Help with speaker placement and maybe what to buy

[ChrisHigs]

Hi
I need some help setting up some surround speakers in my living room and maybe some recommendations for speakers to buy too, as the ones I have now are too big for my room I think.

I currently have a Denon AVR 1507, a Mordaunt Short MS309i, 2 x MS20i and 2 x MS10i. The sub is in a little alcove which makes it very bassy, which is fine, but the MS20is at the front just don't work well, probably because of the alcove and space under the stairs, and the placement of the TV means I can't get much separation between them.

Not sure if there's much I can do with the space I have really. Smaller speakers might help but I'm not sure. Any suggestions would be great. I've attached pictures of the room and another picture to show the position of the TV.

Thanks
Chris

 

[Pogre]

The more I see, the more I'm realizing fireplaces are the bane of tv placement.

Is there any way you could move the tv in front of the staircase?

*Edit: Maybe angle the south couch in the corner like you have the tv now, so it'll still be a good seat.

 

[zieglj01]

I think that I would move the TV in front of the stairs, to have more placement options -- put the speakers on stands. If not, then you may have to settle for a 3 channel passive SoundBar in front of the TV.

 

[ChrisHigs]

Thanks for that.
The corner of the south sofa is the perfect place for watching the TV from where it is now.

Across the stairs could be interesting. Not sure where I'd put the speakers. The TV is on an adjustable arm which might swivel out that far, not sure. Or maybe if it could swivel in front of the fireplace I could place the speakers either side of that.

 

[ChrisHigs]

Another one for by the stairs I'd be happy if I could move it across to there just for when I want surround, although that may mean I don't use it much. Hmm, will have a look at options for that tomorrow. Off to bed in a minute.

Thanks

 

[Pogre]

Thanks for that.
The corner of the south sofa is the perfect place for watching the TV from where it is now.

If you move the tv in front of the stairs, you could angle that couch in the corner to compensate if it becomes a difficult viewing angle.

 

[ChrisHigs]

I said to my wife last night we should move the TV in front of the stairs. "Why would we do that?" she asked. To get better surround sound. "But I can hear the TV fine."

Hmm, might not be so easy. I'll have to try it when she's out

 

[ChrisHigs]

As an alternative is there an easy way I could attach some small speakers to my TV bracket so they sit just to the side of the TV?

 

[ChrisHigs]

The TV bracket I have let me swivel the TV in front of the stairs and, as I thought, the wife said "Noooooo." I must admit it didn't look as good there as it did where it is now.

So, as I was thinking earlier, maybe speakers attached to the TV/bracket that would allow me to move the TV for when I want the full surround experience, or even just to have the optimal surround sound from the corner of the south sofa when watching it from where the TV is now.

But I doubt my MS20i/MS10i speakers will be able to hang off that bracket. So something smaller would be needed.

Any recommendations for small, either 4 or 5 speakers (is the center essential?), that I could use to make my audio better?

 

[ChrisHigs]

My amp has been out of action for a while but I set it all back up last night and tidied up all the cables behind the TV. They were a MESS.

I'm using my old PC speakers, tiny little Cambridge Soundworks ones, where I've shown in this pic:


and the surround effect is pretty good. The speakers are useless though. They sound a bit odd with the 10" sub, lots of high end and low down, but not much in between.

So I'm gonna check with the wife and see how big I can go with the speakers and change them for something else. Been looking on eBay for second hand speakers, lots of Kef eggs, some Jamos. The Jamo speakers look about the same size though, are they likely to sound better?

And other recommendations for speakers?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Hi Chris, that's a tough room. Can you shoot a picture of the other side? Seems to me from the ones you've posted, the stairs look like the best place for the tv and that would give better options for surround speaker placement. It seems to me also that your ideas for the space aren't being fairly considered. If it were me, would have to point out that "I live here too", and also, the point isn't simply to "hear the tv just fine". It's to experience it in a different way. I wish it were that easy, good luck on that front. As far as speakers, Jamo is a good danish builder and reputable, as well as kef(not danish lol) but I've never heard the eggs, and the MS's should sound good as well. IIRC, mirage speakers used to have a bracket that mounted to the top of the TV and held the L/R speakers off to the sides. I'll see if I can find that. Good luck.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

so this thing might work, and you could probably mount it right on the back of the tv without the rest of the wall bracketry, or if you're handy, it wouldn't be terribly difficult to make something to the the same thing.

heres something else just to get the brain thinking about options.

 

[ChrisHigs]

Another vote for the TV by the stairs Yeah I'll post a pic of the other side of the room later. The only problem I see really with that is the surround placement, right next to the sofa on the left wall in my pic there's a tall glass cabinet so a speaker would have to go right next to the sofa.

Definitely options for hanging the speakers off the TV then, thanks. Probably wouldn't need to do that if I do move the TV as I could put some stands either side of it. Maybe even bigger speakers. Was thinking that option for the layout I have now.

 

[Pogre]

I am so happy my wife doesn't limit or dictate what I do for audio. She knew what I was like when we got married and she likes me happy.

The way you have the speakers drawn on the last pic of your layout won't work very well. the front speakers need to be further apart for starters and your surround positions aren't exactly ideal the way you have them either. I'm with Bill. Remind her it's your house too and that this would make you happy.

 

[ChrisHigs]

Ha, lucky you. It might be easier for me to get a new wife instead. Definitely have to work on her

I'll post some more pictures of the other side of the room when I get home and see what recommendations you can come up with.

 

[ChrisHigs]

Right. More pictures. Taken a couple of panoramic pictures of both sides.

 

[ChrisHigs]

Well I've made progress. Got everything working with my PC speakers last night and the wife was actually impressed with the sound. And the kids love the bass

I also made some cardboard models of speakers, a Kef egg and a MS302. We both decided the MS looked better than the eggs, so thinking 4 MS302 and a MS304. Or something about that size at least.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Nice! Glad you were able to make some headway. I was thinking maybe you searched for the worst possible room to put surround sound in. Lol
Love the speaker stand too.

 

[ChrisHigs]

If I ever move house a requirement will definitely be a more suitable layout for surround sound

I forgot I had a Mourdant Short MSCi sitting in the attic unused. I've connected it up and it doesn't sound great. Kind of sounds muffled, the dialogue isn't clear. My PC speakers, while less bassy, are easier to listen to. Is that likely the speaker or the acoustics of the space behind the telly?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

If I ever move house a requirement will definitely be a more suitable layout for surround sound

I forgot I had a Mourdant Short MSCi sitting in the attic unused. I've connected it up and it doesn't sound great. Kind of sounds muffled, the dialogue isn't clear. My PC speakers, while less bassy, are easier to listen to. Is that likely the speaker or the acoustics of the space behind the telly?

Well, any speaker behind the telly will struggle for clarity. But it's probably the speaker, and simultaneously the acoustic space it's in. Basically it's like putting it in a box. I've used Cambridge pc speakers and they are surprisingly good. They won't peel the skin off your face with volume but sound is good.