Some quick questions regarding speaker/sub woofer placement...

[Steelmaker]

My tv room is bascially a rectangle (8'x16'). My couch is centered in the room, up against the wall. My TV is of course adjascent to the couch. I'm getting ready to install my home theater and I have a few questions...

1.) Considering my layout, I cannot place my surround speaker behind my couch. I'm guessing my best bet is to place them at each corner of the back wall and aim them down at my couch. Is this my best option?

2.) Is it true that my 2 front speakers should be approximatley the same height as my sitting height and the rear speakers should approximately be the same as my standing height? I've seen people's home theaters where both sets are elevated all the way at the top of each corner of the room.

3.) Where would the best possible place be to have my subwoofer? I've seen some placed beside the tv, some behind the couch, etc. Is there really a right or wrong place?

[Beta Man]

1) Yes

2) Yes, that would be ideal, but many people sacrifice for asthetics or necessity

3) It depends on your room, what's in it, etc.... for MOST, with the sofa/T.V. layout you said you have...... would probably place it to the left/right of the t.v.... a couple feet from either way if you have the space, and if it's forward facing, by all means face it away from the wall.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

3.) Where would the best possible place be to have my subwoofer? I've seen some placed beside the tv, some behind the couch, etc. Is there really a right or wrong place?

Place Subwoofer on preffered seat.

Turn on something with a heavy bass track(music, movie, or test signal)

Walk around room and find place where it seems loudest

Turn off subwoofer and move to where you were standing

Enjoy.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

1.) Considering my layout, I cannot place my surround speaker behind my couch. I'm guessing my best bet is to place them at each corner of the back wall and aim them down at my couch. Is this my best option?

What kind of surrounds? I would suggest dipole or quadpole surrounds and mount them at about 7 feet high to the sides of the listening area point straight out into the room, not down to the listener. Surrounds are not supposed to project directly to the viewer, thats why they are called surrounds.

[Big Daddy]

It is ok to install your surround speakers on the back wall as long as they are not dipolar speakers. For dipolar speakers, it is best to install them to the side of your main seating area.

Try not to put your surrounds too close to the corners as they tend to emphasize lower frequencies and sound a bit unnatural. Also, don't point your surround seakers down. Point then straight toward the front of the room.

As far as a subwoofer is concerned, there is no easy solution. Each room is different. What works in my room is not necessarily the best option in your room. Anybody who tells otherwise does not fully understand the concept of standing waves and room modes. There are two threads with sticky on them: A Guide to Subwoofers (Part I) and A Guide to Subwoofers (Part II): Standing Waves & Room Modes.They may help you in placing your subwoofer or they make completely confuse you.

[Hammie]

I was in a similar situation for my surrounds. I am using Polk Fxi3's in bi-pole mode.



My fronts are elevated to the ceiling due to young children. I am hoping to eventually move to towers.



As far as the sub, I have neard corner placement usually gives the most bass reproduction. I just have mine to the side of the cabinet. I am considering moving it next to the couch in the future.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

It is ok to install your surround speakers on the back wall as long as they are not dipolar speakers. For dipolar speakers, it is best to install them to the side of your main seating area.

Try not to put your surrounds too close to the corners as they tend to emphasize lower frequencies and sound a bit unnatural. Also, don't point your surround seakers down. Point then straight toward the front of the room.

As far as a subwoofer is concerned, there is no easy solution. Each room is different. What works in my room is not necessarily the best option in your room. Anybody who tells otherwise does not fully understand the concept of standing waves and room modes. There are two threads with sticky on them: A Guide to Subwoofers (Part I) and A Guide to Subwoofers (Part II): Standing Waves & Room Modes.They may help you in placing your subwoofer or they make completely confuse you.

I'm sorry, I don't even know what "dipolar" means. All I know is that the 2 front speakers are 2-way acoustic suspension, dual woofer and the 2 rear speakers are 2-way acoustic suspension. Is that dipolar?

