The listening triangle
A classic starting point for stereo is an equilateral triangle: the distance between the two speakers roughly equals the distance from each speaker to your listening position. This tends to produce a stable center image (vocals that appear to come from between the speakers) and a believable soundstage.
Wall clearance
- Front wall: bringing speakers closer to the wall behind them increases bass. Rear-ported towers often sound best with more space; front-ported and sealed designs usually tolerate wall proximity better.
- Side walls: keeping some distance reduces strong early reflections that can blur imaging.
- Avoid equal distances to the front and side walls, which can reinforce the same bass frequencies.
Toe-in
Toe-in means angling the speakers toward the listener. Pointing them straight at your seat (about 30° in an equilateral triangle) often sharpens the center image; less toe-in can widen the soundstage. Manufacturers sometimes recommend a specific approach — check your speaker’s manual.
Read the full guide: How to position floorstanding speakers.