Unlock Better Sound Without Spending a Cent
If you’ve invested in quality speakers, you deserve to hear every bit of their brilliance. But even the best speakers can underperform if they’re not placed correctly. Don’t let your gear go to waste—use these professional tips to transform your soundstage, improve bass clarity, and elevate your entire listening experience.
🎯 Why Placement Matters More Than You Think
Many music lovers blame muddy bass, flat mids, or “shouty” highs on the speakers themselves. But often, the real culprit is the room—or more specifically, where the speakers are sitting.
Proper speaker positioning can:
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Drastically improve stereo imaging
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Tighten and deepen bass response
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Make vocals sound more lifelike
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Open up the soundstage so instruments feel like they’re in the room
Best of all? These improvements cost nothing—just a bit of time and a tape measure.
📏 The Golden Rules of Speaker Placement
🔹 1. Distance from Walls Matters
Avoid jamming your speakers against the wall. Most need at least 20–60cm of breathing room behind them to reduce boomy bass and allow the sound to bloom.
Pro Tip: Rear-ported speakers (vents on the back) often need even more space to avoid a muddy low-end.
🔹 2. Get the Triangle Right
Form an equilateral triangle between your two speakers and your main listening position (the “sweet spot”).
If your speakers are 2 metres apart, your chair should also be about 2 metres from each speaker.
This setup ensures proper stereo imaging—where instruments and vocals appear precisely in space.
🔹 3. Toe-In for Focus
Angle your speakers slightly inward toward your ears. This is called toe-in, and it helps focus the soundstage and improves detail.
Experiment with subtle toe-in adjustments to find that sweet spot where vocals lock in and instruments sound placed.
🔹 4. Ear-Level Tweeters
The tweeters (high-frequency drivers) should be at ear level when seated. This ensures clarity and sparkle aren’t lost above or below your head.
Need a lift? Consider dedicated speaker stands or isolation risers.
🔹 5. Symmetry in the Room
Try to keep your setup symmetrical in the room:
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Avoid placing one speaker in a corner and the other near open space.
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Keep similar distances from side walls.
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Balance helps create a centred, stable stereo image.
🛠️ Tuning for Your Room
Every room has its quirks. Wood floors, large windows, furniture—even ceiling height—all affect your sound. A rug between your speakers and your seat can help absorb reflections. Soft furnishings like couches and curtains also tame harshness.
Want even more control? Ask us about acoustic panels, diffusers, or room correction systems that take your space from “pretty good” to “perfection.”
🏆 Real Gear Deserves Real Setup
If you own speakers from KEF, Whatmough, JBL, or Bowers & Wilkins, you’re already ahead of the curve. These are premium brands built for serious listening—but they still need the right room placement to shine.
Don’t let them underperform just because they’re stuck in the wrong spot. With a few small changes, you can unlock better bass, clearer vocals, and a more immersive soundstage—all from the speakers you already own.
Visit The Audio Experts showroom to hear it in action. We’ll show you the difference good placement makes—and help you tune your own setup for the best performance possible.
📌 Recommended Accessories
🔗 Want Help Optimising Your System?
Book a 1-on-1 Sound Tuning Session with our audio pros or drop by with a floorplan—we’ll give you tailored advice to bring your system to life.