Is there a standard that people use when mixing music, that stereo speakers should be placed X distance (or degrees) apart when listening? Headphones (180 deg.) and integrated TV or radio/CD player speakers (just a few degrees) seem to be the extremes here, but is there some standard setup that audio engineers use when putting an album or movie together?
Or does it really not make much of a difference?
Here is a simple guide, but its only a start point, you will find that your room placement will need some trial and error.
Getting the best sound for you, and getting the flattest frequency response may well be differant, and this might also depend upon the type of music you prefer.
Generally you do not want your speakers close up to the wall as you end up with too much bass lift.You also do not want your speakers close up to the side walls either for the same reason.
Very sophisticated speaker have a system of self correction, which produces test signals, these are monitored using an inbuilt microphone and the frequency response is then corrected, however, every time you move the speaker site, you have to recalibrate.
Ideally, when set up correctly, the music should seem to come from a place in mid air several feet in front of the wall, this is known as the ‘soundstage’.
In general, folk tend to have speakers that are way too large and powerful for the room size, its a triumph of marketing over necessity.
It means you have speakers working at way below their optimum, or that the sound reflections around the room are such that seperation and definition are compromised.
I’ve checked the link and it doesn’t seem to answer my question.
Specifically, for basic listening enjoyment (nothing fancy), how far apart should my speakers be (relative to their distance from my ears)?
So, if I’m sitting 8 feet from the wall against which my speakers rest (yes, I know that’s not good), how far apart should they be? Eight feet? Twelve feet? Four feet? Something else?
Thanks!
A good guide is to have them at least 6 feet apart, and you will need someone to help you with this part: you sit back at least 6 feet, preferably further, right in the middle. Play some music. Have the other person adjust the aim of each speaker until it sounds like they are both aimed directly at you. The stereo image should come from in front of both speakers, have lead vocalists and bass in the dead center. Stereo panned instruments should sound like they come from a spectrum between and beyond the speakers by a few feet.
If you get the speakers too far from each other, you lose the stereo definition you want to achieve. Six to eight feet apart is good, if you have the room.
Is that closer to the information you need?
The trick is to shift them around to achieve the most satisfying result for yourself. The individual speakers and room acoustics are the primary determining factors but after that comes your seating arrangements, which are rarely ideal unless the room is purely an auditioning room, then your hard and soft furnishings, all will have an effect on the sound.
It is generally beneficial to have some item of furniture between the speakers - this is of course usually the sound source and amplifiers on some kind of stand.
Start with them at least six feet apart and 18" from the rear and side walls, then shove them around and note the improvement or deterioration of your listening experience.
If they are rear-ported bass reflex models the distance from the wall behind them will be crucial.
A slight ‘toe-in’ is generally recommended but does not apply to all models. Some are even left and right handed and transposing them will have a significantly detrimental result on the sound quality.
If they are ‘bookshelf’ speakers, they will sound best firmly mounted on acoustically dead rigid stands - these can cost more than the speakers themselves.
Floor standing speakers should have long, sharp spikes on them to pass through the carpet and anchor themselves firmly in the floorboards, shove them in hard, don’t let them just sit on the surface and the bass will thank you greatly, otherwise the speakers will shuffle back and forth on the carped and lose a large proportion of their output just dancing around.
With polished floors use a rubber cup to protect the floor but still prevent the speaker from moving.
Then there is the question of cabling…
I have had customers insist on purchasing the gold plated optical cable. If they’re nice, I try to explain things…
And what if they are not so nice?
Yes sir, you will need 300metres per speaker as those damn photons travel at the speed of light and will arrive before the sound does if it’s any shorter?
A good rule of thumb for a starting point is to have the speakers make an equalateral triangle with the listener. So the further away you are sitting, the further apart they should be.
Wow! My thanks to all of you. This is exactly the type of information I was looking for. You guys (and gals) are great!
Are you me? 
Uh, yeah…what KG said. Especially thanks for the link with the equations, casdave.