I doubt there's an audiophile worth his salt that hasn't offered the chair of honor to a friend.
The sweet spot. The golden chair.
Here's the thing. That sweet spot's size is determined by two important elements: Setup and off-axis response.
Let's focus on your speakers and what they are capable of or are not capable of.
The size of the sweet spot comes down to off-axis response. Speakers that are carefully designed to maintain tonal balance and phase alignment as you move off-axis give you a wide sweet spot. Move a foot to the left, and the singer’s still there. The imaging still holds.
Others, especially those with narrow dispersion like panels or horns, beam their sound. When you’re centered, it’s heaven. Step out, and the illusion collapses.
We all love precision, but sometimes it's nice to have flexibility—especially if you’re not listening alone.
The best systems welcome you in.
Not just your head, but your heart too.
