What should well placed speakers sound like?

Idealistically, the speakers should perform a disappearing act. Thus giving the impression that a new listener cannot determine why the speakers are even in the room because that is not where the sound is coming from.

More specifically, from the listening chair:

1. The entire front 1/3rd of the listening room should be the soundstage. That includes behind, above, sometimes in front of, and even beyond the borders of the speakers themselves.

2. Imaging - certain sounds should have pin-point accuracy and held in space. If you close your eyes you can visualize the exact location where the vocalist or instrument is located.

3. Bass should be phenominal. Full, blooming(but not booming), pronounced, yet exceedingly well defined.

There are other effects, and of course, every other piece of equipment (to one degree or another) either helps or hinders the percentage of success of aquiring the above attributes. Including electrical AC, room acoustics, cables, etc..

You might want to check out Cardas.com. There they have a golden room set of equations for getting your speakers into the approximate location for starters.

-IMO

Good post,Stehno Songlian your source is important as to how good your speakers will immage. Try to keep your speakers 3 feet from the sidewalls.and 2 to 3 feet from the rear wall all depends on your speakers for bass reinforcement.

You know the placement is right when there are no speakers in the room. The soundstage is wide and deep and the imaging is pinpointed. You can accomplish this by getting the speakers out from the far wall and placed properly from the side wall. My speakers are about 7 feet out from the far wall and are seven feet apart. Use a tape measure and get it down to the correct inch. I have two 6 foot tall tube traps that are against the side wall just forward of the speakers. Adding those just nailed it. Bought the pair of them locally for $200. Best $200 upgrade I have ever made.