Listening-triangle worksheet
Nearfield placement sheet
A studio-monitor placement checklist covering listening distance, symmetry, height, wall clearance, desk reflections, stands, cables, level control, and low-end checks.
The room and desk change what a monitor pair can tell you. A few measurements reveal whether a larger cabinet, stand, isolation pad, or simply a better position is the useful next move.
Use this sheet before buying monitors and again after rearranging the room.
01
Triangle and height
- Measure the distance between speakers and compare it with the distance to the listening position.
- Bring tweeters near seated ear height and keep left and right angles consistent.
- Center the listening position between side walls where the room allows it.
02
Boundaries and desk
- Record rear and side-wall clearance for both cabinets before choosing ported monitor placement.
- Move speakers or use stands when a reflective desk surface sits directly below the drivers.
- Check doors, screens, shelves, and instruments that prevent symmetrical placement.
03
Signal and reference
- Use the correct balanced connection where the interface and monitors support it.
- Keep monitor level, mute, and power within a safe and repeatable routine.
- Learn the pair with familiar references before adding a subwoofer or heavy correction.
Mistakes that show up around the listening triangle
- Choosing an eight-inch monitor for low-end reach before measuring a small desk and room.
- Judging a pair while the speakers sit at different heights or distances.
- Adding a subwoofer before learning where the room exaggerates and cancels bass.