Maximizing Soundstage and Image: The Ultimate Guide to Speaker Placement

Maximizing Soundstage and Image: The Ultimate Guide to Speaker Placement

In this video, we will be discussing speaker placement and how it can affect the soundstage and image in your audio setup. Proper speaker placement can greatly enhance the overall listening experience and improve the sound quality without the need for expensive equipment upgrades. By the end of this video, you will have a better understanding of soundstage and image and how to achieve them in your own setup. We will cover topics such as room acoustics, speaker positioning, and tips for achieving optimal sound quality without breaking the bank. Whether you’re a beginner or an audiophile, this video will give you the tools you need to improve your sound quality for free. So, join me as we explore the world of speaker placement for soundstage and image.

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Music: Bensound

50 Comments

  1. @atmorell on July 30, 2025 at 8:18 pm

    Thank you. To the point and good explained!

  2. @porky1911 on July 30, 2025 at 8:19 pm

    I have never used any 2 speakers that sound the same and share the same placement.I now use AudioNote speakers which are made to use in the corners of your room.

  3. @kurthill7030 on July 30, 2025 at 8:20 pm

    I’ve always said it’s where your wife says you can have them and it is usually in the garden shed 😂🤣😂🤣👍

  4. @geickmei on July 30, 2025 at 8:21 pm

    Let’s define the walls first. Left, right, and front. NOT rear wall, front wall.

  5. @ZERO-CAPACITANCE on July 30, 2025 at 8:22 pm

    First time watcher, that was an excellent video. Great set up, balanced presentation, great Cutaways, great audio, great lighting, great equipment, I enjoyed it just subscribed keep them coming.

  6. @arthurpendragon1610 on July 30, 2025 at 8:22 pm

    First you move the speaker all around the "zone" where you might like it to reside. Listen for best balanced vocal tones and most tight bass. Once you begin to understand where your boxes "like" the general position then begin experimenting with toe-in and rake angles top see how tight and clear you can make the imaginary "center speaker" that you hear on Mono recordings and on vocal positions. Then check the "spread" is right and the timing of when everything gets to your ear is the sharpest and most believable. So get the tone right and then go to work creating the most realism out of the room acoustics and the position of all the players should become clear. And that’s how you build a reference setup. The overall position of instruments and vocals should always be identical from system to system. This stuff is not magic. It just takes a lot of patience to get it all right and set up perfectly. Take your time. This is the most important stuff our hobby needs for you to know to get it right.

  7. @calpdal1 on July 30, 2025 at 8:22 pm

    Great job 🎉

  8. @robertm8518 on July 30, 2025 at 8:22 pm

    Shouldn’t the acoustic panels be placed lower near the tweeter’s height?

  9. @kaybhee6 on July 30, 2025 at 8:24 pm

    spkr height… try above,,, at,,, and below ear level….

  10. @Kevinb1821 on July 30, 2025 at 8:26 pm

    I really wish I had enough space to do this but I can’t leave my speakers feet from the wall

  11. @stevelarge5215 on July 30, 2025 at 8:27 pm

    Thank you so much I set this up with my AVR the sound was so much better I thought I had my surround sound on because of the separation the singer sounded like it was going through the center channel

  12. @rayharmacinski4934 on July 30, 2025 at 8:27 pm

    many speakers are designed to be wall mounted even if you dont in a nondedicated living space as a livingrooom 9-12 inches from the wall
    seems to work ant 6-8 ft of separation, when he speaks of bass,,, from bookshelves,, it aint happening,,,, thats what subs are for

  13. @realbingus on July 30, 2025 at 8:29 pm

    Handige video 🙂

  14. @Chris-nd5se on July 30, 2025 at 8:30 pm

    I notice you have a rack with CDs and records between and slightly behind the speakers. Do you think that would affect the soundstage which often forms behind the speakers. The reason I mention it, is partly because I have a similar and probably worse problem, as I have a fireplace between and behind my floorstanding speakers. I assume this interferes with any soundstage that may be produced.

