7.1 speaker placement?

[KeeWay]

i just got my Onkyo 805 rx and i want to setup the rear surrounds but the only way i can mount them (Energy e:XL-16's) is from the ceiling. i will probably mount them horizontal from the celing that way they will not be in the way too much. the distance from the back of the couch to the farthest i can mount them is 5'.

do you think that this is going to cause me problems?

should i seperate them or put them next to each other (i have seen both ways)?

should i point them straight ahead or point them down toward the middle of the room?

Thanks
James

 

[Adam]

KeeWay, what program did you use to make that diagram? I'd like to do something similar with my layout. Thanks.

 

[sholling]

It looks like visio.

 

[KeeWay]

adam

I used visio pro 2007.. I am sitting here at work so that is all i had

thanks
James

 

[Adam]

adam

I used visio pro 2007.. I am sitting here at work so that is all i had

thanks
James

Hey, thanks. Ahhh, the joys of work.

As for your questions about your rear speakers, I don't know much about placement for 7.1. I'm assuming that they'd be the same distance apart as the front speakers. As for how to point them, I'd say get brackets that allow you the flexibility to reorient them. That way, you can listen to them and determine for yourself which orientation you like the best.

 

[MDS]

You should mount the surrounds exactly as pictured in the diagram - pointing at each other.

Per Dolby recommendations they should be a few feet above your ears and placed 90-110 degrees from the listening position. Since they will be on the ceiling they may be slightly higher than is usually recommended and you could angle them down slightly but you still want them firing at each other and not towards the TV.

 

[avaserfi]

MDS, he is asking where to place his last two speakers to have 7.1, I think the speakers on the diagram are already put up as they are part of the 5.1 set up.

As to the speaker question I think Adam gave the best advice when he said go with some adjustable mounts so you can decide what you think is best and have an easy way to test it.

 

[KeeWay]

MDS
sorry i meant the rear surrounds for the 7.1 and i did not put them in the pic yet, i just threw this together while sitting here at work... i have seen the rears together and seperate pointing forward. since i have no back wall i have to mount them on ceiling..

thanks
James Lee

 

[avaserfi]

Ohh, the placing of speakers either close or farther apart is choice. Dolby specs say farther apart while THX say closer together. http://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/speaker-setup-guidelines/home-theater-speaker-layout-an-essential-guide
http://www.thx.com/home/setup/speakers/71.html

Personally I perfer having some distance between the two.

 

[KeeWay]

Adam / avaserfi

my problem is that i would be mounting these on the ceiling and i do not have the capability to mount them then change it because it would be creating too many holes in the ceiling...

Thanks
James Lee

 

[Adam]

Adam / avaserfi

my problem is that i would be mounting these on the ceiling and i do not have the capability to mount them then change it because it would be creating too many holes in the ceiling...

Thanks
James Lee

James, are you planning on using speaker brackets? They sell brackets that have ball-and-socket joints so that you can adjust the orientation of the speakers. So, you would mount the brackets to the ceiling (one set of holes that wouldn't change) and then mount the speakers to the brackets. I haven't shopped for brackets in a while, so I'm not sure about what all is available these days.

EDIT: However, you do want to decide how far apart you want them first to keep from putting additional holes in the ceiling, unless you mount them on a rail (like track lighting).

 

[KeeWay]

avaserfi

thanks.. i will probably mount them so that they are even with the front speakers. now should they point directly forward or down toward the center of the room? since they are mounted on the ceiling i would assume that i would have to point them downward....

thanks
James

 

[avaserfi]

As for how to point them, I'd say get brackets that allow you the flexibility to reorient them. That way, you can listen to them and determine for yourself which orientation you like the best.

Get a bracket that sits on a rotational access so you can install the bracket then rotate the speaker around. That is what Adam was referring to.

Looks like Adam beat me to it.

As to the direction of the speakers, well thats why you get the rotational brackets so you can see what sounds best to you. Pointing them straight down doesn't sound right to me but it might work out for the best. I have a feeling having them at an angle towards the seating position will sound best in the end

 

[KeeWay]

great.. thanks everyone i will put them up this weekend and play with the angles...

Thanks
James

 

[Adam]

James, here's an example of what we're talking about. This isn't a recommendation by me, but just something that I found quickly.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-8EsuqIFOWdE/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=15830&I=121BT34S