You’ve likely tried the nearfield sweet spot—close to the speakers, out of the room’s way. And it works. Imaging sharpens. Reflections drop. But then you notice something: the soundstage might feel tight. Compressed. Maybe it’s precise, but perhaps not present. Like headphones without the head. Everything’s clear—but possibly too close.
You may be sitting just near enough to lose the mix.
What to Do
If your speakers are only a few feet apart, and you’re matching that with a tight triangle, try easing back. Just a bit. Stretch the triangle—four to five feet per side, if your space allows. Keep your toe-in and symmetry locked in, and readjust your volume for perceived level, not numbers. Cue up something with live ambience or natural decay—an audience murmur, a studio room tail—and listen for space coming back.
Let the music breathe again.
Here’s Why That Works
Nearfield listening limits room involvement, but it also limits what your brain needs for depth: the subtle arrival differences between ears, the layered reverb tails, the spatial cues that let the mix unfold. When you're too close, you hear the source, but not the space around it. Pulling back, even slightly, lets the timing get messy—in the right way. That mess becomes dimension.
The goal isn’t just accuracy—it’s immersion. Step back, and the flat screen turns into a stage.
