Market guide
Commission a passive stereo loudspeaker system
Verify delivery, supports, wiring, placement, polarity, levels and acceptance testsCommission the pair as a room system. Inspect both cabinets, assemble supports safely, verify amplifier settings and polarity, begin at low gain and document placement and listening tests before the return period ends.
01
Delivery
Inspect and stabilize the pair
Record serials and finish, photograph packaging and damage, then assemble stands, plinths, spikes and floor protectors exactly.
- Keep packaging
- Large speakers can require original cartons for safe return or service. Do not discard inserts until acceptance is complete.
- Control tip risk
- Level every support, use supplied hardware and keep children, pets and traffic away from unstable cabinets and loose cables.
02
Wiring
Prove the electrical path
Power down, verify terminal links, conductor condition, polarity and amplifier load settings, then start at low volume.
- One channel at a time
- Use a mono signal to confirm left and right continuity, polarity and equal level before stereo placement judgments.
- Protect against source jumps
- Disable unexpected normalization, alarms or television volume changes and avoid clipping during test sweeps.
03
Placement
Record a repeatable baseline
Measure wall distance, spacing, toe-in, ear height and seat position, then change one variable at a time.
- Use familiar and diagnostic material
- Combine speech, mono center image, bass sweeps and familiar music at controlled levels rather than a single impressive track.
- Preserve uncertainty
- A good first setup does not guarantee long-term preference, room match, hearing safety or reliability. Keep the placement and level record for later comparison.
Evidence used
First-party sources behind this guide
- 01R Series manuals and downloadsKEF · checked August 21, 2026Open source
- 02Loudspeaker supportBowers & Wilkins · checked August 21, 2026Open source
- 03Reserve Series supportPolk Audio · checked August 21, 2026Open source
- 04Loudspeaker manualsWharfedale · checked August 21, 2026Open source
- 05Heresy IV manualKlipsch · checked August 21, 2026Open source
- 06Home loudspeaker supportFocal · checked August 21, 2026Open source
- 07Independent loudspeaker measurementsErin's Audio Corner · checked August 21, 2026Open source
- 08Noise and hearing riskNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health · checked August 21, 2026Open source