How to set up stereo speakers for the best sound
In recent years, many music fans have been drawn to all-in-one wireless speakers like this Sonos Five or the Apple HomePod Mini. And while these affordable, flexible, and easy-to-use speakers (at least in the case of the Sonos Five) can deliver satisfying and room-filling sound, The best stereo speakers go well beyond what they are capable of creating a spatial, realistic and dynamic presentation of recorded music.
There are many options when it comes to stereo speakers, including passive models that connect to a separate amplifier or receiver, and active models that simply plug into a wall and connect directly to components like a CD player and turntable or Stream music wirelessly using a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection.
That KEF LS50 Wireless II is a good example of the latter, and it’s also one of a growing number of powered speaker systems with an HDMI-eARC connector for connecting to a TV. The advantage of such speakers is that they can serve as an alternative the best sound bars. If the speakers are connected to your TV via HDMI, simply turn on your device and use the remote control to control the volume. And then when you’re in the mood to stream music, the speakers create a full, immersive stereo presentation that goes well beyond what you’ll get from a soundbar.
No matter which option you choose, passive or active, stereo speakers require careful setup to produce the best sound. Here are some steps you need to take to make it happen.
Use speaker stands
Floorstanding speakers (also known as tower speakers) do not require any physical support as, as the name suggests, they stand on their own. However, smaller speakers, usually referred to as monitors or bookshelf models, do. And while it can be convenient to simply store bookshelf speakers on a bookshelf, you’ll get much better results by placing them on speaker stands.
There are two reasons.
First, stereo speakers must be placed away from a wall or shelf. That’s because the sound they emit bounces off of these surfaces, interfering with the sound coming directly from the speaker itself. Some bookshelf speakers also have a port on their back that is used to increase bass output, and having these coupled directly to the wall reduces their effectiveness.
Second, the tweeter, a component used to reproduce higher frequencies in speakers, needs to be at the same height as your ears to get the best stereo image. High-frequency sounds are highly directional, so if the tweeter isn’t at ear level, you won’t hear all the detail and spaciousness contained in the recording.
To best determine the speaker stand size to use, sit in the position you intend to listen and measure the distance from the floor to your seated ear level. For example, if that distance is 36 inches, you will need speaker stands tall enough to ensure the tweeter in each speaker is raised to about 36 inches. Luckily, many speaker manufacturers also sell stands that fit specific models, which takes a lot of the guesswork out of the process.
Make an equilateral triangle
To find the optimal distance between your stereo speakers, you need to pull out the tape measure again and set up an equilateral triangle. The left and right speakers form the base of this triangle, and your head is its apex.
An example would be a configuration where the speakers are 9 feet apart, with the distance from each speaker to your head also being 9 feet.
Step away from the wall
Not only do you need to put the speakers on stands and position them so that they form the base of an equilateral triangle, but you also need to move them away from a wall behind them — at least about two feet. The reason for this is the same as why you wouldn’t want to place a bookshelf speaker on a bookshelf: reduce the potential for sound emanating from the speaker to reflect off the wall behind it.
Angle them in
Once your speakers are optimally positioned following the steps above, for most models you will need to fine tune the sound by pointing them towards the listening position.
A good starting point is to orient each speaker so that its face (the baffle) is pointing slightly away from the sides of your head (the left speaker toward your left ear, the right toward your right ear). That puts you in the ballpark, and then you can fine-tune as needed, using the music (I usually pick a track with vocals positioned midway in the stereo mix) as a guide.
Clean up the room
While a cozy space with stuffed furniture and tables to set down drinks while listening to your awesome stereo might sound like a great idea, all of these surfaces can hamper performance by either reflecting or absorbing sound, making music either too bright and too bright appears harsh or boring.
That doesn’t mean you need empty space to get good sound. A rug can help by absorbing reflections off the floor, while curtains and tapestries can absorb sound reflecting off the side walls of the room. Again, music will be your best guide, so listen carefully and make adjustments as needed.