LSX II Setup Guide: Connecting and Positioning Compact Powered Speakers

Quick answer

Put the speakers on a stable surface at roughly ear height, keep each one at least 15-20 cm from the wall behind it, and aim them slightly inward toward your listening spot. Connect the power cable to the master speaker, link the second speaker with the supplied cable, then add sources over USB, optical, or analog. If you plan to add a subwoofer later, choose a model with a proper crossover and phase control rather than a generic one.

Compact powered speakers like the LSX II are designed to be simple, but the difference between a system that sounds thin and one that sounds surprisingly full usually comes down to two things: how you connect it and where you put it. Neither takes long, and both are worth doing properly the first time.

This guide walks through the setup in order, from unboxing to final listening checks. It also flags the mistakes that catch most people out, especially in small rooms where a few centimeters of placement can change the bass balance more than any setting.

What you need before you start

Clear a stable surface at roughly ear height when you are seated. A desk, a sideboard, or a pair of speaker stands all work; a wobbly shelf does not. You also need a free power outlet near the master speaker, since only one speaker connects to mains power in a typical powered pair.

Gather your sources before you start plugging in: a computer over USB, a TV or disc player over optical, and a turntable or streamer over analog are the usual options. Having the right cables on hand avoids the temptation to jam everything into whichever port is closest, which is how people end up with a hum they cannot trace.

• Check that both speakers and all cables are present before you move furniture around.
• Label cables with tape if you are running more than two sources.

Position the speakers before you connect anything

Placement is easier to change before the cables are dressed. Start with the two speakers forming an equilateral triangle with your head: the distance between them should roughly match the distance from each speaker to your ears. Angle each speaker inward by about 15 to 30 degrees so the drivers point toward you rather than straight ahead.

Keep both speakers at the same height and the same distance from the wall behind them. Symmetry matters more than any single measurement, because an uneven setup smears the stereo image and makes one side sound louder. In a small room, pulling the speakers 15-20 cm off the rear wall is usually enough to reduce boom without losing warmth.

• Avoid corner placement unless you want noticeably boosted bass.
• If the speakers must sit on a desk, use isolation pads or stands to reduce surface vibration.

Make the powered speaker connections

Connect the power supply to the master speaker only, then use the supplied inter-speaker cable to link the master to the second speaker. This is the connection people most often get wrong: the second speaker is passive in a powered pair and does not need its own mains cable. Plugging both into the wall is a common cause of confusion when nothing works.

Then add your sources one at a time. Start with the one you use most, confirm it plays, and only then add the next. If you are using a turntable without a built-in phono stage, you need an external phono preamp between the turntable and the analog input; plugging a bare turntable straight in will give you almost no volume and very thin sound.

• Power everything down before changing connections.
• Keep power cables and signal cables separated where possible to reduce hum.

Set levels, then fine-tune the room

Once everything plays, set the volume low and work upward rather than starting loud. Adjust the balance between the two speakers if your model offers it, and check that both are producing sound at the same level by standing between them. If one side is clearly quieter, the inter-speaker cable or the source channel is the first thing to check.

If the bass sounds heavy or the midrange sounds congested, move the speakers a few centimeters further from the wall before you reach for any EQ. Small position changes usually solve more problems than tone controls, and they cost nothing. Only after placement is settled should you consider a subwoofer to extend the low end.

• Re-check the triangle after moving anything; small shifts add up.
• Give yourself a day of normal listening before making further changes.

Setup steps at a glance

1. 1. Unbox and check the contents: Confirm both speakers, the power supply, the inter-speaker cable, and any remote or documentation are present before you start moving furniture. Checkpoint: if the inter-speaker cable is missing, stop here; you cannot complete the setup without it.
2. 2. Choose and prepare the surface: Pick a stable, level surface at roughly seated ear height. Add isolation pads or stands if the speakers will sit on a desk or shared cabinet. Common mistake: placing speakers on a hollow shelf, which adds a boxy resonance you cannot fix with settings.
3. 3. Set the triangle and toe-in: Position the speakers so the distance between them matches the distance to your ears, then angle each inward about 15-30 degrees. Checkpoint: sit in your normal listening position and confirm both speakers point toward you, not past you.
4. 4. Leave space behind the speakers: Keep at least 15-20 cm between the rear of each speaker and the wall behind it, and keep both distances equal. Common mistake: pushing speakers flat against the wall, which boosts bass and muddies the midrange.
5. 5. Connect power to the master speaker only: Plug the power supply into the master speaker, then run the supplied inter-speaker cable to the second speaker. Common mistake: plugging both speakers into the wall; the second speaker in a powered pair is not meant to have its own mains connection.
6. 6. Add sources one at a time: Start with your main source over USB, optical, or analog, confirm it plays, then add the next. Use an external phono preamp for a turntable without a built-in stage. Checkpoint: if a source is silent, swap the cable before assuming the speaker is faulty.
7. 7. Set levels and listen: Begin at low volume, raise it gradually, and confirm both speakers play at the same level from your listening position. Common mistake: judging the setup at high volume straight away, which hides channel imbalance and room problems.

Where these speakers fit in a setup

• Q4 Meta: A passive HiFi speaker with a catalog price of USD 300.00, listed against a comparison price of USD 599.99, available in multiple colors. If you want a traditional passive pair for a larger room, this is a lower-cost entry point than the LSX II route, but it needs a separate amplifier and does not offer the same all-in-one convenience.
• LS50C Meta Center Channel: Built around the Uni-Q 12th Generation driver array with Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT), designed to deliver detailed sound anywhere in the room. Useful as a matching center channel if you later expand a compact stereo setup into a multichannel system, since the driver technology is consistent with the Meta range.

Get the placement and connections right and a compact powered pair can fill a small room far better than its size suggests. Work through the steps in order, make one change at a time, and give yourself a proper listening session before deciding anything needs upgrading.