Simple Explanation

A method of adjusting the position of speakers and the listener to achieve the best possible sound quality in a room, by making the room's response as smooth as possible.

Concise Technical Definition

Placement Equalization, or Placement EQ, is a technique coined by Tomlinson Holman to optimize sound in a room by adjusting the placement of speakers and the listener. The goal is to achieve the smoothest room response at the listener's position, without the need for electronic equalization.

Layman-Friendly Analogy

It’s like moving your furniture around in a room until the sound from your speakers feels just right—smooth, balanced, and without any awkward echoes or hot spots.

Industry Usage Summary

Placement EQ is used in both professional audio setups and home theaters to improve the acoustics of a room. By physically repositioning the speakers and listener, audio engineers and enthusiasts can minimize room-related sound problems, such as standing waves, bass booms, or reflections, making the listening experience more natural and accurate. This technique is especially useful when electronic equalization isn’t sufficient or desired.

Engineering Shortcut

The practice of adjusting speaker and listener positions to achieve the best sound response in a room.

Full Technical Explanation

Placement Equalization (Placement EQ) is a concept developed by Tomlinson Holman, famously known for his work with THX, that involves moving both the loudspeakers and the listener around in a room to find the positions that result in the smoothest room response. This technique focuses on optimizing the interaction between the sound from the speakers and the room’s acoustics at the listener’s location, ensuring that frequencies are evenly distributed and minimizing undesirable acoustic effects like resonance and reflections. By adjusting placement rather than relying on electronic equalization, Placement EQ offers a more natural and effective solution to room acoustics issues.