How about a "Wife doesn't understand" thread

[Roscoe]

My first post...please be gentle :)

I assembled a beginners HT system for a specific room (Denon AVR-1804, Mirage AVS-200/600 speakers, Sammy 56" DLP)... and then we moved. The new room is almost a perfect square (16x18), but the wife insists on putting the TV in on corner and the viewing sofa in the opposite corner with each end of the sofa touching the wall; this leaves about 3 feet behind the sofa and the corner of the room. No compromise possible.

Beside the fact the viewing distance is double what the TV was sized for (56"), I can't figure out where to put the rear surround speakers. My system is a 6.1 so I need to place 3 speakers. Ceiling is normal height. I thought about putting the speakers at each end of the sofa, but that puts them awfully close to the listeners. I also thought about in the wall, but the wife refuses to allow and wall or ceiling mounted speakers because the next owners of the house won't like it (sigh...). Ideas??

I also considered one of those newfangled sound bars that bounce the sound off the walls...except that one side of the room has no wall. Today I saw the Polk "Audio SurroundBar" that doesn't use wall bounce but rather destructive interference to generate the surround sound effect. It sounded OK in the showroom but...any thoughts on this product?

Any comment or recommendations would be helpful.

[avaserfi]

I have my surrounds very close to the couch, as in the stands basically touch the arms, and while I realize this is far from optimal, after spending a bit of time calibrating the system with my SPL I am pretty happy with it. I knew I wanted surrounds but location limitations on where high, especially with WAF. I suggest going this route rather than getting an all in one unit. From what I have heard with these units they do an okay job but to me it sounds more like the room is larger than true surround effects in most cases, especially when it comes to effects right behind your head.

Basically I would suggest playing with the speakers locations until you are happy before buying an overpriced box that does the job just okay.

[Roscoe]

Problem is I don't have the skills necessary to do a good job of running speaker wires to the back of the room, and can't afford to have a professional do it. Either way, it would pain me to go to either that much effort or cost only to find out that the speaker locations don't work.

If I decide to go with speakers that close, what kind would you suggest? My AVS-600s are small directional speakers...I'm thinking there may be another type that is more appropriate.

[avaserfi]

I think you would probably be fine at least trying the speakers you currently have, just lay the wire on the floor before you do any real work making sure there is a suitable speaker location. If that doesn't work you can always pick up the Polk Sound Bar, just make sure there is some sort of trial period or some out in case you don't like it. One thing to experiment with besides location with the surrounds is their SPL level. You might want to set them 3-5dB lower then the rest of your speakers for the sake of the people who are sitting on the edges of the couch, just an idea, I tried it but didn't like the results, although I know some who do.

Most people have to make some concessions with speaker placement to appease certain aspects of life so don't get too worried about it :).

[MDS]

Most people have to make some concessions with speaker placement to appease certain aspects of life so don't get too worried about it :).

I couldn't agree more! I think it's important to learn the theoretical ideal but realize that you may have to depart from it slightly and decide which concessions you can live with and which are absolute deal breakers.

In the distant past, I had the surrounds on stands next to the couch and it wasn't all that bad but the suggestion of turning their level down a few dB can work very well.

I've even gone without the surrounds entirely for a period of time and even that wasn't horrendous. To be sure, having decent surrounds in a reasonable placement adds to the effect but you have to work within your room constraints the best you can.

[Sheep]

Get a new wife.

SheepStar

[mazersteven]

No compromise possible.

but the wife refuses

Any comment or recommendations would be helpful.



Put your foot down, and tell the wife how it's going to be. Or find a new wife.

[GlocksRock]

Put your foot down, and tell the wife how it's going to be. Or find a new wife.

Exactly... if she won't compromise on the position of the tv, then you won't compromise on your speaker placement.

[Davemcc]

The 70's are long since over and gone and out with the 70's went kitty-corner furniture placement. We're solidly into the 21st century now, and playing with 21st century home theater.

If she insists that your living room be a creative anachronism, you must kiss her gently and say "Welcome to the future, Honey. We made it." Then place your TV and speakers in the location that is proper for modern home theater.

[mazersteven]

Exactly... if she won't compromise on the position of the tv, then you won't compromise on your speaker placement.

Just tell her she is "cut off". LOL No more nooky until the television goes on a regular wall, and you get the speakers "you want". :D

[rnatalli]

I guess I'm lucky. My wife doesn't give me a hard time with HT stuff. I can put things wherever they're ideal :D

[supervij]

Me too! My girlfriend wants the best possible picture and best possible sound. If that means moving furniture to "unorthodox" positions, so be it.

Gods, I love her!!!

cheers,
supervij

[agarwalro]

Have you thought of temporarily going 2.1 with the sub behind the sofa in the triangular dead space? Once your wife hears the lack of surround, it might be easier to persuade her to allow you to move the TV out of the corner.

On a different note, grow some balls man :D. I had to take that jab.

[bigbangtheory]

Just tell her she is "cut off". LOL No more nooky until the television goes on a regular wall, and you get the speakers "you want". :D

Oh dear.

I would think of something she cares about and bring it to the table, so to speak. This is one of those proverbial opportunities for compromise.

Good luck to you! I feel your pain.

[ParadigmDawg]

Mine has been really understanding but I can tell she is at the end of the rope. She says I can only do one more upgrade and it has to be below 1K.