  15. @GentielioGaming on July 30, 2025 at 8:30 pm

    Did you try placing the speakers to your long side of the wall? For the speaker there will be as almost no side walls as they are very far away. That way your speakers can be closer to the wall. The soundstage will be wider. You might lose a little bit of focus but still the music will not sound as bright in an acousticly untreated room that way. Acousticly treated room is another story.

  16. @martyjewell5683 on July 30, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    Unfortunately, speaker placement is not always where they sound best. Necessity plays a role. Average (if any exist) shaped rooms are plagued with standing waves/room nodes, furnishing deficiencies/accents and that includes children/cats/dogs/spouse. I disagree with tilting/toeing loudspeakers unless you desire direct radiation (on axis) response (popular with Europeans) at a specific location. I prefer speakers with wide dispersion to avoid "listening sweet spots". Sound filling the room and almost detached from speakers is my goal. A 3-D psychoacoustic image. Just a slight move of speaker location can result in superior/inferior sound. Don’t be afraid to experiment. That said, this video does give a good starting place for audio neophytes and experts alike. Yup, it’s all about location, location, location.

  17. @StagnantMizu on July 30, 2025 at 8:32 pm

    why not use the tile symmetry as measure points it would probably annoy me a lot having them positioned without the symmetry plus you an use them as reference points for the angles

  18. @davidscotbrown3241 on July 30, 2025 at 8:33 pm

    If you are restricted to a smaller living room area in a modestly-sized apartment, placing speakers that distance from the wall is just not practical. They would be in the way all the time. I would love to hear your thoughts on how to optimize sound in such an area.

  19. @attillodandoy593 on July 30, 2025 at 8:33 pm

    thanks good short explanation ! from your accent i would have thought you are from holland , and you could check out my set because i live in amsterdam

  20. @jsadecki1 on July 30, 2025 at 8:34 pm

    Aren’t his acoustic panels the completely wrong height for those speakers?

  21. @OriginalPeterPan on July 30, 2025 at 8:35 pm

    Just searched for "man spread" in the Oxford English dictionary and it sent me here.

  22. @CarlVanDoren61 on July 30, 2025 at 8:37 pm

    Panels parallel best imaging 😊

  23. @cars4color on July 30, 2025 at 8:39 pm

    Great video. i followed to a T. but im still confused here. When you say the speakers disappear what does that mean. Do you mean the vocals. Because i used that first track and got nothing coming from the speakers and thought ok i got it. Then played the next song and the vocals are in the center. but other instruments are still coming through the speakers. Does this only work for some tracks. if so ill stop beating my head trying to fix it.

  24. @simonzinc-trumpetharris852 on July 30, 2025 at 8:40 pm

    Try listening to Pink Floyd’s ‘Sheep’ and hear the keyboards way off the the sides.

  25. @coastalvideotransfer on July 30, 2025 at 8:45 pm

    Dank u wel voor deze video!

  26. @dsmith1543 on July 30, 2025 at 8:46 pm

    You forgot about speaker rake angel. Tilting the speakers upwards can also make a big difference and should be done using a laser level so that they match.

  27. @acreguy3156 on July 30, 2025 at 8:50 pm

    This is off topic but I notice the sound absorbers behind your speakers are placed *way* above the point from where boundary interference emanates. The floor is also tiled. You may be treating the high frequencies but I hardly think you are getting the best bass possible. Great video though. Thanks!!

  28. @carlitomelon4610 on July 30, 2025 at 8:51 pm

    Good presentation.
    I like the corner abfusors!

    Sidewall absorption above the speaker plane? 🤔

    I use the same Black edition LS50s:-)
    1ft off the living room long wall 6ft+ off sidewalls.
    2ft square diffuser behind each. Since the rear ports do have some midrange output, l wanted to scatter any coherent reflection off the wall.
    (KEF also provide partial and complete port plugs for wall- proximity setups)
    There are open doorways 1ft on the outside of each speaker that break up the wall bass reinforcement in my case.
    REL subwoofers in the front corners give the set-up a much bigger presentation.

