Five feet from the front wall

@pryso 

I have been using dipoles exclusively since 1979, I currently use 8 foot Sound Labs ESL and they are between 2 and 2.5 feet(towed in) from the front wall. The wall behind a dipole should always be heavily deadened. I use 4" thick acoustic foam tile, but that is all you have to do with them other than use subwoofers below 100 Hz. Dipoles have a lot of trouble with the longer wavelengths. 

I hate to disagree with Bell Labs, but that is a purely subjective evaluation. Any sound within 100 ms of the direct sound is sound that was not in the recording and by definition is distortion. After 100 ms it is an echo or a different sound altogether. Dipoles are 180 degrees different than other types of loudspeakers because the sound that comes off the back is 180 degrees out of phase with the front wave which means that at three feet from the wall 185 Hz is attenuated. At 5 feet 100 Hz is attenuated which is not good for bass. It is a lot more complicated than this as again other frequencies are reinforced. I keep my speakers closer to the wall because higher frequencies are easier to manage with acoustic absorption. Below 200 Hz there is not much you can do other than digital room control.

The issue that causes such varied opinions is that some distortions sound good to some people. They can add warmth and ambience to a recording. Being the stubborn purist that I am I only want to hear what is on the recording. It seems to me that like @rauliruegas I find that systems that are devoid of most distortions sound better.

I found that my apogee duetta 2 sound best 82" from the wall, there is no bass problem as long as you have proper amplification.

When you see a measurement like "X feet from the front wall" in the context of speaker placement, it typically means the distance from the front of the speaker cabinet to the front wall of the room. In other words, it's the space between the front of the speaker and the wall that's directly in front of it.

This measurement is important because it can have a significant impact on the sound quality and imaging of your speakers. The distance between the front wall and the speaker can affect the interaction of the sound waves coming from the speakers with the room's acoustics. The ideal distance can vary depending on the specific speaker model, the room size, and your personal preferences for sound.

To set up your speakers effectively, you may need to experiment with speaker placement, including the distance from the front wall, to find the position that delivers the best sound quality and imaging for your listening environment. Adjusting this distance can help you achieve optimal bass response, minimize potential reflections, and enhance the overall listening experience.

@mijostyn 

I agree ! Better to be over absorbed than under. 

Many are confused by FRONT wall; it's the wall BEHIND the speakers. In my room which is 35ft long there is no BACK wall reinforcement, which throws a monkey wrench into positioning. My speakers are dipole at ~ 4.5ft from the front wall. Moving them back from 5ft helped fill in the upper midrange/lower treble

hth