3.5 Speakers

Your studio monitors/speakers need to provide the most accurate, un-biased representation of your music as is possible. Some studio monitors can be hyped and help your mixes to sound better than what they actually are, but as a result they can mask problematic frequencies in your mix. So whether you’re recording, editing, mixing, or mastering audio, a sonically transparent monitoring system ensures that your mix will translate well to all listening devices.
 

Here are a few tips to make sure your studio speakers are translating correctly what is being played through them.

1. Symmetry

The first rule to follow is to position your speakers to form an equilateral triangle from your mixing position. That is, the distance between speakers left to right should be the same distance to your listening position. Your speakers should also be on a 60 degree angle with the tweeters at ear level.

2. Speaker stands

Using speaker stands will help improve the sound of your monitors and allow them to decouple the sound waves from any other surface to which it is attached. So placing your speakers on your desk should be avoided at all costs. Your desk will absorb or amplify certain frequencies introducing tonal changes and give you a false impression of the sound being reproduced.

3. Placement in your room

Avoid placing your speakers right up against a wall. This can be hard if you’re working in a small space, but placing them at least a foot away will help avoid any early reflections and allow your speakers to reproduce the frequencies correctly.

4. Acoustic treatment

Acoustic treatment is the most crucial step to make sure your speakers sound and translate well. Parallel walls and reflective surfaces (such as windows) are the main culprit for introducing weird frequencies and comb filtering. Where possible, use bass traps in the corners of your room, back and front, as well as standard absorption foam on the walls and ceiling. This will help eliminate those nasty frequencies. Diffusers are another great tool for controlling frequencies, but unlike the absorbers, diffusers disperse the sound, spreading them so they are less likely to reflect. As a general rule of thumb, the thicker the mass the more effective the sound treatment will be for controlling low frequencies. Refer to the link from GIK acoustics which provides a great visual understanding of acoustic treatment https://www.gikacoustics.com/the-basics-bass-traps-diffusion-panels/