Different Speaker Heights?

[DJB]

I'm getting ready to order & put up new speakers (Axiom MS22s, V150 & QS8s)

My problem is that I'm forced to mount the center channel above our plasma TV which in turn is above the fireplace. Mounting the center below the TV is not an option, as this would force the display to be uncomfortably high. The plasma and center channel positions are not changeable due to WAF and room layout.

I do have flexibility with hanging the other speakers. My question is - should I keep them all at the same height, or should I optimize the height of the remaining speakers?

Thanks,

David

 

[TLS Guy]

I'm getting ready to order & put up new speakers (Axiom MS22s, V150 & QS8s)

My problem is that I'm forced to mount the center channel above our plasma TV which in turn is above the fireplace. Mounting the center below the TV is not an option, as this would force the display to be uncomfortably high. The plasma and center channel positions are not changeable due to WAF and room layout.

I do have flexibility with hanging the other speakers. My question is - should I keep them all at the same height, or should I optimize the height of the remaining speakers?

Thanks,

David

Placing a Plasma TV above a fireplace is not recommended. If you use the fireplace the TV should be unplugged. Using a plasma TV above an operating fireplace will shorten the life of the TV and can be a fire hazard. The TV will not cool properly. My youngest daughter and son in law did this against my advice and paid the penalty in flame and smoke. The risk of overheating is too great. Over rule your wife and place the TV elsewhere.

 

[DJB]

Placing a Plasma TV above a fireplace is not recommended. If you use the fireplace the TV should be unplugged. Using a plasma TV above an operating fireplace will shorten the life of the TV and can be a fire hazard. The TV will not cool properly. My youngest daughter and son in law did this against my advice and paid the penalty in flame and smoke. The risk of overheating is too great. Over rule your wife and place the TV elsewhere.

Thanks for your concern but overheating is not an issue. This is a gas, not wood fireplace & is vented out the side of the house, not via a standard chimney. I've had my plasma up there for over a year with no heat problems.

David

 

[Alex2507]

I'm no expert on this but I will say that I wouldn't put the other speakers in the wrong spots to match the center being in the wrong spot. With the center I would angle it so that it points to the listening position and would try pointing it at the coffee table to see if that can be used as a reflective point in an attempt to make it sound like the sound wasn't comming from the heavens. Maybe try using the phantom center approach as in no center. It's a pain but there is a lot to be said for experimentation.

 

[aberkowitz]

I may be totally off base with this, but I think I remember hearing somewhere that there's a way to configure your TV to be used as a center channel. If that's possible then you wouldn't need to worry about mounting the center anywhere.

 

[DJB]

I may be totally off base with this, but I think I remember hearing somewhere that there's a way to configure your TV to be used as a center channel. If that's possible then you wouldn't need to worry about mounting the center anywhere.

The only problem with this is that the TV is set up for line in, not amplified speaker in - I'm afraid I'll blow up my TV!

 

[AVRat]

The L/R centered on the plasma should be fine. If they can all be positioned to fire toward the listening position, all should be fine.

 

[DJB]

The L/R centered on the plasma should be fine. If they can all be positioned to fire toward the listening position, all should be fine.

I'm not sure I follow - are you saying I should eliminate the center channel & use the L & R front channels to simulate the center?

 

[Alex2507]

I'm not sure I follow - are you saying I should eliminate the center channel & use the L & R front channels to simulate the center?

I think if your rec' has line level out you can run the center to the TV. That sound right?

 

[Alex2507]

I think if your rec' has line level out you can run the center to the TV. That sound right?

Strike that. It hardly lends itself to having MATCHED speakers in the front.

I'm not sure I follow - are you saying I should eliminate the center channel & use the L & R front channels to simulate the center?

I had said that you could TRY that. I think what AVRat meant was that you center the L+R to the height of the TV and point them toward the listening position as you would point the center to the listening position.

 

[bpape]

To the original question... try to mount the L and R more closely to the vertical center of the screen.

Bryan

 

[AVRat]

Yes, as bpape & Alex clarified, with all 3 firing at the listening position.