How do I "compromise" speaker placement


When a flat response is not possible, how does one place speakers?
I would imagine that every time a freq gets flattened another peak/dip gets introduced in another freq?
So how does one "compromise" with the placements?
Do I simply use the flattest response?
Or perhaps, certain frequencies are more significant than others? Meaning, even if one placement introduces less dips (or peaks) across all frequencies, there might be more dips introduced in the bass area. Or the human voice range?

I have a very small room: 18' x 11'2" x 8'. I am having a professional take readings at 8 possible placements. I'm not sure what to do once I get the response graphs.
captaincapitalism
Actually your room is not quite that small. A bit narrow but otherwise I'd consider this a smaller mid-size room.

Anywhere you place your speakers is a compromise. The goal of course is to find the least compromising placement. As you can see there are several ways to find this spot. I just do it by ear which can take a very long time. In my previous room it took me about 9 months to find that spot. But I also only moved the speakers maybe 3 or 4 times a month.

But from what I can tell from your picts, I would start by bringing your speakers about 4ft further out from the back wall and perhaps a foot closer to the side walls as the initial starting point.

From there, every so often move the speakers out, in, forward or back in about 2 inch increments. Eventually you'll find that least compromising location.

I would also suggest shutting down the subwoofer while searching for this least compromising location as it will only add to the confusion.

Very cool room BTW.

-IMO
Rule of thumb - speakers placed well out into the room will excite less room modes. Keep away from side walls (at least three feet). Sit at around 40% or room length (do not sit with back against wall - very very bad) Subs are best well out into the room against the left or right wall about 3 feet in front of your mains. Try walking around the room while listening - the best positions or setup will have the broadest sweetspot and most even sound.

You will be surprised but rule of thumb works best - it won't give you that "jaw dropping" sound that you get when something is wrong and one note seems to rumble the whole room - so be careful - best setup is actually the most neutral and the least "sizzle" or "emphasis".

Finally use a PEQ or TACT or PARC to fix the worst of the room modes (notch down the "peaks" and leave the nulls alone and above all DO NOT aim for absolutely perfectly flat with thousands of filters - it often doesn't sound right at all - just "flatten" the bumps to with 3 to 6 db of the average and you may find it the most natural sounding - the lower you go in frequency towards 20 Hz the less relevant it becomes to get absolutely flat - flatish between 40 and 100 Hz is most important to achieve!!)
Very cool room BTW.
Thanks.
But from what I can tell from your picts.
Old pics. Sorry. The actual room is the same, but I did many tweaks over the years. A professional once cam and moved the speakers by ears. I also bought a BIG 2 seater HT seat. I put curtains to block off the bay window amongst many other tweaks. I also have an EQ.

I will have around 8 possible response graphs for every speaker based on different placements.

My current plan in order of priority:
1) The placement that has the least BIG peaks.
2) The placement that has the least BIG dips.
3) Flattest Bass Response
Actually your room is not quite that small. A bit narrow but otherwise I'd consider this a smaller mid-size room.
I only have 8' usable width. I have fire place on 1 side and bookshelves on the other. I also have cabinets in the fron and back of the room. So even though the room might no be so small, usable space is.
Finally use a PEQ or TACT or PARC to fix the worst of the room modes
I decided on the Audyssey EQ after auditioning for some time. I auditioned 2 other EQ's.

Rule of thumb - speakers placed well out into the room will excite less room modes. Keep away from side walls (at least three feet).
Not possible. 3 feet off the wall in a 11’2” width will have the mains less than 4 feet apart. The speakers are about a foot in width.