System setup is never truly finished.
I’ve lost count of the times I thought I had a room “perfect,” only to discover something new weeks or months later. A small toe-in change, a slight adjustment of the listening seat, even a seasonal shift in humidity affecting the wood floor—all can subtly alter the sound. The idea of a one-and-done setup is comforting, but it isn’t realistic.
And when a new piece of kit arrives? Sometimes you have to rethink the setup to accommodate.
When we voiced the Aspen FR30, we spent months testing them in different rooms and different setups. Each change revealed something new: a wider stage, deeper bass, more coherent imaging. What struck me most was how sensitive we become once we’ve lived with a system.
Familiarity breeds focus; you start to notice micro-changes that escape you on day one.
This doesn’t mean you should constantly tweak. There’s joy in living with a system, letting it become second nature. But it does mean staying curious. Every room has hidden potential, and sometimes all it takes is a fresh look to unlock it.
Setup isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s about gradually removing barriers between you and the music. And in my experience, that pursuit never really ends.
