Choosing a speaker location is one of the most fundamental steps in achieving quality sound in your room. The more attention you pay to placement and calibration, the sooner the sound will acquire musical correctness and seamless, harmonious unity.
Distance from listener to speakers
The basic principle, without which it is impossible to achieve a good scene and imagery, is this: the listening point and speakers should be located in an equilateral triangle pattern.
The listener must sit exactly between the two speakers (this point is called the “listening comfort zone”). The distance to each speaker should only be slightly larger than the distance between the speakers themselves.
Speaker spacing is about finding a balance between a wide soundstage and highly focused sound sources. The farther apart the speakers are (the listening point remains unchanged), the wider the sound stage becomes. However, large distances negatively affect imagery.
Effect of distance from the wall on amount of bass
The closer the speakers are to the wall, the more bass. The surplus can be repaid by moving the speakers away from the wall. The speakers produce less resonance at some points, and more at others. You can try to reduce these resonances if you follow the “rule of thirds”: the optimal bass level is achieved when the distance between the speaker and the wall is equal to one-third of the length of the room.
Rich soundstage
The acoustics installed close to the corners or the wall spoils the impression of the soundstage – the depth disappears. Also, sound reflective objects such as televisions and fireplaces can affect the quality of the scene. If you put the speakers close to the wall, you will hardly be able to hear a high-quality pronounced sound stage.
Arrangement type toe-in
Toe-in involves turning the speakers towards the listener and is a very powerful tool for debugging soundstage and treble balance. Toe-in increases the amount of treble that is picked up from the listening position. You can find the optimal value by gradually turning the columns inward and constantly monitoring the result.
It is also worth noting that the reversal of the acoustics affects the volume of the sound picture. If the speakers are standing upright, then the soundstage becomes larger, more extensive, and at the same timeless intelligible. The sound will sound richer, but it will be more difficult to track the position of the instruments. By pointing the speakers towards the listening position, the sound can be made much clearer.
