Speaker Height

[jswanson]

Is there an optimal or "standard" height for speakers to placed in a HT set up...? Ear level? Above, below? Just trying achieve perfection...or close to it..

Of course I'm talking about bookshelf type speakers.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by jswanson

Is there an optimal or "standard" height for speakers to placed in a HT set up...? Ear level? Above, below? Just trying achieve perfection...or close to it..

Of course I'm talking about bookshelf type speakers.

Front Speakers: Tweeters should be at ear level when you are sitting down. If the center speaker is pointing at your legs, put a couple of cheap door stops under the front part of it and make it point upward. You can buy them from Wal-Mart for a couple of dollars.

Surround Speakers: A few feet above ear level when you are sitting down.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by jswanson

Is there an optimal or "standard" height for speakers to placed in a HT set up...? Ear level? Above, below? Just trying achieve perfection...or close to it..

Of course I'm talking about bookshelf type speakers.

For the front sound stage you want the Tweeters on the front 3 to be on A level plane with each other at ear level .

[crazyBLUE]

[jswanson]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Front Speakers: Tweeters should be at ear level when you are sitting down. If the center speaker is pointing at your legs, put a couple of cheap door stops under the front part of it and make it point upward. You can buy them from Wal-Mart for a couple of dollars.

Surround Speakers: A few feet above ear level when you are sitting down.

Thanks!

I think I'm ok with the center, but need to lower my fronts a bit. Right now the woofers are at ear level.

I want to get new stands, so I just wanted to make sure that I get the right height.

[jswanson]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

For the front sound stage you want the Tweeters on the front 3 to be on A level plane with each other at ear level .

Right now they (Fronts and Center) are more like a V or a pretty wide U

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by jswanson

Right now they (Fronts and Center) are more like a V or a pretty wide U

Big Daddy is the master at this FYI !

I learned everything from him

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

Big Daddy is the master at this FYI !

I learned everything from him

Actually I use 4 large door stops under the Martin Logan center speaker. It is very heavy.

[jswanson]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

Big Daddy is the master at this FYI !

I learned everything from him

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Actually I use 4 large door stops under the Martin Logan center speaker. It is very heavy.

What about the other center speaker ! How many door stops do you use on that one

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

What about the other center speaker ! How many door stops do you use on that one

Four under both of them. I don't discriminate.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Four under both of them. I don't discriminate.

I'm out ~ See you soon

[Rob J in WNY]

I love it when Big Daddy responds to threads like these. Inevitably, some humor emerges.

jswanson,

The idea is to take advantage of the highly directional high-frequency output of the tweeters. Off-axis, their perceived response can begin to fall off. For the bulk of stereo front soundstage sounds, you will want the highly accurate perception of these frequencies, so keeping the tweeters at ear-level, often involving a little "toe-in" of the left and right speakers, is the way to go. Some manufacturers suggest going a teeny bit off-axis for a flatter response, but I have found that all of this is subjective. Try some toe-in directly toward your ears, and listen to the speakers straight out, without any toe-in, plus something in between, and see what speaker position produces reproduction that you like the best.

Although my surround speakers are all at ear-level (due to limitations in my room - my HT gallery pics are no longer accurate to what my 7.1 setup currently looks like), the idea of elevating them a two or three feet above ear-level is to create more "ambient" surround perception, which can generate substantial realism with regard to surround channel material. Many enthusiasts here have bipole and/or dipole surround speakers. Usage of these even further increases the ambience and spatial perception of surround audio.

I saw your gallery - very nice setup!