5.1.4 surround speaker height

[Grymlot]

Hey everyone,

I'm planning a 5.1.4 setup in a medium size room. I have seen mixed answers or lack of answers on exact placement of my left & right surround speakers. I think the official recommendations I've seen are that with 7 speakers they would go directly to the sides of the listener but for a 5 speaker setup they should go slightly behind the listener. So that makes me wonder about the vertical positioning of those same speakers. I've seen recommendations of putting them slightly above ear level. Does the fact that I have 4 ceiling speakers mean that I shouldn't raise the left & right surrounds above ear level? Even Dolby's recommendation sheets don't seem to address vertical positioning here.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

These are from Dolby’s sheets. It says that H2(surround speakers) shouldn’t be higher than H1(mains)x1.25. So if the tweeter of your mains is at 40”, then the surrounds can be as high as 50”. You can go a bit higher to clear heads but I wouldn’t push it. Especially if the ceiling height is lower.

 

[-Jim-]

These are from Dolby’s sheets. It says that H2(surround speakers) shouldn’t be higher than H1(mains)x1.25. So if the tweeter of your mains is at 40”, then the surrounds can be as high as 50”. You can go a bit higher to clear heads but I wouldn’t push it. Especially if the ceiling height is lower.

I'm not certain that I'd go any higher than the Dolby Spec if going to Atmos as @Grymlot is planning a 5.1.4 setup in a medium size room. I'd keep the all the bed speakers at ear level if possible.

Just my 2 Bits.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

I'm not certain that I'd go any higher than the Dolby Spec if going to Atmos as @Grymlot is planning a 5.1.4 setup in a medium size room. I'd keep the all the bed speakers at ear level if possible.

Just my 2 Bits.

I can’t disagree. But it is in the spec to go h1x1.25. Depends a little on ceiling height too. Since it’s all angle based, a very high ceiling is problematic as the separation between ear level and overhead can be too far. So basically I’d say it’s all relative.

 

[-Jim-]

I can’t disagree. But it is in the spec to go h1x1.25. Depends a little on ceiling height too. Since it’s all angle based, a very high ceiling is problematic as the separation between ear level and overhead can be too far. So basically I’d say it’s all relative.

My concern would be the "crosstalk" / interference between levels which would impact Atmos playback. Other than a real estate issue in the room, having the Bed Speakers at ear level should be the target.

 

[Grymlot]

Thanks guys!

 

[TLS Guy]

Hey everyone,

I'm planning a 5.1.4 setup in a medium size room. I have seen mixed answers or lack of answers on exact placement of my left & right surround speakers. I think the official recommendations I've seen are that with 7 speakers they would go directly to the sides of the listener but for a 5 speaker setup they should go slightly behind the listener. So that makes me wonder about the vertical positioning of those same speakers. I've seen recommendations of putting them slightly above ear level. Does the fact that I have 4 ceiling speakers mean that I shouldn't raise the left & right surrounds above ear level? Even Dolby's recommendation sheets don't seem to address vertical positioning here.

I think you have to be a bit flexible. By that I think you have to take into account your seating. In theaters with theater chairs that tend to be high backed, you need the tweeter and mid speakers to be above the backs of the chairs. If you don't do this results are poor. In my rears for instance the two woofers are below the seating but the mid and tweeter units are above the rear seats. It is also a three tier room, which makes this even more crucial.