Help for a Newbie! 5.1 or 5.1.2? (1 Viewer)

[Tinax]

Hello everyone from Italy

I recently discovered this forum and am looking for some help because I feel like I’m drowning in this vast world. Despite spending hours reading articles online and watching countless videos, I still can't figure out the best way to arrange the speakers in my room.

The room is about 26 square meters, with a distance of about 2 meters between the front lateral speakers and a listening distance of about 2.4 meters. The TV is positioned 90 cm from the floor (on a 70 cm stand), which results in an eye level at about one-quarter of the screen's height. There is about 20 cm of space between the top of the stand and the base of the TV, where I plan to place the center speaker.

I'm not looking for advice on which speakers or AV receiver to buy. Instead, I would like guidance on the best configuration for my setup. In the photos, I’ve marked in red the three front speakers, which are essential. I’ve then added two rear surround speakers in green and two Dolby Atmos speakers in blue.

Hypothetically:

• The two surround speakers will be placed on stands, with cables running from the TV stand, making them visible and possibly in the way.
• The two Dolby Atmos speakers will be mounted on the upper part of the cabinet, angled so that the sound reaches the listening position directly.
• The three front speakers will be placed on top of the stand at an optimal height.

This is the best I can do given the room and its mixed-use purpose. My main question is which configuration would be best. Specifically, I’d like to know if a 5.1.2 setup, arranged as described, makes sense. This decision will also determine which AV receiver I purchase.

I’m unsure how a 5.1.2 system would sound with this speaker placement. Do you think the 3D effect would be good enough to justify the higher cost compared to a standard 5.1 setup? One of my concerns is that the front stage might overpower the rear, creating an imbalance.

Do you have any insights on this?

Apologies for the long message, and I appreciate any advice you can provide

 

[Tinax]

A 5.1.2 setup can work well with your room, but the front stage might overpower the rear. To avoid imbalance, make sure the surround speakers are positioned at ear level and slightly behind your listening position. For the Atmos speakers, mounting them angled towards the listening area should help with the 3D effect, but it may not be as immersive as ceiling speakers. The front speakers should be at ear level for the best sound, and you can adjust levels through the AV receiver to balance everything. Overall, the added cost of Dolby Atmos may be worth it for enhanced immersion, depending on your preferences.

Thank you for sharing your opinion
I’m receiving a lot of responses on other forums as well, and they’re all quite different from each other.
I also think that the sound might be too forward-balanced this way. Do you think it’s still worth giving it a try?

 

[Liamplunk]

Hello everyone from Italy

I recently discovered this forum and am looking for some help because I feel like I’m drowning in this vast world. Despite spending hours reading articles online and watching countless videos, I still can't figure out the best way to arrange the speakers in my room.

The room is about 26 square meters, with a distance of about 2 meters between the front lateral speakers and a listening distance of about 2.4 meters. The TV is positioned 90 cm from the floor (on a 70 cm stand), which results in an eye level at about one-quarter of the screen's height. There is about 20 cm of space between the top of the stand and the base of the TV, where I plan to place the center speaker.

I'm not looking for advice on which speakers or AV receiver to buy. Instead, I would like guidance on the best configuration for my setup. In the photos, I’ve marked in red the three front speakers, which are essential. I’ve then added two rear surround speakers in green and two Dolby Atmos speakers in blue.

Hypothetically:

• The two surround speakers will be placed on stands, with cables running from the TV stand, making them visible and possibly in the way.
• The two Dolby Atmos speakers will be mounted on the upper part of the cabinet, angled so that the sound reaches the listening position directly.
• The three front speakers will be placed on top of the stand at an optimal height.

This is the best I can do given the room and its mixed-use purpose. My main question is which configuration would be best. Specifically, I’d like to know if a 5.1.2 setup, arranged as described, makes sense. This decision will also determine which AV receiver I purchase.

I’m unsure how a 5.1.2 system would sound with this speaker placement. Do you think the 3D effect would be good enough to justify the higher cost compared to a standard 5.1 setup? One of my concerns is that the front stage might overpower the rear, creating an imbalance.

Do you have any insights on this?

Apologies for the long message, and I appreciate any advice you can provide

Your setup looks well-planned, and a 5.1.2 system can work great in your space. The key is balancing the sound properly. For the front speakers, placing them on the stand is fine, but make sure the center speaker is angled slightly toward your ears if it’s too low. The surround speakers should be slightly behind and to the sides of your listening position, not too close, to avoid overpowering the front sound. The Dolby Atmos speakers should work well if they’re angled correctly, but if your ceiling is reflective, bounce speakers might be a better option.


If you watch a lot of Atmos-supported content, upgrading to 5.1.2 is worth it, but if most of your content is standard surround sound, a 5.1 system might be enough. If you’re worried about the front speakers being too loud, you can adjust the levels using your AV receiver’s calibration tools to balance everything.