Are my rear speakers too high?

[Carl08]

I was worried about my rears being too high. Dolby recommends 1-2 feet above ear level and 90-110 degrees. They are currently higher and further back than recommended. I can place them lower than they currently are. The listeners left speaker near the kitchen can be placed on the ledge (where my iPad currently is on the photo) and the listeners right speaker can be more towards the light switch

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tky3xi4ncdu0ytv/PB060001.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/grhsfyf24zx8187/PB060002.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cfa2npmk70akk6q/PB060003.JPG?dl=0

 

[TLS Guy]

The real problem is that the surrounds are in totally the wrong place. The need to be placed with the front and backs of the speakers parallel to the side walls, just behind the forward listening position.

 

[MR.MAGOO]

I've read some places say all speakers should be at ear height when seated, but that could be wrong in some cases.

 

[mtrycrafts]

If that works for you, leave it alone.

 

[fuzz092888]

I've read some places say all speakers should be at ear height when seated, but that could be wrong in some cases.

AFAIK most surround codecs allow for speakers to be ear height all the way up to the tweeter 2ft above ear level. Maybe even a bit more.

Mark is right about placement. If you are running a 5 channel system, your surrounds are technically side surrounds. If and when you upgrade to 7 channel, then you get rear surrounds.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

I’ve always had my speakers high like that – higher actually - and personally I like the way it sounds. I’ve always found low speakers too easily localized and hence a distraction, especially when they’re as close to the seating as yours are.

By the way, since you have a carpeted floor it wouldn’t be hard to run the wiring along the wall tucked under the carpet between the tack strip and baseboard, and then jump inside the wall up to the speaker. You can find tips on in-wall wiring in my signature.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[j_garcia]

I've always had mine at ear level and it sounds better to me that way, providing you have the ability to place them correctly relative to the seating position. I also use monopoles.

 

[Carl08]

Okay, I've placed the surround speakers in the 90-110 range and two feet above ear level but I'm missing my 7.1 rears. I'm considering placing my Klipsch RSX-4 speakers on the ceiling and angled towards the rear of the sofa. Any thoughts?