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Wild Fi

Speaker Placement - Tai Hup Style

Introduction

Master Kwong, or Kwong Tai Hup is a well known person in our local HiFi community. With over 30 years of exposure in HiFi products he has found the following method working for him very well. Many of us asked for his help and the result is just overwhelmingly good.

Kwong encourages us to disseminate this information to whoever is interested in and hence this webpage. All tributes go to Kwong and the writer takes all blame on mistakes and errors.

Click here for more introduction on Master Kwong.

The Method

This is a very simple yet effective method. We try to keep the paragraphs simple.

First the tool. We use a mono vocal CD. The one we like to use is a Nat King Cole CD. However, if you do not find this just use any similar music material but make sure it is mono.

Play the CD and determine the normal listening level. Then mute your preamp and disconnect the right channel interconnect cable. Play the CD with left channel input only. This means only the Left speaker has sound.

Listen to the music. Then experience toe in and/or toe out the Left Speaker until you hear that all music comes directly from the front panel of the speaker.

The music appears to be trapped inside the speaker box. The vocal part is pasted firmly to the mid-range speaker element.

Yes. This contradicts all book and hifi magazine theories when they propound that the music should be 'free' from the speakers.

Just have faith with us.

Do the same to the Right Speaker, again, only the Right Speaker should have sound.

When finished, play the mono CD with both speakers. The vocal part should be right at the middle between your two speakers.

Play a stereo CD which are are very familiar with. You should note that the music no longer is trapped inside the box. A much better sound stage is created. With good image and definition, everything is now in place.

Repeat the method when you are free and have the mood. Iteration is necessary if you want to have nothing but the best from your system. You may now move your speakers wider or closer apart, move them in and move them out.

The speakers must be 're-placed' whenever there is a change in your hifi equipment.

Why does it work?

The writer believes that by keeping the sound inside the speakers we have literally minimize all room reflections at your sound stage. When both channels are playing you got a faithful playback of the taped music by your setup, no more, no less.

Expected Result

This method attempts to give an even spread of energy across the entire spectrum of music sound waves produced by your setup. When every note is in place you should have the Gestalt Theorem working at your favour.

The most obvious improvement should be the 3 Dimension feel, better coherence of the bass and the tweeter element, better layering in mass string playing.

Questions???

Feel free to ask us questions and we shall try our best to help.