Where to Mount Speakers

[BriDown]

Hey All! Googled this and found similar questions but no satisfactory and clear answers. My current setup has Front Speakers wall mounted (with side mounts) about 3' from side walls and about 18" down from ceiling. My surrounds are ceiling mounted (drop down) and are behind me, not beside me. I am running front wides and those are mounted on stands with tops that are exactly 49". My Center is right above my tv. All speakers are aimed right at my sitting area and nose.

Question: would I experience a wider sound stage and quality of sound if I moved all speakers to 49" (ear level). The fronts would be on either side of my console 4' from side walls. Center would stay the same and so would wide. The surrounds would be taken off ceiling and placed on a stand where they should be- ear level one foot behind.

My speakers are Polk RTiA3 bookshelf. They have Polks 'power port' on back and are ported in the front. Polk claims they can be stand or wall mounted.

Thanks All!

 

[Irishman]

Are you unhappy with the sound you're currently getting from your system as-is?

 

[BriDown]

I am not unhappy with it. Just wondering if I can get 'more.'. It's my understanding that placement makes a difference. Just wonder if it would here.

Brian

 

[Irishman]

Fair enough. And the answer to your question about getting "more" out of it, is "maybe". It depends on a lot.

More info about your room size and layout will help very much, as will knowing what you use your setup for primarily? (Music, movies and the % of each)? Is there only one listening position to be concerned about? I'm guessing "yes", because you've been able to focus everything on one listening position right now.

 

[BriDown]

Hey Irishman, my room is large and open to the kitchen. I mainly watch movies/tv.

I dug around more and found guides from both THX and Dolby. Both say match Fronts to sitting ear level and then rest 6" to 12" above that. I am going to try this. Best case it makes it sound better. If there is no noticeable difference I will leave them there and patch old holes. Worse and I move them back with more holes to patch, lol.

Thanks!

 

[herbu]

match Fronts to sitting ear level and then rest 6" to 12" above that.

Fronts 18" down from the ceiling is what caught my eye. Seems high. Suspect you will like seated ear level much better.
I have also seen 6-12" above that for surrounds recommended. It is what I would do if my surrounds were bookshelf size. Some people use towers for surrounds, and I have heard no complaints about it from them, (or me). (The towers are generally close to seated ear level.)