Distance from the speakers to the seating position

Here are a few links for your perusal:

Immediasound Speaker Set-up and Placement. Immediasound is the distributor for Audio Physics.
Audioasylum Article
Setting-up Loudspeakers by Audio Physics
For surround-setup go to the site below. Click on SACD. Look for the link called "Surround Sound Diagram". This diagram was designed by Emil Berliner Studios, the company responsible for mastering all the DG recordings.
Deutsche Grammophon.
Good luck.

It depends on the room as well. I have a small room, so like most of the people above I sit very slightly farther than an equilateral triangle. But I know people that swear by sitting 1.5 x the distance between the speakers.

YMMV

Rob

yep, all good info above.
Basically, it's all situational/system/room/gear dependent!
Some speakers need more distance from the listener. Some speakers can be placed further apart ingeneral, all things equal. While others need closer spacing, regardless.
I've come across it all. Alot has to do with, yes, crossover desging(gernerally 1st order neeeds more distance from drivers to listener, 4th is the opposite). Also, driver spacing and layout(many small 2 way monitors can let you liten closer often, while multi way, even large Diappolito's need more room to build sound coherently together). And yet, there are more varriables.
I often find, with two speakers only, yes, the triangle gets you in the ball park, at the very least, and you can tinker from there. Some speakers let you sit even closer however. So you must try if you like.
Another often MOSTLY OVERLOOKED ISSUE is room acoustics and set up!...as hinted at above earlier by others.
With a low ceililng situation, or where you're sitting back further, and or you are hearing more reflected sound mixed with direct sound from your speakers, you will be dealing with acoustic issues that will blur and smear your imaging, detail, dynamics, soundstage, and coherency! While in the opposite scenario, if you sit proportionately closer to your speakers, in relation to your room reflection points(walls/floor/ceiling), and thus hear more direct sound than reflective sound mixed with the original signal from the speakers, you will get tremendously better results in the afore mentioned areas!(imaging,focus, detail, dynamics, soundstage, coherency, etc). In fact, many people, especially those who use traditional "tweeter over mid/bass driver" design stereo speakers, are much much much better off if they can either strongly deal with their acoustical reflections in their rooms(thus allowing the original signal from the seakers to be heard with more purity), or SIT CLOSER TO THE SPEAKERS!...all things equal. Other more closed "focused designed" speakers offer more flexibility often.
Still, how far that can go depends on speaker design paramaters, and what the manufacture deems is appropriate distancing. It's a balancing act bsically.
So, if I'm using speakers that are designed(most 1st order designs need you to sit further back, depnding on driver spacing...my old Electa Amators had drivers sitting right on top of each other, so it didn't matter) to make you sit further back, you must definitely consider acoustical treatments/reflection points much more critically if you can't sit closer! With 4th order crossover designs, this often doesn't matter as much, and you can sit closer to your speakers, as with other designs.
Basically, you gotta tinker. Good luck

depends on speakers...my alon were a equal distance. my audio physics are closer.

check with the mfg.

mike

I use ProAc Response 2.5s, but don't have them set up exactly to ProAc spec. I like being able to slightly see the insides of the cabinets when they're facing me, rather than pointed straight at me. And I sit in a chair with castors so I can roll back and forth depending on if I want a closer, more intimate listen or further back to simulate being further into the audience. By in large, my set up is an equilateral triangle and is varied by my seating choice.

In general, I would start with the manufacturer's recommended set up, then adjust from there according to your taste.