Studio monitors are designed to help you judge a recording, but their position changes what you hear. A desk, a nearby wall and the distance between the speakers can alter the balance before you make a single adjustment in your software.
Build a consistent listening position
Begin with the placement guidance supplied with your monitors. Aim for a symmetrical arrangement, with both speakers at similar distances from your ears. A roughly equilateral triangle is a useful starting point, rather than a rule that replaces listening and measurement.
Keep the tweeters close to ear height and aim the monitors toward the listening position as the manufacturer recommends. Unequal heights or distances can make the stereo image harder to evaluate.
Consider the desk and surrounding surfaces
Sound reflecting from a desktop can combine with the direct sound and change the response. Moving the monitors, changing their height or using suitable stands may help. Isolation pads can reduce vibration transfer, but they do not remove every acoustic reflection.
Placing a speaker close to walls or corners can increase some bass frequencies. The effect depends on the room and placement, so avoid choosing a location only because it looks tidy.
Use adjustments carefully
Some monitors include controls for bass, treble or boundary compensation. Use them after establishing a sensible physical arrangement. Large equalizer changes cannot reliably solve deep cancellations caused by the interaction between a speaker and the room.
Check familiar recordings at a moderate, repeatable listening level. If possible, compare measurements from more than one nearby position to understand whether an issue is local or persistent.
Improve the setup before replacing it
Monitor quality matters, but placement and the room are part of the same system. Start with symmetry, suitable height and sensible spacing. Then consider acoustic treatment and calibration. A carefully arranged listening space can make existing equipment more useful and help you make more consistent decisions.