Speaker manufacturers, audiophiles and recording engineers will often use the term "sweet spot" to describe an aspect of the audio set up. It sometimes gives the impression that there is some magical element that is difficult to achieve, or that someone must work very hard to find it. So what is the “Sweet Spot”, and where can I find it?

In its simplest form, the sweet spot is the position in the room where the audio sounds the best. It describes the focal point between your speaker set up, whether 2, 4 or more where the music jumps to life. The good news is that no-one else can find your sweet spot but you! Your ears are unique and so is your space. Although there can be many variables including your space, seating, equipment, acoustic treatment and more, you can always find a position where the audio sounds its best... to you.

Typically you will find the sweet spot somewhere on the mid-line between the speakers when you position them to form an equilateral triangle. Your couch or main seating position will be where you’re aiming to hear the sweet spot. Your speakers will form the other two points of the triangle, which you will angle toward your seat. You will hear a significant difference when you hit it, because you will notice an increase in depth of sound.

4 Steps to find the “Sweet Spot”

  1. 1. Make sure you are happy with your seating position. Now’s the time to move it if you’re not.
  2. 2. Place each speaker the same distance away from the chair/couch, but not next to each other (see illustration above) You can use a tape measure to do this, but make sure you’re measuring from the same point on the couch and the speakers.
  3. 3. Sit on the couch and listen to how it sounds.
  4. 4. Adjust the speaker location by shuffling them bit by bit, ensuring that what you do to one speaker, you do to the other. Make sure you sit back on the couch to listen again. With some patience, you will soon notice even subtle differences, until you find your “Sweet Spot”.

The same principle applies when adding more speakers to your set up. Whether you are creating a 5.1, or 7.1 surround sound set up, they should be of equal distance from your seating position. (Check out our blog on surround sound)