Snug to the wall is not optimum, but definitely better than being too close to the rear wall. Axioms are rear ported and really do need to be about 12” from that wall, maybe a little less. I’d be hesitant to place them closer than 6” from your side wall. Your left will most definitely sound different than the right. I have an M80 crammed into a corner for the time being until my HT room is complete. I can tell you that it MOST DEFINITELY is different.
Sound is as important as video. Probably even more so. If it were me, I’d either go with a smaller screen, or buy that screen material for sound transparency and build my own screen, and put some M60’s behind it. You’d save a few hundred doing it yourself. It’s not all that difficult.
