Best Speaker Placement Rules you've used?

wtf is etf?

Cinematic,
What is ETF?

I recently tried out the Cardas method which produced a really noticable improvement in my setup. It exceeded my non-existent expectation.

For 30 years I thought I just instinctively knew where to put speakers in a room, then I found the Cardas formula; I did the math, moved the speakers to the recommended locations and the sonic image snapped into place to another whole level.

Be aware however, once you start on this route you are on a slippery uphill slope. You will find that the ideal room as certain length, width, and ceiling height ratios, and you may find you need more length to support your desired lowest frequencies, and you you might need any number of acoustical treatments, not too mention software spectrum analyzers and other tools. At the end of this journey is a realization that as important as you thought the room was is the discovery that the room has a HUGE impact on the final sound - and all the great gear in the world isn't going to overcome the wrong room. If you happen to have a good room on the other hand, you are on the road to potential sonic happiness. Good luck.

Recently, I have been experimenting with the nearfield speakers placement as suggested by Audio Physic and it has improved the overall presentation of the music that is being played. I will still need more time to optimise my placement but I initially started using the Cardas method awhile back which I thought worked well then. At present the palpable factor has moved up a notch but I seem to hear a bit more bass boom than before. IMO it is a trial and error process to fine tune speaker placements and there is no one "best" method/rules but perhaps some combination of methods.