Has Jim Smith discovered a magic formula for placing speakers correctly?

[Hear Here]

#1 is questionable; either Wilson's or Jim's method should probably be used instead (FWIW my speakers are 58" from the front wall; 64" - where I started - is/was definitely too far out into my 23' room)

But this depends so much on the speaker type. Electrostatics vs horns for example require totally different setting up, particularly with regard to how far from the rear wall they need to be ideally placed. Eben sealed box vs rear ported boxes will be different. My Martin Logans were truly poor with too much space behind them, but my horns are absolutely fine with 12 ft behind one and 15 ft behind the other - or in fact pretty much anwhere, even close to the rear wall.