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.
