5.1 speaker placement help

[Blazerfan]

Greetings,

Currently changing out basement ceiling tile to sheetrock, so I thought it would be a good time to wire for surround sound. With that being said, I'm trying to keep the room clutter free as possible, so for a 5.1 system I was wondering if this setup would work well.

1) Tv mounted with center channel mounted underneath

2) 2 ceiling speakers and 2 in wall speakers on couch wall, or just 4 ceiling speakers?

3)sub location not determined yet.

I haven't bought anything yet, but was considering either Klipsch or Definitive Tech. Speakers!? I'm not sure of my total budget yet, but was just looking to get wire installed and get an Idea if this setup would work before putting up the sheetrock....Any opinions would help

Thanks,

 

[Dan Madden]

A 5.1 system usually only utilizes 2 surround speakers. What you are describing would be a 7.1 setup and would require a 7.1 channel amp or receiver. If your stuck on using 4 then I would put two in ceiling and the other two in wall on the back sides.

Also bare in mind that sub placement is critical to it's performance and it is highly recommended that you use two subs if you can afford them.

 

[herbu]

2 ceiling speakers and 2 in wall speakers on couch wall, or just 4 ceiling speakers?

It is HIGHLY recommended that your Front Left/Right speakers are towers or bookshelves on stands. The Left/Right Surrounds, (and Left/Right Rear Surrounds if you chose 7.1), can be put in the wall or ceiling if you have to. Between the 2, the wall is preferable to the ceiling.

 

[KenM10759]

If there's even a slight chance of Atmos/DTS:X in the future this is the time to lay the wire for 7.x.4 (four ceiling speakers.)

 

[Blazerfan]

The tv wall doesn't have room for front left/right speakers, there's room on the right, but no placement available on the other side. The couch wall has a inconvenient ventilation bump out, so in wall or mounted rear speakers aren't doable either. This is the reason for the 4 ceiling speakers. I know it's not ideal, but will it at least sound descent enough to do? I'm not looking for state of the art, just something descent and worth doing.

 

[KenM10759]

No room for the two most fundamental speakers? Sad. No, IMO that's not going to work well at all for 5.1 as we know it. Sound in the room, yes, but that's about all it is.

 

[Latent]

There are many types of speakers and mounting options to fit almost any situation so there is probably a better solution than in ceiling speakers. You would probably get better audio from a good quality soundbar ( Yes I know that is an oxymoron ) than using in ceiling front L/R speakers. More detail of the front wall layout and preferably photos may help people here point out solutions that you haven't thought of to fit your room.

 

[Blazerfan]

The tv wall and the couch wall are shifted, meaning the tv won't be exactly inline with the couch and chair. In order to make it a little more inline, the tv won't be able to be mounted in the center of the wall, but instead moved over to the left so it's more inline with the couch. So now there are french doors that are close to the left side of the tv leaving nowhere to mount a speaker on the left. The doors run from floor to ceiling (ceiling is lower across that whole section due to bump out for duct). I had a A/V tech (who's done this for 30yrs) come and look at the layout, he said that this would be the best possible scenario for this room, as the duct work on both walls makes things difficult for ideal placement, as does the door and rest of the room. He said the system, which isn't bought yet) will sound awesome when all said and done. I was just looking for more information since I'm a newbie. I will try and get some pictures. Either way I think this is how its going to be since everything is ran and sheetrock is going up this weekend.

I appreciate all the info.

 

[herbu]

I know it's not ideal, but will it at least sound descent enough to do?

"Decent enough to do" is relative.
My sister and her husband had all in-ceiling speakers in their living room w/ a big TV. It got so hard for them to understand TV dialog, they started going to a smaller TV and closer seats in another room.

I talked them into using my old Aperion Verus Grand Center speaker. Couldn't talk them into any other speakers, just the Center. Fronts and Surrounds are still in-ceiling. They are amazed and delighted with how much difference just the Center makes. They have moved back into the living room for TV/movies and love it.

So I suggest for TV, a good/great Center speaker will be worthwhile regardless of your other speakers. Best when matched w/ comparable others, but still head and shoulders above the average in-ceiling Center.