7.2 Home Theater Room Speaker Setup

[kfree321]

Hello all,



Pretty new to Home Theater Audio (and having my own space to set up said Home Theater Audio) so just looking for any tips or recommendations. I know it sucks that the couch is pretty much up against the wall, but it won't fit if rotated to put the TV on the short wall. I did move it away from the wall 2 feet, but got yelled at by the wife. It's currently about a foot away from the wall.



Receiver used : Sony STR DN-1050

Speakers : 2 RF 42 ii

RC 42 ii

2 RS 41 ii

2 RB 41 ii



I attached a diagram of the room which shows the current speaker placement's, but I am moving them pretty frequently to try and find the best combo

.



I have thought about putting the RB 41 ii's in the front of the room and mount them up as Front "Heights". Has anyone tried doing this, if so, how were the results? I would then use the RS 41 ii's as the rear channels.



I can still return the 2 RS 41 ii's if that helps any recommendations.

I attached a room diagram for reference

Thanks for your time



Kyle

 

[shadyJ]

That is a tough situation to try to force a home theater system. The best thing to do is get a smaller sofa cough and use the short wall as your display, but that doesn't look like it will fly with the wife. I don't normally recommend bipole speakers to be used as surrounds in 7 channel systems, but in your case thye might be serviceable as rear surrounds. Still, you might as well use some monopoles as side surrounds, so I would trade the RS-42 side surrounds in for some RB-41s. Angle the speakers to face your listening position. If you need mounts, these are the best low cost bookshelf speaker mounts.

If you can't have the front stage speakers at ear level height, than also angle them downward so that they are facing the listening position.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

I'll use the diagram to address this so let me know if I'm not seeing this right. To add to shady's post. I would not do 7.1 with rear surrounds. They're meant to be behind, where unfortunately there is a window, and should imo, have 4-5' behind the LP to work right. 6 or 7 even. Maybe a pair above it? Also, the side surrounds should be directly to the sides, not in front of the listener. I think a better choice is as you mentioned to go with front heights. Many people have reported to enjoy this much better and I think your room is a prime candidate. I would sneak the couch just a little farther forward(within safety of course lol) and mount surrounds where you have indicated rear surrounds, pointed at the LP, and then go front height. This is what 7.1 with rears should look like.

And 5.1

I'd go with 5.1. Plus front height.

 

[kfree321]

shady and William, thanks for the input.

once this couch is worn out in a year or two, I will definitely set the room up long-ways, with the TV opposite the stairs. When I looked into the RS 41 ii Klipsch says that their surrounds use something called "wide dispersion surround technology". I couldn't find anything to tell me whether they were bi-pole or di-pole.

I am thinking about going with the 5.1 with the height speakers that yor recommended. Just want to make sure before I drill holes into my wall for the mounts... How high up would you go with them? Also, they would go directly behind the Left Front and Left Right speaker? Has anyone tried or listened to the results first hand?

thanks again

Kyle

 

[shadyJ]

I wouldn't worry about height speakers. Just focus on getting the best 5.1 sound you can get. Your placement is much too compromised as it is to worry about height speakers. Getting the fundamentals right will make a far greater difference in the resulting sound.

The Klipsch RS speakers are most definitely bipole speakers.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

https://www.dolby.com/us/en/technologies/dolby-pro-logic-iiz.html
The link might give a little more insight. Iirc, front heights should be about 3' above the mains, and in line with them or just outside. Maybe 1-3'.
What I could find says the 41's are neither bipole or dipole. They're wired in phase and the combination of cabinet angle and crossover slope makes it behave like an array. Like a concert setup. I went rear surround so I can't say, but lots of guys like it better than wides, or rear surrounds.

 

[zieglj01]

Focus on the 5.1

 

[kfree321]

Thanks for responses,

I already have all of the speakers so there isn't much to "focus" on in regards to 5.1. I am just trying to figure out optimal placement for all of the speakers since my room is oddly shaped.

William, I am going to give the front heights a shot and see how it sounds. Since I do have a room with a higher than normal ceiling, I am hoping to hear some benefits.

If anyone has first hand experience with the front heights I would be very interested in your input.

Thanks guys