1528 Speakers Listening Distance, Listening Height, Toe-in

Listening distance

The standout feature of the 1528 Series is its compound curve front baffle, designed to align all the individual drivers so that sound reaches the listener’s ears simultaneously. This mechanical alignment ensures optimal phase coherency, resulting in a more dynamic and accurate soundstage. 

While physics dictates that there is only one optimal listening distance where the drivers converge perfectly—4 meters from the front baffle—you’ll still experience significant benefits above and below that range. However, we recommend maintaining a minimum listening distance of 2.5 meters (100 in) for the Tower 8, Monitor 8 models, and at least 1.5 meters (60 in) for the 1528 Bookshelf 8, Slim 8, Center+ 8, and Center 8

Listening height

Listening height is just as crucial as listening distance. Ideally, the speaker’s acoustic center, located between the tweeter and midrange drivers, should be angled towards the ear level. For easy angle adjustments, you can use the optional Puck Pro+ which lets you adjust the height on front vs rear feet to accommodate the perfect angle for your seating placement.

As a reference, the optimal listening height for the 1528 Tower 8 is 98cm (38.6 in) at a 4-meter distance. Avoid positioning the speakers too high or too low, as this can result in an unclear sound, particularly in the vocal range.

Toe-in

Toe-in is a highly personalized aspect of speaker setup, and we strongly recommend experimenting with it, as it significantly influences the sound. Preferences vary greatly, so finding what works best for you is key.

When we refer to a 0-degree toe-in, it means the speakers are parallel to the front and rear walls, pointing straight into the room. A 45-degree toe-in positions the speakers directly toward the listener, forming an equilateral triangle.

The more you angle the speakers toward the listener, the more direct and focused the sound becomes, particularly enhancing the center image.

Conversely, angling the speakers more toward the room will result in a less focused center image, creating a wider, more expansive soundstage with increased overall scale.

Depending on your personal preferences and your speaker configuration (whether for stereo or home cinema), you may favor one approach over the other.