Home theater surround speakers & positioning

V

Vlad Sp

Enthusiast
Hello,

Room: L 6m W=4.8m H=2.4m
Unfortunately, due to some room constraints i can only place the TV and speakers on the width of the room. This means that the distance between the main speakers and the couch is about 3.7~4m with the couch against the wall.

System:
AVR: Yamaha Aventage 2070
Amplifiers :
Emotiva BasX A300 for main speakers & Emotiva XPA Gen3 Modular 7 channels for center and all other channels.
Speakers:
Main: Dynavoice Challenger m-105 ex
Center: SVS Ultra Center
Surround: SVS ultra surround
Elevation: SVS Prime Elevation
Subs: 2X SVS SB 13 Ultra

The problem is with the rear speakers placement, because i have no space behind the couch.
My questions is: a pair of KEF T301 Satellite speakers will do the trick? (i never heard Kef speakers)
 
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WaynePflughaupt

WaynePflughaupt

Audioholic Samurai


pair of KEF T301 Satellite speakers will do the trick?
Not sure what kind of “trick” you’re looking for – any number of speakers can be used for rear speakers, even those not specifically designated as such. Your problem is placement. Speakers at ground-level to the sides of the couch are a poor option, in my experience. I’d suggest something small enough to hang from the ceiling, or the wall near ceiling height, 1.5 -2 meters from the sides of the couch.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 
V

Vlad Sp

Enthusiast
I was thinking to these Kef speakers because their depth is 35 mm and i should be able to place them on the wall. But the distance between the speaker and the listening position will be under 30 cm or so. Hanging something from ceiling is not an option from my wife's perspective.
 
William Lemmerhirt

William Lemmerhirt

Audioholic Overlord
Can you post a pic of the back of the room? I’m inclined to agree with Wayne that you’d want them up higher. Around 6’. There are plenty of ways to do what you want, but a picture speaks a thousand words. Or maybe I should learn to read... lol
 
V

Vlad Sp

Enthusiast
I don't have a picture right now. The house is new and basically i'm moving the system there. But the wall where the couch is placed is in an L shape.
 
William Lemmerhirt

William Lemmerhirt

Audioholic Overlord
Hi Vlad, pc didn’t work for me(Tapatalk). I’ll try the web version.
 
William Lemmerhirt

William Lemmerhirt

Audioholic Overlord
Without seeing a horizontal view, I would first move the couch ahead as far as allowable and then use a clamping style wall mount, at 90deg. Like these

Or these
VideoSecu One Pair of Side Clamping Bookshelf Speaker Mounting Bracket with Swivel and Tilt for Large Surrounding Sound Speakers MS56B 3LH https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X9O8SI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Ut9zAb6RQQC5Z
Omnimount makes some nice ones too if you have threaded inserts.
 
KenM10759

KenM10759

Audioholic Ninja
that's the problem, i can't move the couch :(.
If I may ask, why not? Too heavy?

It's a big room, surely you can get it away from the back wall a foot or two (1/2 a meter)?

The KEF T201's make for VERY nice wall hanging surrounds.
 
Y

yepimonfire

Audioholic Samurai
Without seeing a horizontal view, I would first move the couch ahead as far as allowable and then use a clamping style wall mount, at 90deg. Like these

Or these
VideoSecu One Pair of Side Clamping Bookshelf Speaker Mounting Bracket with Swivel and Tilt for Large Surrounding Sound Speakers MS56B 3LH https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X9O8SI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Ut9zAb6RQQC5Z
Omnimount makes some nice ones too if you have threaded inserts.
The video secu stuff is great, even if slightly ugly. They also offer an omni mount style mount that works very well. I have speakers mounted to my ceiling using them. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005BV0FHG/ref=psdcmw_297859_t2_B076BJTFVY

If you can get surrounds that match your LCR, that'd be best, I'd definitely get something large enough to provide enough spl without distortion based on your listening volume, considering the room is 6m wide, that'd put wall mounted surrounds at least 3m from the couch.

Let's say you regularly watch movies at - 15dB, that means you need 90dB of headroom. If the speakers in question are rated at 87dB 1w1m, that'd give you 97dB @100w. Since you'd only need 90dB, that'd cut the power requirements down to about 12wpc. A good deal of small speakers start to distort severely at even moderate power levels, despite their ability to handle more.


Since you mentioned elevation speakers, I'm assuming you have an Atmos setup. If so, I'd strongly advise against mounting the surrounds much higher than half the height of the room, otherwise the overhead sound will blur into the surrounds and vice versa.
With the couch against the back wall, rear surrounds are a waste of time. You'd be better served by adding a second pair of height speakers, either front height or top height.
 
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V

Vlad Sp

Enthusiast
I've already asked my wife, and she didn't like the idea to get the couch from the wall. I know i have enough space, but from her perspective the room will look crowded if i move the couch half a meter from the wall.
 
Montucky

Montucky

Full Audioholic
This may be a good case for the use of in-wall speakers. Have you considered that?
 
V

Vlad Sp

Enthusiast
Not until now. The walls are made of bricks. And the brick thickness is 20 cm.
I don't know if this will allow me to go deep enough to fit the speakers.
 
Montucky

Montucky

Full Audioholic
Not until now. The walls are made of bricks. And the brick thickness is 20 cm.
I don't know if this will allow me to go deep enough to fit the speakers.
Aaaahh. A brick wall WOULD be a problem for in-walls.

How about this, then? A very, very thin ON-wall. On of my favorites is the RBH Ultra-1. Only 1-5/8" thick and they sound really darn good for their size and price! They've looked really sleek with every installation I've used them for, and are incredibly easy to hang. I've never used them for surround channels, but they might work really well for your setup.
https://rbhsound.com/ultra1.php
 
Montucky

Montucky

Full Audioholic
Ok then, i will have to decide between:
RBH and Kef
Both could be excellent choices. I have personal experience with the RBH Ultras, and have always come away very impressed and honestly shocked with the kind of output they can crank out, but I'd bet the KEFs are no slouch either. I have not heard them though, so can't really comment on them. I have liked both the KEF and RBH brands in general, but it's all about personal preference. RBH in my experience typically goes for accurate. I can't say enough good things about the brand, but I'm admittedly biased toward them. Any chance you could audition either one locally?
https://rbhsound.com/dealer_locator/index.php (If you don't see one in your area, call them to double check since their website is not always up to date)
http://us.kef.com/wheretobuy
 
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