Make a triangle
Position the two speakers and your head at the corners of an equilateral triangle, with the speakers angled to point at your ears. Keep the tweeters at ear height when you're sitting normally.
Face the long way and stay symmetrical
Set up facing along the length of the room, centred between the side walls. Symmetry means both speakers interact with the room the same way, which keeps the stereo image stable.
Mind the walls
- Keep speakers off the back wall where you can — bass builds up when they're pushed against it.
- Avoid putting your head exactly in the middle of the room, where some bass notes cancel out.
- Put speakers on stands or isolation pads rather than directly on a desk that vibrates.
Cheap fixes that help
- Soft furnishings — a rug, curtains, a sofa — reduce harsh reflections.
- Absorption panels at the first reflection points on the side walls (where a mirror would show a speaker from your seat).
- A full bookshelf on the back wall breaks up reflections.
Check your mix elsewhere
Even a well-set-up small room has blind spots, mostly in the bass. Check mixes on headphones and small speakers too — the speaker simulation tool is a quick way to preview phones, laptops and cars.