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Opinions arrangement (5.1 Setup)

#1
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10/6/09 at 12:44pm
  • Joined: May 2002
  • Location: Virginia Beach, VA
  • Post Count: 22
Hello, I just purchased a new home and I'm looking for some opinons and/or recommendations for my 5.1 setup in the den. This is of course until I knock down the wall between the formal living room and den to create a good sized "great" room (in a year or so). Anyways, here are some quick (non proportioned) drawings I did real quick at work using ms paint...lol.

Option #1:
Den - Option 1

Option #2:
Den - Option 2

I am kind of leaning towards option 2 but I am worried that the front stage won't be wide enough? I do beleive the sub is best placed in line with the front stage though, correct? I did this out of memory and do not have exact footage at the moment but it should be fairly close.

Basically just looking for some pro's/con's from some of you HT folks.

Not 100% sure if I am going to mount the surrounds on the walls, use stands or even build individual ledges for them. I want to aim them at the main seating position and have them about 1.5 ft above ear level. I even thought about mounting them on the opposing walls aiming directly at the loveseat. But they would have to go above the doorway which is pretty high. Is this recommended?

There are going to be vertical blinds over the sliding door so light shouldn't be an issue. The ceiling is flat and has 3 normal sized doorways.

Thanks for any advice and sorry for all the rambling. :)


My HT Setup:
Display - JVC HD-56FN97 Receiver - Harmon Kardon AVR 347 Mains - JBL Venue Stage x2 Center - JBL Venue Voice Surrounds - JBL Venue Balcony x2 Subwoofer - SVS PB12-NSD/2 Sources - Playstation 3 & Cox HD Remote - Harmony 880 Cables - Monster & Interconnect
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#2
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10/6/09 at 12:52pm
  • Joined: August 1999
  • Post Count: 157
WIll folks be conversing in the den? Or is it strictly home theater? If the former, then I prefer option 1, since the sofas would be within conversing distance of each other. In option 2, the door, and table, separate them too much. 
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#3
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10/6/09 at 1:00pm
  • Joined: May 2002
  • Location: Virginia Beach, VA
  • Post Count: 22
Yes, this will pretty much be the main hang out spot (watching TV, movies, listening to music, playing video games and ect...). NOT a dedicated theater by any means. I just want to make the best of it for now until I do some major reconstructing.

You have a very good point. You opinion is much appreciated, thank you!

Keep the comments coming ;)




My HT Setup:
Display - JVC HD-56FN97 Receiver - Harmon Kardon AVR 347 Mains - JBL Venue Stage x2 Center - JBL Venue Voice Surrounds - JBL Venue Balcony x2 Subwoofer - SVS PB12-NSD/2 Sources - Playstation 3 & Cox HD Remote - Harmony 880 Cables - Monster & Interconnect
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#4
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10/7/09 at 8:13am
  • Joined: May 2002
  • Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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Just had another idea pop in my head while slow at work.

How about this setup? I guess my main concern is the sub being located next to the seating position like in option #1. I don't think that is a recommended location... right? I've been led to beleive it is best to locate the sub in line with the front stage for best overall sound and performance.

Option 3

My HT Setup:
Display - JVC HD-56FN97 Receiver - Harmon Kardon AVR 347 Mains - JBL Venue Stage x2 Center - JBL Venue Voice Surrounds - JBL Venue Balcony x2 Subwoofer - SVS PB12-NSD/2 Sources - Playstation 3 & Cox HD Remote - Harmony 880 Cables - Monster & Interconnect
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#5
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10/7/09 at 11:08am
  • Joined: May 2002
  • Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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And Option 4 with the surrounds on opposing walls:

Option 4

My HT Setup:
Display - JVC HD-56FN97 Receiver - Harmon Kardon AVR 347 Mains - JBL Venue Stage x2 Center - JBL Venue Voice Surrounds - JBL Venue Balcony x2 Subwoofer - SVS PB12-NSD/2 Sources - Playstation 3 & Cox HD Remote - Harmony 880 Cables - Monster & Interconnect
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#6
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10/7/09 at 12:00pm
  • Joined: May 2002
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I think #4 is the best option yet - at least for the "prime" listening position of the smaller loveseat.

