Magico S5 Speaker Toe-in

[davros]

I have a pair of Magico S5 speakers on order and was wondering how much toe-in people use of their Magico speakers?

Haven't seen a thread about this so thought I'd ask for your opinions to help me with speaker placement. I know it can be very room dependant.

Cheers

Dave

[BlueFox]

At this point, mine are toed in to be straight at my chair, the equi-distant triangle method. This is all by eyeball. Before they were only slightly toed in. I prefer the current setup. It seems to have solidly focused the center, and all areas from beyond each speaker, and into the speaker.

I have mine on the spikes, and once you get used to the weight, it is easy for one person to balance a speaker on a spike, and slightly rotate it a degree left or right.

[imprezap2]

I don't have the S5, but my V3's have about 5cm toe in, best results I get with both at the exact same rake angle, tweeters at same height and the exact same distance from my listening position to the tweeters. (also speakers to be away from the back wall as far as possible)

Took me a while to get this done with a laser alignment tool, but staging is now spot on

Olaf

[CLEE]

Hi Dave, welcome to the Magico user group! Below is the instruction on the S5 user manual:

"...THE RULE FOR THE TOE-IN IS TO PICK A POINT APPROXIMATELY 1 – 2 FEET (½ M) BEHIND THE LISTENER’S HEAD. TOE THE LOUDSPEAKERS IN TO INTERSECT AT THAT POINT. IF THE SOUND IS TOO BRIGHT, TOE THE SPEAKERS OUT A LITTLE MORE. IF THE SOUND IS TOO DULL, TOE THE SPEAKERS IN A LITTLE MORE."

I toe-in ~1.5 ft behind my head.

--Charles

[jsli]

Originally Posted by CLEE

I toe-in ~1.5 ft behind my head.

--Charles

How do you judge this...by estimating, laser or another way? Thanks.

[CLEE]

Originally Posted by jsli

How do you judge this...by estimating, laser or another way? Thanks.

I started by sight estimate. After adjustment, I used 2 lengths of thin strings to measure. I guess using laser would be more accurate, but I think accuracy is not critical.

[jazzman]

accuracy is very critical. In particular on symmetry. Buy a laser. Cheap.

[Yardbird]

Congratulations on your new speakers, Dave. Besides the points already made here by other forum members, my dealer, who set my speakers up for me, dropped the rear of the speakers down a little from the front height, which helped to open up the soundstage. I heard the difference before and after - nice results! Ted.

[Orb]

Originally Posted by jazzman

accuracy is very critical. In particular on symmetry. Buy a laser. Cheap.

Yeah I go with this as well.
Also useful with a laser is a digital line level; great for ensuring level of the speaker (especially when using spikes/Stillpoints-something similar/etc) and separately to assist in knowing the angles involved/used on the toe-in.
I appreciate though the toe-in may not be identical for both speakers due to non-symmetrical rooms and boundary considerations.

Example of a digital line level with angle measurements and spirit level: Digital Angle Level

Enables many laser products to be flat against this as well when measuring angles.

Cheers
Orb

[CLEE]

In my case, absolute accuracy is not required as my listening area is not fully symmetrical, and I can't be sure my head is within a few mm difference each time I sit down to listen. The digital angle level seems to be a useful tool. See if I can get one in local hardware store.