Where am I supposed to put all these speakers?
Speaker placement is very important and can greatly affect the sound. I'll talk about each speaker and it's optimal placement.
Mains (left/right)
Your main speakers should be placed so that the tweeter is at approximately the same level as your ears at the listening position. If the speaker is too high or low, you may want to experiment with angling the speaker - just be careful of the weight-balance of the speaker when doing so. Angling a speaker often makes it 'top heavy' and prone to falling off a stand.
Center
Ideally, the center channel should be at the same height as the tweeters from the mains. If you have a front projection screen though, place the speaker directly either above or below the screen and angle the speaker so that the tweeters point to your ear level while seated in the listening position. If you have a direct or rear-projection TV, you can place it on top of the TV or use the same approach as the front projection setup, being sure to angle up or down as needed. Many center channels include an adjustable bracket in the back to assist with angling.
Rear - Direct Radiating
Rear channel speakers offer the most confusion and flexibility. I cannot stress enough that
experimentation is key in achieving a sound-field you are happy with!
The idea is to provide a diffused sound-field from behind you. You don't want the rear speaker to draw your attention away from the screen, thereby distracting you from what is visually happening.
Typically, you'll want to place the rear speakers in such a manner that the sound "bounces" off another wall. You can even have the sound bounce off the ceiling! Or, you can simply have the speakers point directly at the listening position - this will provide a more directed sound, but may work well for you.
Again, you must experiment and find what works best for you.
Rear - Bipole/Dipole
These rear speakers are designed to be placed on the side-wall, typically beside or slightly behind the listening position. Again, you will need to experiment and determine what works best for you.
Other concepts
Toe-In: This is the practice of angling the speaker inwards (towards the listening position) instead of having them face directly forward. Toe-in typically results in a more directed sound, since the tweeter is fired
directly at the listener. Some manufacturers may recommend this practice...others may not. Be sure to read the owners manual. If it's not stated, by all means, feel free to experiment. Heck...even if it is stated, experiment!
Obstructions: In a perfect world, nothing would block a speaker's sound. Unfortunately, many living rooms have couches, coffee tables, bookshelves and other items that may cause an obstruction. This is something you'll have to figure for yourself...you may want to consider redoing the layout of your room, moving the HT to another room, etc.
Speaker Stands: These will come in handy for elevating your speakers to the correct height. An added bonus is that they typically help improve the speakers sound - the speaker will sound "brighter" or "clearer" because the tweeter is now pointing at your head instead of your knees. The bass will sound more controlled and less boomy because the bass is not being reflected off the floor.
Calibration: This is mentioned elsewhere, but just remember to adjust all your speakers using a calibration dvd and a sound pressure level meter.
Additional Reading: Be sure to read Dolby's speaker placement recommendations by clicking on the following link:
http://www.dolby.com/consumer/home_e...oomlayout.html