Speaker placement

[vijaychan]

Hello All,

Need your help in placing the speakers on the wall for 5.1 setup.
Our living room is 13'6"x15'6".TV wall is about 10ft long and the rest is open area. If we keep the TV on this wall, then the living room size is 13'6"x10' config. What would be the ideal front, center and rear speaker placement on the wall. Attached pictures for reference.

Thank you,
Jay

[GregS]

If that is where the TV is going, then I think you have alreayd answered yoru own question.

Left speaker on the left of the TV, right on the right of the TV, center under or over the TV.

[vijaychan]

Hi Greg,

Let me be more specific.. Please let me know the ideal distance from TV for front speakers and rear speakers (height and width). I have been searching in google and hearing different measurements and could not come to a conclusion.

Thanks,
Jay

[lex_rx]

Front speakers are lined up with the TV with the tweeter as close to ear level or pointing towards ears.

Rear speakers for 5.1 system is a couple of feet behind seating position.

A good AVR or pre-pro will let you adjust speaker distances (among other things) in the settings. Do your calibration after you install the speakers.

Good luck and hope you report back.

[vijaychan]

Hi Lex_Rx,

Thanks for your response. Height of rear speakers should be 2 ft above ear level or it can be at ear level?

Thanks,
Jay

[GregS]

Your surround speakers you usually want at ear level. This is perfect if you have dipole speakers. If you have a standard single tweeter speaker, then a bit above ear level to help disperse the sound so it's not firing right at you.

Surrounds are usually beside the seating position. There are no rears in a 5.x configuration.

Rears are behind the listener and would only be in a 7.x configuration.

[vijaychan]

With my great room configuration for 5.x, I believe that I can't have surrounds speaker setup on left and right side as the left side of the room is open. Only option is to setup behind the listener.

[BrianT]

I have a 5.1 configuration and my surround speakers are behind me. Even though it may be ideal, there's no set rule stating that you have to have them on the side.

[GregS]

Originally Posted by BrianT

Even though it may be ideal, there's no set rule stating that you have to have them on the side.

A Dolby Labs 5.x configuration would require them on the sides of the listening position.

Unless the room was specifically designed as a viewing room, you will have difficulty getting everything in the right spot.

[BrianT]

Originally Posted by GregS

Unless the room was specifically designed as a viewing room, you will have difficulty getting everything in the right spot.

Exactly, my great room was not specifically designed as a home theatre viewing room so I have to place the speakers based on my surroundings.

I checked out the Dolby website. My surrounds are probably more like ~120 to 130 degrees instead of the recommended 90 to 110. I can confirm when I get home.