Want Better Sound? Tips on Optimal Speaker Placement

Getting the most out of your home audio system isn't just about buying the best subwoofer and preamplifiers; it's about how your speakers are placed in your home. There is a lot to consider when you're setting up your home theater, especially since every room will be different, but there are a few tips that can be used by everyone no matter what kind of space or home audio equipment they may have.

As a rule, each of your speakers should be the same distance from your seat as they are from each other. If you're going with a standard two-speaker setup, think of your chair and each speaker as three corners of a triangle with three equal sides. Pull your speakers away from your wall to reduce sound reflection, and angle them towards your preferred seat for the best possible sound. Whle you're at it, your seat should be at least a foot away from your wall as well. There will be a "sweet spot" where you will experience the best possible sound, so feel free to move your speakers around and experiment until you find it.

Every room has surfaces that reflect or absorb sound, so you will want to do everything you can to reduce those surfaces in your space. Hard surfaces such as windows or hardwood floors can reflect sound and cause it to echo, so try add some soft surfaces to absorb some of the sound. Keep in mind that too many soft surfaces such as carpeting or soft furniture can cause the opposite problem and deaden the sound. Since every space is different, you will have to experiment to find the best balance between reflection and absorption.

A home theater system can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be. You can have two sturdy speakers pointed at the middle of your couch, or you can have soundbars, subwoofers, and stands that raise the height of your speakers. A powered subwoofer can increase the bass of your home audio system when it is placed near a wall, and speaker stands can stabilize your speakers so they don't vibrate as much. You want as little vibration as possible to preserve the integrity of the sound, so consider a set of stands if you have floor-standing speakers. If you don't want stands, install the floor spikes or pads that come with most speakers to keep them sturdy.

A home audio system can be a lot of fun if you're the type who likes to experiment with your space and rearrange things. Try different arrangements and settings for your surround sound system to see what works best, and don't be afraid to change things up. A setup that works best for one movie or music genre might not be ideal for others, so spend some time experimenting until you have your ideal home theater system in place.