Surround Sound System Speaker Placement Guide

Loves2Watch · 02-12-2009, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Didz

Thx for the info. really good! I have one question, my couch is on back wall and covers entire wall approx. 1 foot from adjacent walls. From your info, I should place my surround speakers 1-2 ft above head on those adjacent walls, correct?

I would say 3 feet above ear level on the adjacent walls.

Quote:

Is it better to use directional and place them in ceiling, or is wall always better? They will be 90 deg from couch approx 4.5 feet off floor. I wanna use B&W speakers because thats what I have in front.(towers and center)

The wall would be better for proper sound dispersion, considering the close proximity. Don't forget to look at Dipole and bipole speakers for the surrounds when making speaker choices.

Quote:

One more out there question? If I used ceiling speakers as 5.1 surround speakers, could I still intstall 2 wall speakers, as talked about previously as 7.1 speakers or should they really be behind my couch a few feet? (which I dont have, couch against wall on back and sides, perfect box room) Any info greatly appreciated!

The rear surrounds should really be behind you, in any case.

Hope this helps.

dondada469 · 04-23-2009, 06:05 PM

I just moved into a studio apartment so I have to change my 7.1 layout. My couch is on the back wall in front of a window with a ledge, a little off-center (right cushion is center) about 13ft from the front of the TV. Where would be the best placement for the rear speakers? Directly behind or in the corners? And what about the sides?
And silly question but when you say 1-2inches above ear level...what part of the speaker should be that high?
[IMG]

[/IMG]

dondada469 · 04-23-2009, 06:19 PM

Is this the correct set up?
http://www.thx.com/home/setup/speakers/71.html

(keeping in mind my couch is NOT in the center of the room like in this picture)

HighDef Junkie · 04-24-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loves2Watch

My center channel speaker is placed on the shelf the TV rests on, in front of it aimed up slightly. Anything that gets in the way of the center speaker, even putting it in a shelf beneath the TV has a deleterious effect on it's performance. It needs to be completely in the open and generally right in front of the TV. Mounting it above or behind the TV is not a good option either.

Watch (listen) to something on TV or play a movie, something that has surround sound and try different speaker placements. You will be amazed at how placement effects dialog. Correct placement will yield easily heard, intelligible dialog at normal or low volume.

You mention above 'mounting it above or behind the TV is not a good option either''

I beg to differ, my TV room is small. The LCD is mounted on the wall at slightly above eye level. The LF, Center & RF speakers are mounted on their original brackets above the TV and angled down towards me.

The Mic calibration levels are : LF 4DB, Center 1DB and RF 5DB, as you can see the Center volume is very low, but i can hear every whisper, every word being said, every effect as clear as daylight

Stew4HD · 04-30-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighDef Junkie

You mention above 'mounting it above or behind the TV is not a good option either''

I beg to differ, my TV room is small. The LCD is mounted on the wall at slightly above eye level. The LF, Center & RF speakers are mounted on their original brackets above the TV and angled down towards me.

The Mic calibration levels are : LF 4DB, Center 1DB and RF 5DB, as you can see the Center volume is very low, but i can hear every whisper, every word being said, every effect as clear as daylight

The different output levels tell me that your fronts are farther away from the calibration spot away than the center speaker, hence the lower db. If the center is aimed towards the litener, mounting above the display will work fine. The reason L2W mentioned not mounting the speaker above is that it can steer the attention away from the screen in some instances.

In my HT room, the center is mounted below the screen whereas in my bedroom, I mounted the center above the display but is is aimed downward towards the listening area. It sounds great in both scenerios.

avnewbie · 05-03-2009, 10:11 AM

Great Information. Very Helpfull!

JohninTenn · 05-03-2009, 11:17 AM

Great post. Answered a lot of questions in my ole dart mind. Let me add If you cant use that layout don't worry, What ever sounds right, My Den and living room is one big room. I have to put mine on stands just behind the couch and recliner. Don't be afraid to try other things. Just don't run the cables until you have a tried and true setup. Momma is going to get ticked. After I get healed up from my surgery I may hang them from the wall at the ceiling.

Thanks again got that great I'm going to print it out and put it in my note book. I'm real anal on manuals.

rpl · 12-07-2009, 11:52 PM

what's the optimal speaker placement? Pricing a 5.1 system as I type.

Room is 20/15 with about 8 feet of open space behind the couch

Loves2Watch · 12-08-2009, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpl

what's the optimal speaker placement? Pricing a 5.1 system as I type.

Room is 20/15 with about 8 feet of open space behind the couch

See post #1. In your situation I would mount the surround speakers in the corners of the rear/side walls.

Acard811 · 01-01-2010, 11:25 AM

I attached the layout of my room. I recently ordered the sony ht-ss360 and it will be hooked up to my digital cable and my ps3. i just have no idea where i would put them and the sticky doesn't help b/c my setup is "catty corner" so any advise would be great.

thanks

kjpjr · 01-23-2010, 11:20 AM

Our upstairs neighbor complains all the time about our HTIB system. The short version of my question - if I move the subw to the front of the TV and place it on a slab of granite will that help with the bass sounds not going up to her place? I now have the subw between the rear projection TV and the wall and the back wall on a piece of foam. Any help for placement would be great. We may have to go to headphones but my wife does not want to do that and I don't really want to spend the $400 or so that 2 good pairs of wireless phone would be.

