Stereo speaker placement: the triangle that actually works
A modern, practical take on the equilateral triangle — plus toe-in, height, and distance-from-wall basics.
Speaker placement is the cheapest ‘upgrade’ you can do. The right geometry improves imaging more than most gear changes.
Start with the triangle
A good baseline is an equilateral triangle: distance between speakers ≈ distance from each speaker to your head.
Toe-in: aim for focus, not hype
- More toe-in = sharper center image (sometimes narrower stage).
- Less toe-in = wider stage (sometimes softer center).
- Adjust until vocals lock in the center without sounding ‘pinched.’
Distance to walls
Walls reinforce bass and create early reflections. Give speakers breathing room when possible — then treat first reflections to keep detail.
If you’re building a plan in Audio Lab, we handle these constraints automatically and keep placement compatible with treatment layouts.