Advice on using a laser for speaker positioning


Question for you that use lasers for measurement.

Did the laser help considerably? I use a string now and feel it's pretty close, but read and article/post where the laser uncovered some discrepancies in setup.

Just wondering if the investment is justified-

Thanks for your help,

Gary
uncledemp
I'll check out the App Store, thanks for the heads up!

I rearranged my listening room and am trying different speaker positions. Currently the speakers are 6-7' apart, which is less than 'normal', and I'm enjoying the change. Any tools that make the experimentation easier and quicker are welcome.

In my opinion, speaker setup can make quite a difference. Probably have cycled some decent speakers through here because I failed to put the effort into positioning.

Thanks again for the thoughtful comments!
I found Jim Smiths's Getting Better Sound book and DVD to be very helpful and at $39 very low risk.
I used a laser in setting up my speakers as well...Richard Vandersteen instructed me in its proper use. Here goes. First put your speakers on carpeting (fuz side down on wooden/tile floor, and waltz the speakers around the room to find its best resting spot. After the speakers are spiked in position raise/lower the fronts for desired sound, making sure both speakers have the same degree up/down. (now comes the laser). Put the penlight laser on the top of the speaker shinning forward. Do not point it to your listening position, but rather, slowly turn the laser left/right keeping the laser solid against the top of the speaker. Place a yellow "Post-it" behind your normal seated position. Using a marker, place a dot on the post-it right where the red laser dot hits the back wall. Do the same thing to the other speaker...chances are very good that the laser dot will be higher or lower than the marked dot on the post-it. Raise or lower one or the other speaker so that the laser dot superimposes on the dot on the wall. This may seem tedious, but well worth the effort.
I used to use a laser to position my speakers - it was great and it kind of trained me, so now after 15 years of maniac habit of getting things right, I can reinstall my speakers by touching them a couple times and be right on the money...