Help w/ Surround Back Speaker Placement

[Kali157]

I currently have a 5.1 system and am looking to expand to a 7.1. My problem is that my theater "room" is about 12' by 12' and the main seating couch is only about 5 inches away from the rear wall. My Left and Right surrounds are currently ceiling mounted.

Now since the seating position is so close to the back wall and I have a window covering 60% of the back wall, How can I mount the rear surrounds? Can I mount it on the ceiling directly over the couch firing straight down? Or firing straight down but slightly behind the seating position?

This is another option. My ceiling is about 9 ft high. Should I place the rear speakers on the rear wall and near the ceiling around 8 ft up? I was thinking of having them pointed straight forward.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Kryptonic]

If you can mount them on the back wall as high as you can and angle them downwards, that would work quite well I would think.

[jomari]

id consider your seating position, and go around 2-4 feet above the ear level. but thats a personal choice. it all depends on how you would prefer it to sound. some people like em high, some lower closer to the listening position.

if you choose to have em closer to the listening position, have them straightforwards towards the ear level, but calibrate them as to not deter you from the sound stage. if you choose to have them higher, angle them to point towards the general listening position, and see how 'noticeable' theyd be up there. at this point my main priority is that they do not deter from what you are hearing up front, meaning, its 'there' but not blasting away like a 2 year old. calibration is crucial to get this part balanced.

at this point its a matter of preference versus reference.

[Kali157]

Thanks for the replies. I think my only options are high on the back wall (near the top of the 9ft) or actually on the ceiling firing down on the listening position. This is because there is a window covering 60% of the back wall behind the couch.

So if it is high on the back wall, do I aim it at the ears of the sitting position? I have also heard of aiming it at ear level but as if someone is STANDING (ie 2-3 ft above listening level). Am I right to assume that it is advisable to have it firing straight forward (towards the TV) since it will be mounted so high?

Or what about having it mounted on the ceiling firing down on the sitting position? Would this be a good option?

I also know that I will need to calibrate the speakers as to not be overpowering. I guess I am now wondering if going through this trouble is worth the advantage of 7.1 over 5.1 sound .

Anyway, any more help would be great. Thanks again

[jomari]

Originally Posted by Kali157

Thanks for the replies. I think my only options are high on the back wall (near the top of the 9ft) or actually on the ceiling firing down on the listening position. This is because there is a window covering 60% of the back wall behind the couch.

id rather choose the ceiling, but its a tricky mount plus im not sure how it would sound tho directly above your head.

So if it is high on the back wall, do I aim it at the ears of the sitting position? I have also heard of aiming it at ear level but as if someone is STANDING (ie 2-3 ft above listening level). Am I right to assume that it is advisable to have it firing straight forward (towards the TV) since it will be mounted so high?

yes. you aim it at the ear from the seated position, and not from the standing position.

for 5.1 setting, you place the speakers towards the listening area. if you consider the sweet spot in a middle of a circle, 12o clock being the telly and you in the middle, you want them to be at 4pm and 8pm.

for a 7.1 setting, you want them closer toward the 5pm and 7pm spots.

cant find the sticky with the picture on it... so lets use this first.

Or what about having it mounted on the ceiling firing down on the sitting position? Would this be a good option?

see previous posting.

I also know that I will need to calibrate the speakers as to not be overpowering. I guess I am now wondering if going through this trouble is worth the advantage of 7.1 over 5.1 sound .

ive always said that a great 5.1 system will always sound better than a mediocre 7.1 system. no point if you cant fully maximize the experience right?

[Kali157]

jomari- yeah I thought over head would be bestw/ my set up but I just never seen that config online. I find this weird since I dont think I am the only person with a small theater room w/ a couch near the back wall. Hrrmmm.

I am installing crown moldings so I though this would be the perfect time to install surround backs.

I am also upgrading receivers. I am looking into the Pioneer VSX 919... any thoughts i know off topic).

As for the aim of the surrounds, I got that advice of aiming at the standing level from Crutchfield site... but other sites say straight to ear level. I wish there is a standard.

Again thanks for the replies

[jomari]

are you the same guy asking about the VSX-919?

it really depends on what you'd prefer personally, as much as id like to follow certain 'suggestions', but thats what they are, suggestions.

there are only two tools you really need in this hobby.

your left ear.
your right ear.

everything else, despite calibrations, placement, settings, et al, are all subjective, and relative to what you want from it.

personally? id try to put those speakers temporarily up high and see how it sounds, then find out if its worth the time and effort to do so.

id stick with the crown molding project tho, and keep em nice and clean!

