New Heathkit AS101 owner - First post.

[voice of the theater]

Thanks VOTT. I'm learning more and more every day!! And the sound is getting better too.

I just tilted them to see and yes, I like it better. Bass is not an issue. The right bass is. More is definitely not always better.

I finally closed on the house yesterday. Whew! Here is a pic of the room I will be setting up in. Or I should say two or three rooms.

My initial thought is to have the speakers against the far wall and my personal listening chair on the other side of the fireplace. Yes, I will have to treat the stone behind my head. The floor they will be on is built up and could be have resonant vibration issues. I will have to wait till I get everything in to measure. I might have a problem. The double glass doors on the right will be a first reflection problem as well. Heavy drapes I'm thinking. I could open them up little by little and see where the best sound is. There is also a cathedral ceiling in that area. That will have to be treated as well.

So I will likely build risers with floor spikes or some other vibration isolation for the time being. It will certainly be an adventure. My big decision is whether to incorporate my home theater or keep audio separate. Decisions, decisions...

Wow--congrats on the new house Alan--it is gorgeous! Glad to hear it's in a quiet neighborhood too--I'm sure you won't miss the constant noise that you mentioned in your old neighborhood. I like your proposed set up plan and I think you're asking all the right questions/have some good ideas as far as heavy drapes for the glass door etc. Yes, the ceiling, floor, and fireplace may be issues--you'll most likely hear the answer to those questions as soon as you crank up your Altecs in that room. Being a professional musician, I've always been fortunate enough to achieve great results doing everything by ear with my three Altec systems as far as set up and tweaking/fine tuning the speakers and the room (largely thanks to help/advice from many good people here), but of course measuring can be a good tool as well. My band has played in rooms with cathedral ceilings, and (untreated) they can add an unbelievable amount of reverb to your sound (not a good thing!). As far as your hardwood floor, an area rug (and maybe tilting the speakers or some risers?) can do wonders...

As far as your home theater debate, two of my Altec systems are not only used for audio, but are also connected to blu-ray players/satellite TV DVR's, and 50" plasma TV's. I love the way movies and music "videos" (DVD/Blu-ray/Satellite TV Broadcasts) sound over my Altec systems, and would consider it a waste to try to enjoy those things with inferior speakers. I'll be interested to hear what you end up doing with your room as far as sound treatments, as well as what you do with your Altecs/crossovers/risers (or tilting)/etc. (and whether or not you incorporate your home theater with your Altecs).....