Surround Speaker placement questions (1 Viewer)

[Stephen Gladwin]

Well, I've settled into my new 5.1 setup for a while now and I like it very much, but it's not quite perfect yet. I have a less-than-optimal design for my HT room, especially where my surrounds are concerned. It seems the general consensus for surround speaker placement is high (about 5-6 feet above listening level), to the side, and 2-3 feet behind the listener. Unfortunately, I have vaulted ceilings, and the highest I can put my speakers is about 6 inches above listening level. Currently I also have the speakers placed directly parallel with my listening level. If I can't put the speakers higher (they are JBL E10s and can't be ceiling mounted), would it make that much of a difference acoustically to remount them further back, like another 2-3 feet? Perhaps I could buy some ceiling brackets? If I put them on ceiling brackets, they would be hanging off the sloped ceiling: would this cancel out the surround sound accoustically?

**Also: Would playing around with the distance settings on my Denon receiver accomplish a more spacious surround sound? Thanks!

 

[Phil Iturralde]

Ceiling mounting not a good idea. If you got the room, another 2-3 feet behind your sweet spot will work better.

Although my side surrounds are 6-feet high, they are 3-feet behind my sweet spot and work gloriously. Check out my speaker dispersions in overhead view of my 20' x 30' HT/family room. (Basically the same pattern used in the typical 5.1 & 6.1 Mixing Studio's)

Can't believe that I'm answering this from Hawaii! Aloha!!!

Phil

 

[Dave H]

Why shouldn't surround speakers be at ear level since the fronts are recommended that way?

 

[Dick Knisely]

They can be but you're sacrificing the vertical surround, i.e., if the sound is supposed to be above you (and lots of ambient sounds are) you'll miss out on that.