[VinnAY]

http://www.thx.com/home/setup/speakers/51.html

and from the sound of your post you're trying to sit way to far from the screen for HD content to be effective....look here:

http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/09...o-screen-size/

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

Place Subwoofer on preffered seat.

Turn on something with a heavy bass track(music, movie, or test signal)

Walk around room and find place where it seems loudest

Turn off subwoofer and move to where you were standing

Enjoy.

+1 this is a very good way to find best spot for the sub.

[tilapiah6]

I have my sub sitting in the corner facing toward a wall. I seem to get the richest and deepest bass from that spot.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by VinnAY

http://www.thx.com/home/setup/speakers/51.html

and from the sound of your post you're trying to sit way to far from the screen for HD content to be effective....look here:

http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/09...o-screen-size/

What do you mean too far? It's a 60" 1080p screen and I sit approximately 7 feet from it. If anything, I think my TV is a tad too big. I almost wish I had gone with a 50 or 55" set.

[kefrank]

Originally Posted by VinnAY

and from the sound of your post you're trying to sit way to far from the screen for HD content to be effective....look here:

http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/09...o-screen-size/

that chart, while an ok guide, is not the be-all, end-all of viewing distance. all that it shows is about how close you need to be to guarantee that your eyes will resolve the detail of a given resolution. but there is more to a Blu-ray image than just a 1080p level of detail: there's richness of color, elimination of compression artifacts, true 24 fps (on a capable display), etc. That chart takes none of those other things into account.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

What do you mean too far? It's a 60" 1080p screen and I sit approximately 7 feet from it. If anything, I think my TV is a tad too big. I almost wish I had gone with a 50 or 55" set.

HERETIC!!

Just kidding. I originally thought (as I'm sure VinnAY did) that your room was set up the other way, with the TV and sofa on opposite short walls, which would make the viewing distance a lot farther.

[VinnAY]

I confused "couch up against the wall", as on the back wall of the 8 x 16 room, I missed the part of "couch center in the room".

reading comprehension pwns VinnAY

[Steelmaker]

Ok I have another question. The package that I bought is a 7.1 system that supports DTS-HD MA and Dolby True HD. Given the size/layout of my room, would I really benefit from the 2 extra speakers or should I just opt for a 5.1 setup?

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Ok I have another question. The package that I bought is a 7.1 system that supports DTS-HD MA and Dolby True HD. Given the size/layout of my room, would I really benefit from the 2 extra speakers or should I just opt for a 5.1 setup?

Your couch is "center in the room, up against a wall." Does that mean that the back of the couch is against the wall or the side armest of the couch is against the wall?

Former = 5.1 setup ok
Latter = can benefit by having 2 speakers behind listening area

Of course you can always bi-wire your fronts or use the two extra speakers as front presence speakers that are receiving the same information as the front l/r speakers.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

Your couch is "center in the room, up against a wall." Does that mean that the back of the couch is against the wall or the side armest of the couch is against the wall?

Former = 5.1 setup ok
Latter = can benefit by having 2 speakers behind listening area

Of course you can always bi-wire your fronts or use the two extra speakers as front presence speakers that are receiving the same information as the front l/r speakers.

Yes, the back of my couch is against the wall. So you're saying that I wouldn't benefit from 7.1 given the layout of my room?

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Yes, the back of my couch is against the wall. So you're saying that I wouldn't benefit from 7.1 given the layout of my room?

You wouldn't be able to properly place your surround back speakers, which ideally would go a minimum of 3 feet behind your listening position.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by fireman325

You wouldn't be able to properly place your surround back speakers, which ideally would go a minimum of 3 feet behind your listening position.

Yeah that's what I figured. Thanks for the help!

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Yes, the back of my couch is against the wall. So you're saying that I wouldn't benefit from 7.1 given the layout of my room?

That's correct, however you could add front side presence speakers(FSL/FSR) though i've never heard any in action, probably not worth the extra expense.