Are you annoyed with your speakers’ sound quality? Do you think it’s time to invest in new speakers? Not so fast! We might be able to help you. We have a few tips on how to make your speakers sound better that could solve your issue for free or provide a much cheaper solution than buying brand new speakers. Let’s get started!
Knowing Where to Put Your Speakers
Did you know that placing your speakers correctly can make them sound better? Well, if you didn’t, chances are, your speakers are not positioned the best way. As a result, they don’t produce the best quality of sound they can. So, we’re starting out this article by helping you learn how to place your speakers to ensure they produce the best sound.
Recommended speaker placement in a stereo system (source – Q Acoustics)
Set up Your Speakers at the Right Height
The best position for your speakers should be at the height of your ears when you’re sitting. Therefore, buying stands for your devices will be a great investment. You should simply sit down and measure your height up to your ears and find a stand that will help your speakers reach that point. You and the two of your speakers should form a triangle of equal distance between all three of you. Then, try out your speakers to check if you managed to improve the sound quality.
Place the speakers so that tweeters are at an ear level
For home theater systems, it’s important for the tweeters to be at the height of your ears. Moreover, left and right speakers should be placed at the same height as the center one. Many experts claim that surround speakers need to be put a bit higher than others. So, measure the height for these speakers up to your eyes or hairline.
Check the Distance from the Wall or Big Pieces of Furniture
This tip will require you to move your speakers around a bit in order to check the optimal distance from the wall. In general, experts advise users to place their speakers against the wall which will make the bass stronger and the sound better. However, that’s not the case for all speakers. In fact, walls can make the bass thicker, boomier, and less pleasant. So, we recommend you to place your speakers against the wall first and check the sound quality.
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Then, you should move them a little bit further away and listen closely whether you notice any difference. Finally, place your speakers two to three feet away, which means less than a meter, to see if the sound is better. After doing all of these steps, you will be able to see what is the exact distance your speakers need for producing the best sound quality.
In addition, large pieces of furniture can also affect the way your speakers produce sound. Experts recommend that you put your devices so that they are 20 inches or around 50 cm away from bigger objects. In case that doesn’t make the situation better, you should move them even further away.
Make Sure that Your Speakers are Far Enough from Each Other
In case the speakers are too close together, the sound can become distorted and the soundstage will be quite narrow. It’s not good to have your devices too far away either. So, you will need to move them around to check which distance works the best for your speakers. Generally, larger speakers that need to be placed on the floor require a bigger distance – around 8 feet or 2 meters. On the other hand, bookshelf speakers can be put closer together with no more than a meter in between them. But, as we’ve mentioned, it’s best to try out a few different positions because there is no rule that will ensure the optimum sound quality for all speakers. Moreover, in case your devices are too close to where you’re sitting, you should try placing them so they point to you.
Working on the Surroundings
You’ve placed your speakers perfectly, but you’re still not getting the quality of sound you want? Well, you’ll be happy to know that there are other ways to amp-up the sound!
Every piece of furniture in your room can have some effect on the overall sound quality
Redecorate your Room
Did you know that you can make your speakers sound better just by moving your sofa or buying a carpet? The placement of furniture and everything else in your room matters. For example, in case you have a large, spacious room with a lot of glass objects and windows, you will likely have issues with your speakers. So, we recommend you to consider adding drapes and thicker rugs. That will make the sound more natural. Also, those that have a sofa located next to a wall should think about moving it to the center of the room. But, as we mentioned, they'll also need to think about the distance between the sofa and the speakers.
Another aspect to keep in mind is the shape of the room. In case your room is squared or similar to that shape, it will be hard to get the best sound. Thus, you should move your furniture around and try to create the illusion of an oddly shaped room.
Probably the biggest issue you can have when it comes to the area where you’re putting your speakers is a high ceiling. Unfortunately, the sound will never be as good as it is in rooms with lower ceilings. But, there are still some things you can do. The cheapest solution to your problem will be adding a larger carpet that will cover the majority of the floor. Furthermore, you can hang some lights or add a ceiling fan. These options will not make much of a difference, but they’re worth trying out. More expensive solutions include absorption panels and sound diffusers. They are not for everyone since they require time and money to be set up. But, if you really need to make your speakers sound better, they will be a great investment.
Acoustic Panels – Purpose and Placement
Check the Quality of the Music You’re Playing
One more thing you must think about when you want to improve the sound that’s coming out of your speaker is the quality of the music you’re playing. In case you’re using streaming services, there is a chance that the files might not be of the highest quality. That’s because most phones automatically pick the medium quality so that you don’t use up too much data. But, if you go to the settings of your phone or the app, you will be able to choose the highest streaming quality. In case you’re not on your data and you’re using Wi-Fi that will not be a problem. However, don’t forget to switch back to lower quality when you’re out of the house.
Even if all of your audio equipment is high-end, you won’t get great results when playing poor-quality audio files
Ensure the Whole Sound System is in the Best Shape
Sometimes, the problem might be in the state of your sound equipment. For instance, the foam of your speaker can rot over time and mess up the sound. So, you should definitely check if all parts of your equipment are in a good shape. Moreover, the system might have issues with wiring or some cables that loosened up. Maintaining your sound devices will prolong their durability and ensure that you have a high-quality sound for a long time.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have all the info, it’s time to get to work! We know it won’t be easy to move your speakers and the furniture around the room. But, trust us, when you hear the improved sound of your speakers, it will be worth it.
