Speaker Placement Calculators

Speaker Placement Calculator 

The Speaker Placement Calculator is the foundational tool for establishing optimal stereo or multi-channel imaging and frequency response in any listening space. You should use this tool at the very start of setting up a new audio system, as it addresses the most critical acoustic interaction: the speakers and your room boundaries. By entering your room’s dimensions (Length, Width, Height), the calculator provides an ideal starting position for your main listening spot and the speakers themselves, typically based on established principles like the or (e.g., placing the listening position and speakers at specific percentages of the room’s length). To translate the results into practice, measure and mark these recommended distances from the front wall and side walls. While these positions are theoretical starting points, they offer the best chance to minimize early reflections and prevent the most severe bass nulls and peaks (comb filtering), saving you hours of frustrating trial-and-error adjustment later on.

Room Modes Calculator 

The Room Modes Calculator is used to diagnose the specific low-frequency issues that will inevitably plague any rectangular room. You should use this tool after setting your speaker position to identify the precise, problematic frequencies that cause “boomy” or “muddy” bass. By inputting your room dimensions, the calculator determines the natural resonant frequencies (modes) that occur along the Axial, Tangential and Oblique axes. The resulting list of frequencies shows you exactly where standing waves will cause significant pressure buildups (peaks) or cancellations (nulls). In practice, the results tell you where to focus your acoustic treatment: the areas of concern correspond to the frequencies you should address with bass traps and other low-frequency absorbers, often specifically targeting the corners where modal energy is highest.

Schroeder Frequency Calculator

The Schroeder Frequency Calculator is essential for determining the point at which your room’s acoustics transition from being dominated by individual, predictable low-frequency sound waves (Room Modes) to chaotic, statistically dense sound reflections (Reverberation). You should use this tool to determine the appropriate type of acoustic treatment for different frequency ranges. The calculator uses the room volume and an estimate of absorption (if available) to output a single frequency value, the Schroeder Frequency. Results are applied in practice by dividing your room’s acoustic needs: Below the Schroeder Frequency, you must use bass traps and resonators to control standing waves (Room Modes). Above the Schroeder Frequency, you primarily use diffusers and broadband absorbers to control decay time and reduce echo, as sound behaves more predictably in this range.

Use our free tools to find the best spot for your speakers and listening position, and to understand the acoustics of your room.