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MSP7 STUDIO/MSP5 STUDIO/SW10 STUDIO Owner’s Manual
Speaker Placement
Speaker placement is one of the most important consid-
erations when setting up a monitor system, but it is all too
often overlooked with the result that performance is seri-
ously compromised. Admittedly the obstacles to perfect
speaker positioning in the small studio are formidable.
Having the space available to place your speaker system so
that it can provide optimum performance is a luxury, but it
is definitely worth the time spent doing a little experimen-
tation and measuring to make the most of limited
resources. The difference can be astounding. The basics are
the same whether you’re setting up a stereo or 5.1 sur-
round system.
Proximity to Walls and Corners
For the most accurate response your speakers should be
positioned away from walls and especially corners, which
can play havoc with a speaker’s frequency characteristics. A
minimum of about 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) away from
walls would be ideal, but in reality they’ll probably end up
being placed on a desktop and pushed up against a wall.
Just keep in mind that fact that the closer you get to
walls and corners the more exaggerated the speaker’s bass
response is likely to become, and some compensation —
whether you compensate mentally or use some equaliza-
tion — will probably be required.
Symmetry
As we’ve just learned, the response of a speaker can
change drastically according to where it is placed in rela-
tion to surfaces. So what happens if one of your speakers is
up against a wall and the other is out in the open? Rest
assured that the results will not be good, and will definitely
not be conducive to producing good mixes.
You’ll have totally different response from your left and
right speakers, making it next to impossible to create a
well-balanced mix, or even position tracks accurately in the
stereo sound field. So whatever you do, if you’re serious
about your sound make sure that your speakers are located
as symmetrically within your listening environment as pos-
sible. Use a tape measure to ensure that your speakers are
the same distance from the side and rear walls. Large
objects can throw the acoustic symmetry of a room off bal-
ance, too. It’s also important to be aware of the location of
doors and windows. It is not always possible to achieve
ideal symmetry, but it’s worth getting as close as possible.
