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Basic Surround Sound Speaker Question

post #1 of 7
4/11/09 at 6:08pm
Thread Starter 
I read an article online a year or so ago about surround sound speakers. It stated that they (the 5 or 7 satellites) should all be the same size with the fronts and center being about the height of the listeners ears and the rears being higher. Is this true (probably not a simple answer but I'm a simple person )
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post #2 of 7
4/11/09 at 7:39pm

Re: Basic Surround Sound Speaker Question

I never found that to be true.
Granted I prefer a stereo (2.1) setup over surround.

Your best bet is to play around with the placement of those speakers. Try placing the rear ones in multiple ways. Watch a few movies, you'll settle on a particular setup.

As far as all the speakers being the same size? I think not.

Consider that most home theater audio companies will sell those enormous floor standing speakers that look like they would need their own amp.... while they simultaneously advertise "center speakers" and "surrounds".

- The big, bad, powerful speakers are placed up front.
- The center speaker placed up next to your tv.
- The surrounds fill up the remainder (however many channels you have)

Too simple of an answer? or could i have shortened
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post #3 of 7
4/12/09 at 12:30am

Re: Basic Surround Sound Speaker Question

Anthony,
The basic rule is to have side and rear surrounds at 1 meter( 3 feet) higher than ear level. This is because it's less likely to have any interference with any of the speakers in the front soundstage. Now, you can put them lower if you want, but it won't produce the best results.
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post #4 of 7
4/12/09 at 5:40am

Re: Basic Surround Sound Speaker Question

I'll be the first to admit that sound reproduction devices are a very personal choice. So many variables go into these choices.

However, reproduction of recorded surround sound requires at least a minimal level of conformity. Since Dolby is a leader in this technology, why not refer to their recommendations for placement.
Dolby - Dolby Room Layout and Speaker Setup Guide - Speaker Placement for Home Theater Surround Sound
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post #5 of 7
4/16/09 at 8:45am

Re: Basic Surround Sound Speaker Question

In the past (Dolby Pro Logic days (4.1)) it wasn't necessary to have full-range surrounds since the rear channels were limited to a freq range of 100Hz-7KHz. All current formats are full-range capable except for the sub. The surrounds may not be fully utilized now, but you may want the capability if needed. Higher music formats (SACD, DVD-Audio) use full-range surrounds.

I feel identical speakers all around are necessary for movies as well. Imagine a truck driving across the front, airplanes flying overhead, or bombs dropping throughout the room (Band of Brothers). It sounds great in the left speaker, wimpy in the center, great again in the right. It can be very distracting. Since side surrounds are more ambience (mostly for music modes) you can give a little with them, but in general I'd keep the all the same.

One observation I've made is most commercial theaters don't have identical speakers. There's usually large horn-loaded speakers in the front with smaller speakers for surround duty. I think if you keep the tweeters and mids the same (speakers from the same manufacture's series) you'll be OK. The sub will take care of the low end.
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post #6 of 7
4/17/09 at 7:35am

Re: Basic Surround Sound Speaker Question

I agree with kfalls and wanted to add a little.

I think different size speakers are OK, as long as the drivers (mid bass/tweeter) are made of the same material in each speaker which usually means the speakers are the same manufacturer and family. For example: the front towers and center could contain multiple mid bass drivers, the rears sorrounds may only have one mid bass driver. But they will sound consistant (timbre matched) becasue the tweeter are the same material and mid bass cone material is the same material. Also the cross over points between the mid bass and tweeter will be equal.

For home theater 5 "equal" speakers would be ideal, however a hydrid system used for music and theater works well, towers for the front left and right handle two channel music and for movie theater, center and rears, timbre matched to the fronts are added . Subwoofer LFE level matching is critical, however tibre doesn't really apply.

Speaker for home theater or music should have a clear line of "sight" to the listeners ears. Ideally in home theater the front 3 should be a close a possible in hieght and the distance apart from one another varies by the speakers sound stage and listener distance. The reason for this placement is to avoid gaps iduring panning sound effects in the front three.
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post #7 of 7
4/18/09 at 8:12am

Re: Basic Surround Sound Speaker Question

My rear surrounds started out 18 inches above ear level. I have moved them to 30 inches above and I think the sound is more even and blended as the rears are only two feet behind seating area due to room constraints.
My fronts and center are "better" than surrounds as the surrounds are not as "primary" as the others.
All are the same brand though.
By using cheaper surrounds I could put more money into my subwoofer.
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