SL3s in a domestic environment with Krell amp and ML Subs

[wh10tby]

New member here. Here are some shots of my main listening system. Krell KAV 300i Amp, ML SL3s, Cambridge Audio Azure 351c CD player, Cambridge Audio CXN network streamer. ML Dynamo 300 Subs (to left of left SL3 and right of right SL3) to extend low end. WiiM Pro Plus about to be added to get more reliable network connections (the CXN can be flaky).

Room damping since it is a tile floor with large area rug. Room not the best acoustically but I have managed to balance the sound sufficiently well for a seating position on sofa. Room is around 600 sq ft. plus open breakfast area and stair well etc. with 12 ft ceilings which are not flat. Standing waves not an issue in general due to non continuous walls. It is a difficult listening room, especially for the low end.

I have a dedicated multimedia room downstairs which is better suited for listening (carpeted and hardwood floors).

General view includes one of our 3 standard poodles.....

 

[Jazzman53]

I can't even view your attachments.

As a test;
I just uploaded, and then deleted, a jpeg image using the insert image icon in the toolbar. Give that a try-- it worked for me.

 

[wh10tby]

I did try that but it seemed to do exactly the same thing but I will try again.

 

[Robert D]

Click on the picture icon to the left of the happy face. Then you can click and drag a photo in. You can also click in the box and then search for the photo on your drive.

 

[wh10tby]

It appears that the size was the issue. I reduced them to smaller images and they display correctly. I wish it had indicated that this was the issue, but we got there. Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[wh10tby]

Just an note here, I made a slight mod to the SL3s which I am sure a lot of you with this model have done and is well known. The mod stops the stator slipping down and consists of a small bracket I fashioned from aluminum that screws to the bottom of the bass unit and prevents the stator slipping, Hardly visible from the front. Does not rattle or make any noise and very effective.

 

[Lightloopy]

Welcome to the site! My first ML was the SL3 which I first heard in 1998 and was hooked. I had them for 20 yrs until the 11A replaced them. My friend has my SL3 now and they still sound fantastic.

My only suggestion is to consider pulling your speakers 4 feet away from the wall and a little toe in. I'm sure you may have decor constraints but it is always fun to experiment with placement as these speakers are very sensitive to it. Small changes can have big rewards in imaging,etc.

 

[wh10tby]

Thanks for the welcome and suggestions.

I would love to be able to pull them forward but there is no room to do this in the current setup. It would block a path across that part of the room. In a previous set up I had them placed as you suggest, and they sound better but a little bass light which is when I purchased the subs. With regards to toeing them in, I have experimented with various positions like that but they tended to focus the imaging point to a single location. I find that facing them out at 90 degrees to the wall (even though not recommended) gives me a wider imaging stage and allows me to sit in more locations on the couch that faces the speakers (not visible in the pictures).

I very much appreciate your points but these speakers are used in a not very appropriate setting at the moment and I have to make some compromises. This is not a dedicated listening room which these speakers truly deserve but needs must at the moment. My listening room became the media room (the house is build on a slope, so the main floor (around 2500 sq ft) is at street level at the front and 2nd floor at the rear) which is on the downstairs floor (which is around 1100 sq ft) . Since we do not like TVs in the living room, the TV and media system are downstairs where the SL 3s would like to live, but does not make practical sense.

 

[Lightloopy]

Welcome. That is all part of the fun and what works best for your needs.
I also found them to need some bass support and used a Fathom F113 for many years.
Lots of great information and support here.
Enjoy the tunes.