[flippo]

Look into the Mirage Omnisat v2 for rear. They can be wall mounted upside down hi up ceiling and come in different colors. Just check website out.

http://www.miragespeakers.com/v2/

There are different lines of speakers that Mirage sells that use the same ideas.

I use the omnisat v2 satellites as my main speakers and love them.:)

[abefroeman]

Mine has been really understanding but I can tell she is at the end of the rope. She says I can only do one more upgrade and it has to be below 1K.

How about a second pair? (http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1191041461)

Use them as sides and move your in ceilings to a rear surround location.

[ParadigmDawg]

That's more than I paid for mine brand new.

How about a second pair? (http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1191041461)

Use them as sides and move your in ceilings to a rear surround location.

[j_garcia]

I have to say, I have had 2 corner setups and they work extremely well. I wouldn't do the couch touching the wall though if at all possible. The surrounds being close isn't a big issue though, just a little tweaking and calibration and it will work. Same for the rear center.

[Roscoe]

Man, sound like most of you aren't married :)

[Roscoe]

Me too! My girlfriend wants the best possible picture and best possible sound. If that means moving furniture to "unorthodox" positions, so be it.

The funny part is my wife is REALLY into music. She sings and plays the piano. Yet when I get in HER van (:)) I routinely find the speaker balance all dorked up; she doesn't even notice when one channel is completely missing. trying to concive here I need to move the sofa beacsue the sound field isn't right...yea, THAT'S gonna happen.

[Roscoe]

On a different note, grow some balls man :D. I had to take that jab.

Fair enough :). Problem is I moved her to Vegas (the job) against her Christian upbringing. I've used up a lifetime of bargaining chips. From now on it's "yes dear".

[highfihoney]

Problem is I don't have the skills necessary to do a good job of running speaker wires to the back of the room, and can't afford to have a professional do it. Either way, it would pain me to go to either that much effort or cost only to find out that the speaker locations don't work.

Aw c'mon man,there is a way to get the job done with very little or no skills,maybe not a pro job but a job that will look like a pro did it to both your family & guests.

Do you have a basement,if so you simply drill a hole behind your system leading into the basement & other holes above where the speakers will be,run the wires & use cable staples to secure the wires to the bottom of the floor joists.

No basement,no problem as long as you have carpet,simply remove the trim around your carpet,run the wires along the baseboards & bring the wire out where the speakers will be,this approach requires that you rent or buy a carpet kicker,they cost about $15 a day to rent from Home Depot.

No carpet,still no problem,wires can be easily hidden behind corner mouldings,simply run the wires to the nearest corner then run the wire up the corner,then along the ceiling to the point where speakers can be mounted from the ceiling,then install corner mouldings over the wires.

In any case any of these options will take you less than an 8 hour day to accomplish.

You cant tell me that you cant muster the skills to accomplish atleast one of these options:D

[highfihoney]

Man, sound like most of you aren't married :)

Nope,married here for close to 25 years,i think alot of the tough guy talk is all bs though;)

Seriously though my wife never freaks out about any of the stereo crap,unless you count the time i threw away her brand new love seat to fit corner horns in the room:eek:,or when i had to modify(cut holes) in the ceiling so i could bring in speakers that were too tall:D

[Davemcc]

Nope,married here for close to 25 years,i think alot of the tough guy talk is all bs though;)

Seriously though my wife never freaks out about any of the stereo crap,unless you count the time i threw away her brand new love seat to fit corner horns in the room:eek:,or when i had to modify(cut holes) in the ceiling so i could bring in speakers that were too tall:D

I think Roscoe could learn a lot from you.

[Davemcc]

From now on it's "yes dear".

This has been haunting me ever since I first read it. The implications are truly disturbing. I mean, five years from now, it's not going to be "yes dear", it's going to be "I wish I was dead".

On the bright side, Vegas is the #1 spot in all the world to lose your current wife and audition your next one.;)

[Clint DeBoer]

Dude, you need to get smart.

Point #1 - corner placement not only sucks, it's tacky. TACKY. I can't stand those types of rooms as they remind me of the 80s style arrangements when sectional sofas ruled the day (no offense to anyone with sectionals). And yes you can still buy them... along with conversion vans and disco balls.

Point #2 - paint and spackle. Crown moulding can hide wires like nothing else can. New paint and crown can be a fun project for you and your wife. She can pick the color and you can get a nice pile of leftover paint to fix up the two small holes made for speaker wire to poke out from (when you sell the house). Use flat paint. The room gets crown, you get properly placed surround speakers. I did the crown thing here:
http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/reference-systems/reference-system-2/building-a-moderately-priced-ht-the-build-out

Point #3 - If none of this works then you seriously need to grow a pair and work on your give and take relationship. lol

[Reorx]

What I would do, is find a local shop, and ask to audition some in wall speakers. Then when the wife is not watching, mark in pencil or crayon where you'd place the speakers, and break out a Reciprocating Saw. (dont actually cut yet).

Leave the speaker, and saw in plain sight in the room, and go take a nap.

She'll see everything, and hopefully will realize that either the room layout changes, you start cutting, or the two of you need to talk about 'other' arrangements. Maybe give her $500 to go shopping, if you can re-arrange the room.

[BabelFish]

and people wonder why the divorce rate is so high lol :)

[ParadigmDawg]

I redid my whole set up one night when my Wife was at "girls night out".

I was scared when I heard her pull into the driveway since I had cut holes in the walls and ceiling and moved everything to a different wall but she liked it!