Speaker placement: Your favourite shortcut?

here are the steps I normally follow:

1]look at the user's guide for manufacturer's recommendations[toe in or not to toe in,distance from the wall etc]or if it is not mentioned,call the designer yourself.

2] look for reviews of the loudspeaker.Check how the reviewer set up his,bearing in mind his room,acoustic treatments equipments etc...

3]use a sound pressure meter. radioshack makes a popular one,I personally use the pro version.Everybody should own or be able to borrow easily

4]use the ears for the last few millimeters of fine tuning with the help of setup discs like the xlo etc

4]sit and enjoy !!!!!!

Rushton,
I used to use the methods you described[which I think are the most well known methods]until a chance encounter with a very nice prominent surgeon in Germany.He has ,to my ears,the best system I have ever heard in My life{and believe me,being married to a Japanese ,and having spent some time in Japan;there are many really good systems there}.Those are the steps that were recommended by him.

You would be surprised at how much easier and faster it would be with the help of SPM,and how different it would be from the Cardas ratio.It always give the most 3-D image,in my experience,and I have recommended the methods[very simple and quick too!!!]to many friends..

Give it a go,and let me know what you think.

CHEERS.