Proper speaker positioning has a dramatic effect on overall sound quality

When a hi-fi audio system isn’t delivering the quality you expected, you may be quick to blame the system components. But if you’ve selected high-performance speakers, purchased a robust power amp, and carved out a dedicated listening space in your Westchester, NY home, perhaps the problem is something else.

All too often, homeowners overlook the importance of correct speaker positioning in their hi-fi setup. While every system is different, we have some general guidelines you can follow to ensure your speakers are in place to deliver the best listening experience possible. Keep reading for our six tips!

SEE ALSO: The Next Step for Audiophiles: A Dedicated Listening Room for Hi-Fi Audio

 

6 Tips for Positioning Hi-Fi Speakers

“Optimal sound” is a measurement subject to multiple factors — the quality of your equipment, the size and shape of your room, and your personal listening preferences. The following tips aren’t hard and fast rules that apply to every system, but they’re a great place to start if you’re configuring a speaker setup on your own!

1. Place speakers away from the wall. While it might seem convenient to place speakers against the wall to reduce room clutter, doing so can impact the sound quality of your system. Positioning speakers against a wall or in the corner can disrupt the frequency balance, overamplify the bass, and skew accurate stereo imaging (the perception that sounds are coming from specific locations in space).

2. Clear obstructions. Maintain an uncluttered area around your speakers. Stacking books, DVDs, décor, or other objects directly in front of or beside your hi-fi speakers will create unwelcome audio distortions.  

3. Mount speakers at ear level. Hi-fi speakers are designed to perform best when they’re directed at ear level while you’re listening to them. Many floor-standing speaker sets achieve this without needing to be mounted. They can be placed directly on the floor (although you might wish to place a mat underneath them to prevent reverberations on tile or wood flooring). If you have bookshelf speakers as part of your audio system, we recommend investing in quality speaker stands designed to support high-performance loudspeakers.

4. Position speakers at an angle. Hi-fi speakers sound best when they’re angled to face inward toward the listening position. Your goal is to create the golden ratio where the two speakers and the listener’s head make three equilateral points of a triangle.

5. Correct room acoustics. Unbalanced room acoustics unbalance your soundstage and leave you with unwanted echoes and distortions. You can control reflections with absorption and/or diffusion treatments. Reflections against wood flooring or large glass window can be absorbed with a rug or curtains. Reflections against the rear wall can be diffused with a bookcase filled with randomly positioned books, DVDs, and other objects. Of course, identifying your trouble spots and the type of treatment necessary can be confusing. Investing in professional room treatment services is worth it to get the best performance out of your hi-fi system. 

6. Experiment. Every room setup and hi-fi system is different. Don’t be afraid to tweak the placement of your speakers, furniture, and décor until you achieve the optimal sound performance.

Tip 7: Call the Experts at Electronic Concepts

Our final tip: if you’re struggling to achieve great sound from your hi-fi setup or you don’t have the time to experiment on your own, call the experts at Electronic Concepts! Our team has years of experience designing and installing hi-fi sound systems that deliver exceptional performance.

Let’s talk about how we can get high-end audio into your Westchester, NY home — call us at 201-880-1872 or fill out an online contact form to schedule a no-obligation consultation. We look forward to working with you!