Speaker positioning: why do audiophiles neglect this so much?

It’s true there are just too many variables in all different rooms. Also in what people like to hear with respect to “too live” or “too dead”.

After decades, Im one of those folks that has come to my own personal conclusion that room acoustics come first. Whether it be broadband absorption and diffusers galore or just a few furnishings and a rug (or not), it’s room dependent.

Then comes the positioning of speakers/listeners. For me gear comes last.

But what if you do low volume/near field listening? Or headphones?

With no real boundary interference is room treatment necessary?

Here I would think the electronic gear would take priority.

Preferences and taste can’t be argued after all…

In a small room near listening will be affected by all the room controlled or uncontrolled acoustic.... I know it perfectly well by listening experiments... My room is 13 feet square...

ANd my speakers/room acoustic beat my 7 headphones limitations...

My system value is 500 bucks...

Then why?

Acoustic science and psycho acoustic is always prioritary for me...

.

But what if you do low volume/near field listening? Or headphones?

With no real boundary interference is room treatment necessary?

Here I would think the electronic gear would take priority.

@mahgister Shouldn’t have been too bad at low level (and near field) except at the lower frequencies (<250Hz)…

Still that’s nothing to sneeze at (starting around middle C on a piano) Also correcting those lower frequencies throughout the room are perceived as 40-50% increase in music quality to most listeners…

You don’t have to sell me on the importance of optimized room acoustics with proper treatments.

I’d say I agree with the op but it might get me ostracized.  

I would not be inclined to agree with that statement. Most audiophiles, including myself, are somewhat neurotic on speaker positioning. As stated by others, many of us cannot go ‘all out’ in treated rooms where the audio system is the only consideration. We have to find a balance between domestic harmony and achieving best possible audio system sound. We still want to be loved by our significant others, many of whom put up with, but are lessthan thrilled with an audio system intruding on their ‘house & home’ color co-ordinated aesthetically exquisite living room arrangements 😁. I am sure most of you are well acquainted of what I speak.

Here’s what I have been taught vis a vis good practices for an audio system, and placing speakers in a decent sized living room. Of course it can vary dependent on sealed or ported enclosure / panels / electrostats / horn/ compression drivers;

1) Use a tape measure and spirit level to insure left and right drivers are at same height from ground, and are perfectly level front to back and side to side. This can have a DRAMATIC impact on the perfect stereo image that locks in at center and spreads to room boundaries with that center image locked in even when moving well the outside sweetspot.

2) Position the speakers at least 3 feet out from front wall. I like to position them at around 5.5 - 6ft out.

3) Position the speakers at least 3ft out from the side walls. I like at least 6ft feet out from side walls.

2 and 3 should eliminate too much reflected sound muddying the original sound wave.

4) Position speakers equi-distant from a) the front wall and b) the listening position

5) Move listening position forward or backwards incrementally (by inches) to establish perfect tonal balance and presence. I like to feel the music around me, so to speak, so I will sit around 9ft away. It’s not quite near-field, but is probably quite a few feet closer than many of us will sit away from our speakers.

6) Use furniture sliders to easliy move your speakers in small increments to achieve ideal toe-in balance.

7) use tape measure, string (two person job) laser pointer as aids to help establish exactly matched left right distance to listening position (isosceles triangle).

Its been my experience that the more perfectly balanced / equal in distance, height and side to side / front to back level each channel is, the better the sound one will achieve.