee table, blinds by the right side of one
speaker and a carpeted living room.

> and none of the former.  AR's are noted as being the pioneers in 
> wide-dispersion speakers that are supposed to sound good in normal 
> living conditions, not just in anechoic chambers, so I'll assume your
> speakers are of decent quality.

That's exactly what I thought.  I don't expect them to sound better
than a pair of $1000 Infinity or whatever but they just don't
sound right.  There is more BASS than I can handle but when it
comes to high and mid-range ... :( 

> Tell us more about your room and the placement of things.  BTW, how

My apartment is a bi-level unit with a high vaulted ceiling.  The speakers
are placed 10 inches away from the wall and approx. 7 feet apart with
the stereo rack and TV in between them.  The following is an aerial view
of my carpeted living room ...

----------------------------- WALL -------------------
                                                     |
           left speaker   stereo rack  TV   right    | 
                                           speaker   |
                                                     B
   K      ***********                                l
   I      ***********                                i
   T      ***********                                n
   C      ***********      |-----|                   d 
   H      ** Sofa1 **      |Coff.|                   s
   E      ***********      |Table|                   
   N      ***********      |     |                   B
          ***********      |-----|                   l
   A      ***********                                i
   R                                                 n
   E                      ********************       d
   A                      ********************       s
                          ******* Sofa2 ******  
                          ********************       |
                                                     |
                                                     |
              Heater                                 |
                                                     |
----------------------------- WALL -------------------

Distance from ...

Wall to speakers: 10 inches
Left speaker to right speaker: 7 feet 
Left speaker to sofa1: 1 foot
Speakers to sofa2: 7.5 feet
Right speaker to blinds: less than 1 foot

Note that the second level of my apt. extends to the top of sofa1.
 
> old are your AR's?  Did you get them new?  Are the tweeters functioning?

My AR's are less than 1 year old and I got them new.  To be honest
with you, I ain't no hifi guru or whatever but I do know that my
system doesn't sound ok.  I do believe the tweeters are functioning
(however, I am not 100% sure.  Please don't laugh :( ).  How do I
figure out for sure if my tweeters are functioning?

Thanks,

Henry.

P.S. I'm using monster (speaker) cables and the interconnects that
     come with the equipments.
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