Speaker tilt/rake angle

[sleepysurf]

I, for one, often forget about the important role that speaker tilt (aka "rake angle") plays re overall speaker tonality, particularly mids/highs. This is obviously more important for time-aligning conventional speaker drivers and tweeters, but also affects planar dipoles (like my ML Summits). During a listening session that I hosted yesterday, some folks commented about the upper mids being a little "harsh," which I had also noticed. As mentioned in another thread, we had recently upgraded from carpet to wood floors, but I forgot to "tweak" the rake angle when "dialing in" the speakers after the remodel. On carpet, the Summits sounded best completely vertical, but with the wood floors (despite a large area rug in front), they apparently perform better with a ~5 degree backward rake. That took some "glare" off the upper midrange and highs, and also raised the soundstage ~1 foot. I presume this effect is mainly due to altered floor (? ceiling) and front wall reflections, rather than improved "time alignment of drivers" since the entire panel handles everything from 270 Hz on up.

Of note, I visited the Martin Logan factory in 2007, with a group of fellow ML devotees, and the ML engineers at that time spoke about the critical role that "rake angle" plays in overall tone and soundstage height, and that future designs would incorporate more options for adjusting speaker tilt. Indeed, one of the major improvements with the Summit "X" design was a new leg/spike assembly that allowed anywhere from an 11 degree backward tilt to fully vertical.

I retrofitted my legacy Summits with the "X" legs a few years ago, so I experimented today with the tilt effect. In the end, I settled on a ~5 degree backward angle, which (probably no coincidence) is Martin Logan's default recommendation! Next up, I'll use my XTZ Room Analyzer to more objectively measure the effect.

So, how many of you have "tweaked" the "rake angle" of your speakers, and how significant was the effect?

 

[Mike]

I, for one, often forget about the important role that speaker tilt (aka "rake angle") plays re overall speaker tonality, particularly mids/highs. This is obviously more important for time-aligning conventional speaker drivers and tweeters, but also affects planar dipoles (like my ML Summits). During a listening session that I hosted yesterday, some folks commented about the upper mids being a little "harsh," which I had also noticed. As mentioned in another thread, we had recently upgraded from carpet to wood floors, but I forgot to "tweak" the rake angle when "dialing in" the speakers after the remodel. On carpet, the Summits sounded best completely vertical, but with the wood floors (despite a large area rug in front), they apparently perform better with a ~5 degree backward rake. That took some "glare" off the upper midrange and highs, and also raised the soundstage ~1 foot. I presume this effect is mainly due to altered floor (? ceiling) and front wall reflections, rather than improved "time alignment of drivers" since the entire panel handles everything from 270 Hz on up.

Of note, I visited the Martin Logan factory in 2007, with a group of fellow ML devotees, and the ML engineers at that time spoke about the critical role that "rake angle" plays in overall tone and soundstage height, and that future designs would incorporate more options for adjusting speaker tilt. Indeed, one of the major improvements with the Summit "X" design was a new leg/spike assembly that allowed anywhere from an 11 degree backward tilt to fully vertical.

I retrofitted my legacy Summits with the "X" legs a few years ago, so I experimented today with the tilt effect. In the end, I settled on a ~5 degree backward angle, which (probably no coincidence) is Martin Logan's default recommendation! Next up, I'll use my XTZ Room Analyzer to more objectively measure the effect.

So, how many of you have "tweaked" the "rake angle" of your speakers, and how significant was the effect?

Keep us posted Alan.

 

[RLL1]

I, for one, often forget about the important role that speaker tilt (aka "rake angle") plays re overall speaker tonality, particularly mids/highs. This is obviously more important for time-aligning conventional speaker drivers and tweeters, but also affects planar dipoles (like my ML Summits). During a listening session that I hosted yesterday, some folks commented about the upper mids being a little "harsh," which I had also noticed. As mentioned in another thread, we had recently upgraded from carpet to wood floors, but I forgot to "tweak" the rake angle when "dialing in" the speakers after the remodel. On carpet, the Summits sounded best completely vertical, but with the wood floors (despite a large area rug in front), they apparently perform better with a ~5 degree backward rake. That took some "glare" off the upper midrange and highs, and also raised the soundstage ~1 foot. I presume this effect is mainly due to altered floor (? ceiling) and front wall reflections, rather than improved "time alignment of drivers" since the entire panel handles everything from 270 Hz on up.

Of note, I visited the Martin Logan factory in 2007, with a group of fellow ML devotees, and the ML engineers at that time spoke about the critical role that "rake angle" plays in overall tone and soundstage height, and that future designs would incorporate more options for adjusting speaker tilt. Indeed, one of the major improvements with the Summit "X" design was a new leg/spike assembly that allowed anywhere from an 11 degree backward tilt to fully vertical.

I retrofitted my legacy Summits with the "X" legs a few years ago, so I experimented today with the tilt effect. In the end, I settled on a ~5 degree backward angle, which (probably no coincidence) is Martin Logan's default recommendation! Next up, I'll use my XTZ Room Analyzer to more objectively measure the effect.

So, how many of you have "tweaked" the "rake angle" of your speakers, and how significant was the effect?

I continually tinker with the rake of my speakers. Each time I break-in a new component or cable, I adjust the rake to sync the speakers with the sound characteristics of the new component. To my ears, with my speakers, I feel the rake angle has a more profound effect than the amount of toe-in.

I will be interested in seeing the results of your room analysis.

 

[sharkmouth]

when I had Summit X I too found the 5º with wooden floors

 

[sleepysurf]

Here's some before/after XTZ measurements. The ~60 Hz "dip" in the AFTER pic is actually a little better now, but I just ordered the XTZ v.2 Pro kit (better mic) and will repeat the measurements with the higher res mic before further tweaking.

BEFORE



AFTER

 

[MusicDirector]

I find that it also depends on the speaker as well. For example, I used to have a pair of Pioneer HPM100s that demanded to be tilted up a few degrees to sound good no matter what floor they were on. My DCM TF600s of course can not be tilted as they are panel speakers, but the odd thing to them is that in order for them to sound right and good one does not toe them. They are to be set straight.
I now have wood floors and hate them with a passion. Even with a rug it's a pain.