This is a frequent query with many responses that sound similar. Without prejudice to its dependence on three key factors being:
i) the performance and build quality of your choice of speakers,
ii) the performance and build quality of your choice of upstream components driving your speakers,
iii) your bespoke room dimensions that create PITA nodes and warts;
MY TAKE:
- position them wider if you can BUT with a BIG awareness to the compromises and warts vis-a-vis L-R speaker proximity to the side walls, back wall, ( and maybe CC speaker) and primary listener position that may introduce big negative effects on the audio presentation
in summary::
There is no silver bullet general fix here and no escape from hands-on experimentation with a keen awareness to the compromises in moving away from the Golden Rule of speaker placement:: L and R speaker ideally form an equilateral triangle to your listening position,
this includes inter alia:
- Initial placement. Decide roughly where you will be positioned when listening, then place your speakers so that they form an equilateral triangle with your listening position first IF POSSIBLE.
- Speaker separation. Try to get about a minimum 4 feet of separation for bookshelf speakers or 8 feet for floorstanding speakers.
Wallmount speakers closely bracketing the TV is more of the dog’s breakfast invoked by the bespoke speakers capabilities and warts themselves, that are in direct conflict with that ethereal WAF and opinions on visuals fostering a biased EZ ad hoc wallmount with no regard to these other factors, - If your speakers are too close, sounds will blend together and become muddy. If they are too far apart, there will be a gap between the two halves of the stereo image.
- Speaker height. Position your speakers so that the tweeters are directed roughly to the same height as your ears.
- Wall proximity. Move your speakers at least 2-3 feet away from the nearest wall. This will minimize sound reflections, which can negatively impact playback clarity.
- Adjust speaker angle (toe-in). Angle your speakers inward so they’re pointed towards the listener - more specifically, at a point directly behind the listener’s head. If you want good sound across a wider listening area, then decrease toe-in. Increase or decrease the angle of your speakers a few degrees at a time until you hit that sweet spot!
- Room arrangement. Make sure no objects stand between your speakers and your ears. Strive for symmetry in speaker and furniture arrangement. The goal here is to minimize sound reflections as much as possible.
- Isolate your source. - Your source should always be isolated from speaker vibrations as a best practice.
Achieving great sound with your speakers involves a chunk of bespoke trial-and-error. If you make an adjustment and notice that a music/ soundtrack have suddenly "locked" into place, then you’ve probably found your sweet spot.
Why do these steps matter? It all comes down to controlling stereo imaging and sound reflections.