I stumbled on this Youtube presentation. It basically advises the rule of thirds for listening position (main LP located 1/3 of room length from the back wall), and rule of 3rds -- 4ths for side to side loudspeaker placement. The big variable is then the distance of the speakers from the front wall (or to put it from a different perspective, distance/angle to the LP) , which is what most of this is about. The method is presented as a revelation (the phrase 'rule of thirds' is not used), if not something speaker manufacturers and audio articles have been 'hiding' from consumers all these years.
It involves laying out a pair of masking tape 'railroad tracks' (or ladders) in your room, whose 'rails' demark the 1/4 and 1/3 distance from each side wall. Add masking tape 'sleepers' within them every 12 inches. Starting with speakers next to you (90 degree placement) , and moving them forward along the tracks in 1-foot increments, listening in the dark, eyes open, to some familiar music, he promises you will find a 'magic' spot where 'soundstage' (likened to going from low contrast to high contrast visual image) pops into being. That's where you stop. Then you tweak the side to side placement further each track, and finally add some toe-in to taste. (He talks also about height/rake angle -- I guess adjustable speaker stands aren't on the menu). And then I guess you rip up all that wild masking tape art you're created on the floor.
Worth a try...some of us (like: me) probably already settled on rule of 3rds/4th placements by design or via trial and error -- though when I see people's rooms posted in audio forums, there's a surprising number of systems with speakers slammed up against the front wall and/or hugging a central rack of gear.
It involves laying out a pair of masking tape 'railroad tracks' (or ladders) in your room, whose 'rails' demark the 1/4 and 1/3 distance from each side wall. Add masking tape 'sleepers' within them every 12 inches. Starting with speakers next to you (90 degree placement) , and moving them forward along the tracks in 1-foot increments, listening in the dark, eyes open, to some familiar music, he promises you will find a 'magic' spot where 'soundstage' (likened to going from low contrast to high contrast visual image) pops into being. That's where you stop. Then you tweak the side to side placement further each track, and finally add some toe-in to taste. (He talks also about height/rake angle -- I guess adjustable speaker stands aren't on the menu). And then I guess you rip up all that wild masking tape art you're created on the floor.
Worth a try...some of us (like: me) probably already settled on rule of 3rds/4th placements by design or via trial and error -- though when I see people's rooms posted in audio forums, there's a surprising number of systems with speakers slammed up against the front wall and/or hugging a central rack of gear.