[Kali157]

well, I am trying not to put too many holes on my walls. Thats why I want to know if I should mount them on the back wall vs the ceiling over the seating area. I cannot think of a way of temporarily mounting it so I can try it out, so I must commit to mounting. I just want to get it right the first time if I could. I also understand that part of the evaluation of a surround system is subjective. But there are also wrong ways to mount a speaker. I also dont want to waste time, effort, and money if I can avoid it... especially if there are those who have a similar set up as mine and has some valuable suggestions. Also dont want to have to keep re mounting speakers and just blindly testing.

As for the crown molding, I just got a new miter saw for Christmas so it is ON!!!

[HAMP]

What kind of speakers are you planning to use for your surrounds? I believe that would make a difference.

If you haven't bought any yet, you should consider bi-pole or di-pole and then you wouldn't have to worry about aiming them downward.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by HAMP

What kind of speakers are you planning to use for your surrounds? I believe that would make a difference.

If you haven't bought any yet, you should consider bi-pole or di-pole and then you wouldn't have to worry about aiming them downward.

Vary Good Idea HAMP !

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by HAMP

What kind of speakers are you planning to use for your surrounds? I believe that would make a difference.

If you haven't bought any yet, you should consider bi-pole or di-pole and then you wouldn't have to worry about aiming them downward.

I have the POLK AUDIO FXi A3 speakers in a similar room as yours almost (mine is 11x13) with my couch right UP against the back wall. Pics in my gallery below might help & show you what I did to get 7.1 --- I have the Side Surrounds equal to about the front of my couch & the Rear Surrounds on the Back Wall, & ALL Four are in the Bipole mode. They work & Sound Amazing.

The MAIN Page (pg. 1) of the POLK AUDIO Speakers thread has some contact information for a Jessica at Polk Audio if you want. The FXiA3's are discontinued but you can possibly find their replacements, the A4's & their slightly Upgraded ($$$$ ) A6's, if you are interested. Good Luck.

[Kali157]

Hamp- what speakers do you suggest. I am hoping not to spend too much so please be kind to my wallet

Also are a bipole speaker to replace my surround left and right? If so, are you suggesting bipole surround left/right and my current Polk RM20 surround as my surround back speakers? Or should I get dipole to replace my surround left/right and no surround back (5.1)? Or keep my current setup and add dipole as surround backs?

What is the difference btwn dipole and bipole anyway? Thanks everyone

[jomari]

Originally Posted by Kali157

Hamp- what speakers do you suggest. I am hoping not to spend too much so please be kind to my wallet

Also are a bipole speaker to replace my surround left and right? If so, are you suggesting bipole surround left/right and my current Polk RM20 surround as my surround back speakers? Or should I get dipole to replace my surround left/right and no surround back (5.1)? Or keep my current setup and add dipole as surround backs?

What is the difference btwn dipole and bipole anyway? Thanks everyone

you can have the missus climb the ladder and hold it for a few seconds to try out, but then that puts you in the doghouse doesnt it?

how big is your room again?

the bipole/dipole route sounds as a great option for you, and considering what you're main goal is in adding these speakers (are you trying to maximize the whole 7.1 aspect? trying to further improve your HT 'envelopement'? et al), they work pretty darn well. i use them myself.

[Kali157]

NEW PLAN... kinda

I found a deal on Klipsch S-3 pair for $200.
http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/s-3-overview/


I think I am forcing having back surrounds. So I am considering buying the Klipsch to replace my surround left/right. I will use those satellites for front heights instead (getting new receiver... was going w/ pioneer, but now back to onkyo rc160 or 607).

Now for this type of surround speaker, can I mount it BEHIND the seated area about 8ft high even though my seated position (ear level) is only 2 ft from the back wall? Or should I stick to having them on the left and right? The only reason I wanted it for the back wall is that these klipsch are big and my left surround doesnt have a wall on the left... so I need to hang it...

Also, w/ this type of speakers do I need to point it DOWN towards the seated position if it is 8ft up? Or does it fire straight across?

Oh and my room size is about 13 ft wide by13 ft long by 9 ft high, but there is no wall on the left side.

Man... once an upgrade starts.... can open... worms EVERYWHERE! Thanks again for all the help.