JD1 · 01-25-2010, 08:31 PM

I'm currently finishing my basement installing a 7.1 system. I have the same situation as the post by Didz with the couch pressed up against the back wall. With the rear speakers of a 7.1 system placed in the wall 1-2 feet above ear level is the sound overbearing? Would it be better to place them directly above the couch? I realize the optimal placement would be in the wall, but would give up a little sound quality for not being blasted by the rear speakers. Would appreciate any advice.

Skin Deep · 02-22-2010, 10:28 AM

Can anyone recommend a good way to position speakers if your TV is in the corner of the room?

Joe123123 · 03-25-2010, 10:56 AM

Is there a better spot to place the sub woofer. It is an omni directional device so technically anywhere in the room should be OK.

I just moved mine from behind the TV to behind the seating area, and to me, I get more realisim when placed by the TV.

I think in this position you get better psychacoustic effect.

Has anyone played with the position of the sub? and what do you think??

Loves2Watch · 03-25-2010, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe123123

Is there a better spot to place the sub woofer. It is an omni directional device so technically anywhere in the room should be OK.

I just moved mine from behind the TV to behind the seating area, and to me, I get more realisim when placed by the TV.

I think in this position you get better psychacoustic effect.

Has anyone played with the position of the sub? and what do you think??

Sub placement can be problematic. The speaker placement guide is a generalization when it comes to sub placement. The best way to decide where to put the sub is to place it as is noted in the placement guide, then crawl around on the floor when playing bass laden material. When the spot(s) is/are located that present the best and loudest bass, place the sub in that position.

Hope this helps.

04-23-2009, 06:05 PM	#17
dondada469 Confused Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 158	I just moved into a studio apartment so I have to change my 7.1 layout. My couch is on the back wall in front of a window with a ledge, a little off-center (right cushion is center) about 13ft from the front of the TV. Where would be the best placement for the rear speakers? Directly behind or in the corners? And what about the sides? And silly question but when you say 1-2inches above ear level...what part of the speaker should be that high? [IMG][/IMG] Last edited by dondada469; 04-23-2009 at 06:40 PM.. Reason: Trying to add picture

12-07-2009, 11:52 PM	#23
rpl What is HD? Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 3	tv in the corner what's the optimal speaker placement? Pricing a 5.1 system as I type. Room is 20/15 with about 8 feet of open space behind the couch

01-23-2010, 11:20 AM	#26
kjpjr bring the troops home now Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 13	Sub woofer Our upstairs neighbor complains all the time about our HTIB system. The short version of my question - if I move the subw to the front of the TV and place it on a slab of granite will that help with the bass sounds not going up to her place? I now have the subw between the rear projection TV and the wall and the back wall on a piece of foam. Any help for placement would be great. We may have to go to headphones but my wife does not want to do that and I don't really want to spend the $400 or so that 2 good pairs of wireless phone would be.

03-25-2010, 10:56 AM	#29
Joe123123 What is HD? Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1	Sub woofer location Is there a better spot to place the sub woofer. It is an omni directional device so technically anywhere in the room should be OK. I just moved mine from behind the TV to behind the seating area, and to me, I get more realisim when placed by the TV. I think in this position you get better psychacoustic effect. Has anyone played with the position of the sub? and what do you think??

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04-23-2009, 06:19 PM	#18
dondada469 Confused Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 158	Is this the correct set up? http://www.thx.com/home/setup/speakers/71.html (keeping in mind my couch is NOT in the center of the room like in this picture)

05-03-2009, 10:11 AM	#21
avnewbie My plasma is High Def. Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 7	Great Information. Very Helpfull!

05-03-2009, 11:17 AM	#22
JohninTenn KE4TQP Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 744	Great post. Answered a lot of questions in my ole dart mind. Let me add If you cant use that layout don't worry, What ever sounds right, My Den and living room is one big room. I have to put mine on stands just behind the couch and recliner. Don't be afraid to try other things. Just don't run the cables until you have a tried and true setup. Momma is going to get ticked. After I get healed up from my surgery I may hang them from the wall at the ceiling. Thanks again got that great I'm going to print it out and put it in my note book. I'm real anal on manuals.

01-25-2010, 08:31 PM	#27
JD1 What is HD? Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1	I'm currently finishing my basement installing a 7.1 system. I have the same situation as the post by Didz with the couch pressed up against the back wall. With the rear speakers of a 7.1 system placed in the wall 1-2 feet above ear level is the sound overbearing? Would it be better to place them directly above the couch? I realize the optimal placement would be in the wall, but would give up a little sound quality for not being blasted by the rear speakers. Would appreciate any advice.

02-22-2010, 10:28 AM	#28
Skin Deep What is HD? Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 2	Can anyone recommend a good way to position speakers if your TV is in the corner of the room?