Where should I place my front & rear speakers?

[sasquatch]

I'd appreciate some suggestions as to where I should place my 5.1 speakers in my finished basement with a 7' drop down ceiling.

Please see the attached image.

The TV sits in the recessed area at the top. On either side of the TV there are storage closets with enough wall clearance next to the recessed area (about 3 inches) to hang front speakers without prohibiting access to the closets. To the right are stairs to the main floor. The L-shaped sectional sofa to the left, behind which is a bathroom.

Where would you place the front and rear speakers?

Should I put the rear speakers behind the sofa either on stands/ceiling/walls? But then anyone sitting in the left part of the sectional sofa will be out of earshot of the rear speakers. So should I place the rear speakers in the far left corner of the sectional sofa and then on the far right on the wall where the stairs are, so they are to the left and right of everyone, yet not exactly to the rear?

The front speakers I'm thinking will go on the walls next to the TV where the closets begin.

Appreciate any input!

[Steve]

Ideally all three front speakers should be positioned so that the tweeter is at the level of your ears while you're seated in your listening position. If you're like the most of us though, your center will have to go over or under your TV. In this case it's a good idea to angle it up or down so it's directed straight at you.

Your surrounds are meant to go beside you (they're not rear speakers), and would be best positioned so that they're 2' or more above your ear level while seated. They do not need to be pointed down at all. If you absolutely have to put them on the back wall you have to do what you have to do, but they're intended to go on the side walls. You can experiment with aiming them straight ahead (if on the back wall), directly into the listening position (if on the side walls) or angled out into the room. The recommendation is to have them directed toward the listening position, but none of our rooms are exactly ideal.

When you go from 5.1 to 7.1 is when you add rear speakers, and they're referred to as surround backs.

For more information and diagrams check out the speaker setup guides at Dolby and THX.

[sasquatch]

Originally Posted by Steve

Your surrounds are meant to go beside you (they're not rear speakers)

Thanks Steve! That's exactly what I needed to know. Thanks for schooling me too. Now I know exactly where to put my surrounds. And those links are perfect, now I know what to do with the left and right speakers too (which I had a good idea of anyway).

[Steve]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

Thanks Steve! That's exactly what I needed to know. Thanks for schooling me too. Now I know exactly where to put my surrounds. And those links are perfect, now I know what to do with the left and right speakers too (which I had a good idea of anyway).

Excellent. I'm glad I could help. I hope you'll post some pictures of your setup when it's all done.

[MaCruz]

Steve is a life saver!

I think I need to do the same with my rear speakers.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

Thanks Steve! That's exactly what I needed to know. Thanks for schooling me too. Now I know exactly where to put my surrounds. And those links are perfect, now I know what to do with the left and right speakers too (which I had a good idea of anyway).

Originally Posted by MaCruz

Steve is a life saver!

I think I need to do the same with my rear speakers.

You guys are making me