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M1 ACTIVE REFERENCE MANUAL 17
Stereo nearfield placement of the M1
Active
NOTE: We recommend that the M1 Active speakers be placed with the
tweeters to the
inside
, not the outside, of the listening triangle.
The “classic” studio monitor layout used to be that the tweeters be placed to the
outside of a horizontally-oriented speaker. In the past, this configuration was actually
beneficial in time aligning the tweeter with the woofer if the cabinets were not toed-
in toward the listener. However, this configuration is highly prone to comb filtering
effects if the listener’s head is moved from side-to-side while mixing. This “comb
filtering” causes the mid-to-high frequency tones to get louder, then softer, then
louder again as you move your head from side-to-side, making it very confusing
when trying to mix with precision.
Some people still believe that stereo separation is “improved” with tweeters to the
outside, but this is advice left over from the early days (the sixties) of stereo
recordings when “correct” stereo often meant a complete hard right or hard left
placement of an instrument (or singer). As stereo mixing techniques changed toward
placing the vocalist (for example) in the center, the old “tweeters-out” orientation
would indeed widen the image if one’s head were kept in the exact center position.
But this set-up proves to be very tiring, very quickly for the recording engineer.
And, to others who are listening to the mix from either side of the engineer, the
sound will seem to be coming primarily from the speaker closest to them.
Fortunately, recording techniques have changed radically since the sixties. Engineers
have learned to how to “place” an instrument or singer within the mix so that an
accurate re-creation of the actual instrument and vocal positioning (left-to-right and
front-to-back) is achieved. In the M1 Active, advances in crossover design
technologies and improvements in the off-axis response of tweeter domes and
woofer cone materials and profile have made the requirement for tweeters to be
placed to the outside of the cabinet obsolete. In fact, using a non-toed-in, tweeters-
out orientation with a modern, wide dispersion design like the M1 Active will
increase the likelihood of hearing unwanted first reflections and a variety of phase
anomalies in your mix.
Horizontal Placement Recommendation
Traditionally, proper horizontal placement of speaker systems slightly behind (not on)
a meter bridge accomplished two purposes: it allowed both woofer and tweeter to be
at ear level, and many times, it permitted the recording engineer to see over the
speakers and into the studio.
Horizontal placement is a recommended arrangement with the M1 Active because
the left and right mirror-imaged pair permits a symmetrical alignment of drivers and
ports. This will be conducive to a balanced mix. See Figure 2 below.