The sofa will be a less ideal seating position - the surround effect will be a bit odd, and as you mentioned before, the subwoofer may be a bit overpowering for anyone sitting right next to it.

Generally, I tend to opt for a setup that provides at least one ideal seating position, rather than a setup that has compromises no matter where you sit.
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#7
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10/7/09 at 3:36pm
  • Joined: August 1999
  • Post Count: 157
3 and 4 are definitely better. As between the two, I suppose that depends on how your receiver handles surrounds, and what the speaker manufacturer recommends for those speakers. You should make sure, though, that if the surrounds are mounted on the wall behind the loveseat that folks won't be bumping into them when walking behind the loveseat.

Is there room over by the RF for the sub? Tucked under the TV or something? 
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#8
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10/7/09 at 5:31pm
  • Joined: May 2002
  • Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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The sub woofer is HUGE and pretty limited to that corner unfortunately. My tv is rear projection and on a stand so that limits location even more.

My current setup in the old house is even more limited and the sub is currently behind my love seat. I hate its location but there wasn't really anywhere to put it. So now that I am moving I'm going to try and get a better setup and actually setup furnature around the speakers and sub.

The surrounds are currently up high and don't image very well. And yes I thought about folks bumping into them in setup #3 as well. I am pretty sure I am going to go with Option 4 and probably build small ledges for them and slightly angle them about 110* from the seating position and tweak from there. I plan on upgrading speakers soon (possibly a SVS setup to match the sub).

Thanks for all the help!

Here is the stuff I am working with (pics are from a few years back around christmas time):

Surrounds

sub

Front stage

My HT Setup:
Display - JVC HD-56FN97 Receiver - Harmon Kardon AVR 347 Mains - JBL Venue Stage x2 Center - JBL Venue Voice Surrounds - JBL Venue Balcony x2 Subwoofer - SVS PB12-NSD/2 Sources - Playstation 3 & Cox HD Remote - Harmony 880 Cables - Monster & Interconnect
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#9
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10/7/09 at 9:24pm
  • Joined: November 2008
  • Post Count: 137
I like option #4.  Might I suggest that you pitch the love seat and go with a couple of nice recliners at that location.  That will give you two prime seating locations for TV viewing and a couch to stretch out on for a nap.
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#10
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10/8/09 at 5:51am
  • Joined: July 2002
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Quote:
I do beleive the sub is best placed in line with the front stage though, correct?

This isn't necessary, the sub can go anywhere and you won't be able to tell the difference.

As far as the screen placement.  I'd be most concerned with light and distracting reflections from the sliding door, so I lean toward option-1.  (I assume the other openings are windows, and those are more easily covered.)
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#11
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10/8/09 at 6:12am
  • Joined: May 2002
  • Location: Virginia Beach, VA
  • Post Count: 22

The sliding doors are the only windows in the room and they have fabric vertical blinds that block most of, if not all light. All the other openings are actually doorways. So I don't think I have to be to worried about lighting. At least I hope not.  ;)

Getting some reclining chairs down the road has crossed my mind. The love seat actually has recliners and a center console so I ain't to worried at the moment. But chairs would be nice angled towards the tv with a table in between them.

Thanks for all the advice fellas!


My HT Setup:
Display - JVC HD-56FN97 Receiver - Harmon Kardon AVR 347 Mains - JBL Venue Stage x2 Center - JBL Venue Voice Surrounds - JBL Venue Balcony x2 Subwoofer - SVS PB12-NSD/2 Sources - Playstation 3 & Cox HD Remote - Harmony 880 Cables - Monster & Interconnect
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