what height should the monitors be?
Glad to hear it.I'm good Bob.
For the flattest response at your ears the tweeters should be at ear level.
Normally, the acoustic axis originates from the point exactly in-between the tweeter and woofer (assuming normal 2-way design):
Normally, the acoustic axis originates from the point exactly in-between the tweeter and woofer (assuming normal 2-way design):
In general true, but there are variations. I find the best configuration is for the drivers to be acoustically in phase when their acoustic centers are physically aligned in the vertical dimension. That means their crossover must be electronically in phase at the crossover frequency. That way if there are listeners who can't be in the sweet spot the phase relationship between the drivers doesn't change as much. This is also a good reason not to orient your speakers horizontally.
Many speakers have the tweeter mounted so that its acoustic axis is forward of the woofer's. If the crossover filters compensate by adding the right amount of delay at the right frequency to the high band then as you move off axis the two drivers go out of phase. If it doesn't compensate then the two drivers start out of phase and the phase changes as you go off axis. Both situations are less than ideal.
My main consideration for having your ears on-axis with the tweeter is to hear the flattest response. But yeah, phase differences at frequencies around the crossover point is also a factor.
Normally, the acoustic axis originates from the point exactly in-between the tweeter and woofer (assuming normal 2-way design):
http://www.neumann-kh-line.com/klein-hummel/globals.nsf/resources/neumann_acoustical_axis_definitions_v04_en20120907.pdf/$File/neumann_acoustical_axis_definitions_v04_en20120907.pdf
Acoustic Axis
Some general setup guides:
http://www.neumann-kh-line.com/klein-hummel/globals.nsf/resources/neumann_setting_up_studio_monitors_551671_201302.pdf/$File/neumann_setting_up_studio_monitors_551671_201302.pdf
http://www.genelec.fi/download.php?page=documents/catalogues/Genelec_Monitor_Setup_Guide_2011.pdf