One thing I'm still not sure about is my monitors placement. My desk is only 2x4. So there's roughly 2' 1/2 between them. While they do form a perfect triangle w/ my listening position, I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better if I placed them on stands behind my desk and stretch that triangle a bit.

Currently, they're placed 3 feet from the wall behind and 3 feet from the nearest wall on the side. Which means I could stretch the triangle a bit. I know it will always be a compromise but, what are your thoughts. Would it be better to have them closer to the walls but further away from each other or would this make no significant difference at all. Suggestions?

Just want to make sure that I have everything set up as it should before I start working on the room.

Thanks in advance!

Stands? I mean, yeah... stands!
 
J

One thing that hits me right off the bat would be at what volume is best for your monitors when mixing?

If it needs to be at a volume that kinda hurts to be that close then I would spread them a bit more to pull you back away a bit.

I would think that a 5" would need a different level as an compared to an 8" monitor to hit that level where it works its best.  Not sure though. 

Im running 8s and prefer to be back off it a bit so I can turn it up a little more without killing my hearing.  Im probably somewhere around 6-7 foot away right now.

Your target should be for them to make an equilateral triangle with your head at one of the vertices. There's some play there, but that's a good target to start from. Distance will kind of work itself out if you follow that rule, because your placement relative to the desk is constrained by ergonomics. In my studio, I did use stands, mainly because my desk is small at the back end.
 
Also Rain, remember to budget for isolators under your monitors. If you're not on a basement floor, and if you use stands, get some that can be filled with sand.

Mike - I admit I didn't really test them all that much and never put much thought into it. I  set them both to 12 o'clock when I got them and left them as such since - any adjustment is made directly on my audio interface. 

I don't know, that how I've always worked w/ my monitors, these and the previous ones, and usually, that gives me as much volume as I need w/o the risk of me damaging my ears by accidentally pushing a knob on my mixer or audio interface.

Carlos - that's pretty much how they're set right now. But I could - in theory - stretch this equilateral triangle a bit, and I'm wondering if there are any advantages, considering the fact that the monitors would be closer to the walls as a result.

The primary benefit of stands is reducing vibrations that would be coupled to your desk, and to a lesser extent the reflections off the desk. 

IMO there is little benefit to pushing them further away, though; 2.5' (or even 2') is going to be OK as long as you maintain that equilateral triangle. Getting them away from the wall is probably more important (although I wouldn't expect 6" to make much of a difference).

Thanks Bit.

In that case I'll probably keep them where they are for a while. 

If you're not gonna use stands, I would use Isopads or at least cell foam to decouple them from your desk.

Rocky

Yup, already using that - Auralex MoPads I think they're called.

Rain : "But I could - in theory - stretch this equilateral triangle a bit, and I'm wondering if there are any advantages, considering the fact that the monitors would be closer to the walls as a result. "

Things don't quite add up (not being picky, just want to know what's available)

Up top you said you had 2.5' between monitors and they were about 3' from the side walls. That makes 8.5' but your room is 11' wide ?

11 is a lot better than 9... If you have sufficient absortion on the walls you can probably get away with them being fairly close.
Especially since they'll be turn in quite a bit.

Stands would be a good idea, especially if it means you can get your monitors away for the desk.

My speakers sound awful with a desk in front of them compared to on stands with some space around them.

Your desk being small is good. Try and get your monitors as far to the sides and above your desk as you can.