Speaker placement question

[e_a_g_l_e_p_i]

I have a surround system by Sony which has a center speaker, 2 front speaker and 2 surround speakers. I have a very small room 10'5" X 10' 7"
My questions are.

1. Should my front speakers be even with my center speaker?
2. Should my surround speakers be directly on each side of the center listen point or can they be toward the back and pointed towards the listening point.

I've seen several speaker positioning charts and they all differ, I'd like to get a correct answer or the better way to say it is the best answer...

[Andy98765]

This is the ideal setup

[e_a_g_l_e_p_i]

your attachment was too small to see but I got the idea of it. Just to show you how many different ways people say the best ways are, look at the one I attached... so confusing

[Neil Davidson]

I agree that you see all kinds of "ideal" speaker configurations posted - many of them are just pants!

The ITU spec posted by Andy is my favoured starting point (note that better images can be found at the Dolby or THX sites). From there you need to go with what can be acheived by the system.

1. Try and get all speakers the same distance from the primary listening position. If not possible then use the systems speaker delay to compensate.

2. For direct radiating surround speakers I prefer to fire them towards each other and just behind the listening position (ITU suggest 110 degress for the surrounds).

3. Be sure to set the levels as accurately as possible once the other speakers are in position.

HTH

Neil

[e_a_g_l_e_p_i]

So you are saying that the back speakers are better off to be behind me and pointed towards each other and not pointed towards me???

Originally Posted by e_a_g_l_e_p_i

So you are saying that the back speakers are better off to be behind me and pointed towards each other and not pointed towards me???

For all direct radiating speakers inc the surrounds they should all face the central listening position that is why they are called direct radiating speakers as they direct they're sound toward the listener.Another point to make is the tweeter cone in the speakers inc the surrounds should all be at ear level.The only speakers that should be directly to the side of and above the listener are dipoles as they project they're sound away from the listener which then bounces off the surrounding walls and ceiling before getting back to the listener.Ideally all speakers should be of equal distance away from the listener especially the front three to avoid phase issues.

Regards

Brian

[Neil Davidson]

Hi Brian,

I am afraid that we disagree on a number of points.

Direct radiating simply describes projection of the sound field generated by the speaker. Bi and Di Poles have two distinct projections etc.

Using direct radiating speakers certainly doesn't imply that they should be lasered directly at the listening position. Correct toe in of the fronts is essential for an enveloping sound field. Many fronts work best when pointing directly forward whilst others benefit by being turned towards the listener to a greater or lesser degree.

Having tweeters for the front at a similar level can be desirable but is not normally the target. Ensuring that the fronts have a level horizontal plane (ie drivers evenly distributed above and below a central point) is usually more desirable to ensure that the centre remains well integrated.

Rear speakers of any type benefit from being 2-3 feet above the listening position. The goal with the rears is a much more diffuse sound field than from the fronts which is usually enhanced by having the speakers facing each other rather than the listening position. It is often worth facing them towards the roof rather than projecting across the room as it again helps diffuse the field.

We absolutely agree that all speakers should be the same distance from the listening position or at least corrected with accurate delay settings to avoid comb filtering caused by phase differences.

Neil

Originally Posted by ceenhad

Hi Brian,

I am afraid that we disagree on a number of points.

Direct radiating simply describes projection of the sound field generated by the speaker. Bi and Di Poles have two distinct projections etc.

Using direct radiating speakers certainly doesn't imply that they should be lasered directly at the listening position. Correct toe in of the fronts is essential for an enveloping sound field. Many fronts work best when pointing directly forward whilst others benefit by being turned towards the listener to a greater or lesser degree.

Having tweeters for the front at a similar level can be desirable but is not normally the target. Ensuring that the fronts have a level horizontal plane (ie drivers evenly distributed above and below a central point) is usually more desirable to ensure that the centre remains well integrated.

Rear speakers of any type benefit from being 2-3 feet above the listening position. The goal with the rears is a much more diffuse sound field than from the fronts which is usually enhanced by having the speakers facing each other rather than the listening position. It is often worth facing them towards the roof rather than projecting across the room as it again helps diffuse the field.

We absolutely agree that all speakers should be the same distance from the listening position or at least corrected with accurate delay settings to avoid comb filtering caused by phase differences.

Neil

The job of a movie soundrack or music recording is to totally envelop the listener the 5.1 system channels are all discrete meaning they are all independant so why would you not want to face them directly at the listener instead of facing them either straight at each other or away from the listener.The more you face a speaker away from you the more uninveloping it becomes.If you are wanting the best sound quality you must have all direct radiating speakers facing the central listening position with the front left and right 30 degrees from the centre speaker and equidesent from the central listening position and the rears 110 degrees from the centre speaker.There is height information in the soundtracks so you don't have to put your speakers above you as to the height of the tweaters they must be at ear level for the best imaging and if your centre speaker has to go above or below your tv display you should angle it toward the ear height of the central listening position.I for one used to have my front speakers facing straight out and my rear speakers up on the wall above my head facing all over the place but since i have set them up as to the way i have suggested above the sound for both movies and music is now far more involving and enveloping.At the end of the day everyone has there own opinion on what is best and i respect that i am only giving mine as to what i think.

Regards

Brian