Speaker distance

I have 3 pair of speakers,  they are all 3 home brew,  an mtm with 7" mid-bass drivers & ScanSpeak dome,  A 10" 3 way with Aluminum mids and ribbon tweeter and a 12 inch 2 way with Old ESS Heil AMT.  All 3 work very well in my current position.  
Speakers are 129 inches apart measuring tweeter center to center.  Then they are 129 inches to my ears. On one side of the room, speaker is 39 inches from a partial sidewall, on the other side, the room opens to another room,  the wall behind the speakers is right at 5 feet.  Depending on speakers,  I run them from a full tow in (pointed at my ears) to about a 15 degree tow from facing straight forward (slight tow).... I have found that for the most part,  I prefer to pull farther apart being careful that soundstage doesn't fold in and that I can keep fairly close to equilateral triangle. Images still project outside of speakers and I prefer the larger stage, Imaging is first rate.  I have changed Placement on them quite dramatically a few times and have used the XLO disc.  Overall,  as long as I can get my room treatments decent,  I prefer the method that I've mentioned. I hope this helps someone. Tim 

What are the disadvantages of having to little or to much space
between your speakers?

It will not sound as "correct" as it otherwise *could*.

It seems to me that the ideal distance between the speakers varies from one recording to another depending on the mix and the instrumentation.  I notice with solo piano  and  with string quartets that no one setup satisfies every recording.  So I try to find a position that works most of the time.  Maybe we need moving sidewalks with remote controls that would allow us to easily place the speakers close together for say, a solo guitar and far apart for an orchestra or big band. 

That’s a tough one. One reason why it might appear that speaker distance varies according to the recording is because the venues of the various recordings are all different. You are supposed to hear those differences, no? In terms of space, soundstage, ambience, etc. And the differences should actually be MORE APPARENT if the speakers are placed in the absolute best locations. And that can ONLY be done with a careful long term program of room treatment plus the fabled XLO Test CD speaker placement track IMHO.

And that can ONLY be done with a careful long term program of room treatment plus the fabled XLO Test CD speaker placement track IMHO.

@geoffkait 

Hello Geoff. To your point about the XLO test cd, which I then had a follow up with you where you stated (paraphrasing) it's the "in phase followed by out of phase" track which is used (diffusion), I'm of the opinion that any purpose built cd with these types of tracks could be used effectively, correct?

For instance, in my case I use/have this one https://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1526639/a/denon+audio+technical+cd.htm&frm=www.cd...

Track 2 has in/out phase.

Your opinion is appreciated. Thanks.