I can move them off to the side quite some distance if that's the main concern. I don't mind running wires along the baseboard along that wall. How far away would you recommend from the main listening spot?
I know they are supposed to be high -- I need to think about that a bit, see if I can find stands for them, or could wall mount them. But I had not heard that a distance out was terribly relevant, just angles for where?
I just want to emphasize my expectations/needs are relatively low, the speakers high quality but small, the receiver old and decent but nothing special. The room is echo-y, my ear is untrained (and old). I just don't want loud popping noises some complain about, or some weird echo because of excessive latency.
If my son (with young ears) comes over and complains, he can go home and eat his own food.
But I had this system in another home in a separate room where I could run wires and it sounded great. Great = Great to me. If I can get that back in the new home I'm going to be very happy.