Is toeing speakers a bad idea?

Almost every speaker I have had sounded best with only a slight toe-in. Certainly not pointing at the listener. More air, more soundstage and openness. This was in different rooms, different distance, e.t.c it didn't matter.

Perhaps this is a listener preference of mine.

Others may prefer the closed in focused sound that toeing gives you.

I find it an interesting exercise to use a calibrated mic and RTA to see what effect my toe in has on frequency distribution. I go both ways. Use the RTA to find best position and listen. Or use my ears and then see what the distribution is. Just for fun. 

Interesting thread and notice nearly all preferences for little or no toe in.The preface I find "interesting " is that the WASP (  Dave Wilson's setup theory)is to have the Speaker toed in such as to fire directly at the listener in the  final positioning.

Having owned 4 sets of those transducers I can categorically state that none of them  delivered the most natural to Source  playback  in that configuration in my rooms.

Des

Some speakers need it like the Charios I still have but don't use. They sounded best with the speakers converging just in front of the listening position and far apart. The owner's manual even showed that configuration. My current JBLs sound great with just a little toe in.

It’s interesting the deviation that might occur between a speaker company’s recommendations and your own experience. Reflections, dimensions, ceiling height, even with what amp or dac you use, there are many factors that can influence the sonic outcome. But I always have found only a small adjustment to what is recommended for any given speaker is pretty standard due to its design becoming paramount to that overall equation.

my Spendors “should be” directly at my seated position and no less than 6 feet apart. But I get the most natural and clear presentation when they’re toed out just a few degrees from directly at me. That might change if I actually ever get into a larger room 🙏🏼