    Liked and subscribed
    🎵🎶🙂👍🎶🎵

  29. @christianw2753 on July 30, 2025 at 8:52 pm

    Lovely concise no bs summary. I’ll share it with family.

  30. @lepidoptera9337 on July 30, 2025 at 8:54 pm

    If you want really good sound, forget about speakers and get headphones. Much cheaper and MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better. 😉

  31. @rotarygomasters452 on July 30, 2025 at 8:54 pm

    Listening position…You Sir are sick and should be quickly institutionalized in a hospice.

  32. @ridwandarmali1133 on July 30, 2025 at 8:55 pm

    how about if you have a sub?

  33. @chuckmaddison2924 on July 30, 2025 at 8:56 pm

    Easy with small speakers. My Dali’s, heavy with spikes on slate floor a pain in the ass.

  34. @joedeegan3870 on July 30, 2025 at 8:57 pm

    What music do you listen to?

  35. @339MHz on July 30, 2025 at 8:59 pm

    I’ll set myself up as the fool. I don’t care. Once I learned how to sandwich myself (and other listeners), perfectly between the speakers, at ear level, on both SIDES, I never went back. No front speakers. Just a "line-of-sound", directly into the ears from both sides. In other words, it’s like open air headphones. 😂 It’s the truest stereo sound.

  36. @googoo-gjoob on July 30, 2025 at 8:59 pm

    i had everything just right. i loved it. then i added a PS Audio DirectStream DAC….the room exploded! i was stunned. best wishes.

  37. @barlow2976 on July 30, 2025 at 8:59 pm

    I was somewhat disappointed in my BR03’s soundstage until I took the time to experiment with placement. I was shocked at how much difference it makes. Thanks .

  38. @michaeldeforbes2401 on July 30, 2025 at 9:00 pm

    I own B&W and Paradigm speakers, even “vintage” Advent speakers from the 80s for over 20 years , but because I was living with someone I always had to compromise on proper placement. Now after following the simple advice from this video, I’m finally hearing what I paid for, it’s made a huge difference in enjoyment. Finding that sweet spot for the bass was key. Thanks so much!

  39. @liamporter1137 on July 30, 2025 at 9:00 pm

    Great sharing.

  40. @TheMadelineClark on July 30, 2025 at 9:01 pm

    Simple instructions and helpful! Thanks.

  41. @paulmunday8115 on July 30, 2025 at 9:07 pm

    Most homes are not big enough to accomodate ultimate speaker positioning. Perhaps the answer lies in bringing your speakers forward into the room for serious listening pleasure and parking them away back for general home activities.

  42. @pehenry on July 30, 2025 at 9:07 pm

    I clicked in to just try and figure what city that is in print behind you. I couldnt figure it out, but nice print anyway.

  43. @tigertiger1699 on July 30, 2025 at 9:07 pm

    🙏🙏🙏

  44. @mikaelhansson1677 on July 30, 2025 at 9:07 pm

    Awesome guide sir!🤩👌🔥

  45. @armaghett0 on July 30, 2025 at 9:08 pm

    ok, i had to pause at 0:52 just to note that dude is giving strong Christoph Walz vibes.

    OK, continue.

  46. @basukisugito8929 on July 30, 2025 at 9:08 pm

    No one talking about the walls. The room can make any high end speakers sounds crap. I had Dynaudio speakers in a house in a very big "nice room" but with different kinds of walls, and the ceiling was of wood. The was no bass at all.

  47. @AndrewSmith-hc3ov on July 30, 2025 at 9:08 pm

    Can i get this in bananas, football fields, or imperial?

  48. @meh-hair-Vaughn on July 30, 2025 at 9:09 pm

    Great video. If you could do a video on basic room acoustics treatment for beginners, that’d be really helpful as well! Thanks!

  49. @marcosvazquez1648 on July 30, 2025 at 9:11 pm

    Just move your seat

  50. @MARVELOUDIO on July 30, 2025 at 9:14 pm

    Regarding the Freq Resp you need to measure at the listening place!

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