Center Channel Question: Ceiling or Ear Level??

[krinspire]

I am purchasing a semi custom home and I have chosen the 7.1 prewire option for the media room. I am not too comfortable already with this decision of ceiling speakers, but just thought i would get it prewired just in case. If I were to use the ceiling set up would it be a better choice to use the ceiling center channel or to use a center channel more at ear level (say for example Bose VCS-10) and just keep the other 6 channels in the ceiling for surround.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. TIA.

Hugh

 

[Alex2507]

Bose VCS-10 are my favorite headphones.

 

[MDS]

Surrounds in the ceiling will be just fine but I don't think you'll like the fronts and center in the ceiling. If you get speakers with swiveling tweeters you can angle them down toward the listening position but I think it will still sound like all the voices are coming from above.

The center near ear level, above or below the TV and angled up or down as necessary, will be a much better choice than having the center channel speaker in the ceiling.

 

[Exit]

The front three channels should be near (or on the front wall if in-wall type) close to seated ear height. The center channel is a compromise and is mounted above or below the TV and angled toward the listener. There are some good in-walls but stand alone speakers are generally preferred because they can be toed-in (angled in) to help deliver a better sound field, particularly at higher frequencies where the sound output is focused in a narrower beam perpendicular to the speaker front.

If I had to choose pre-wire locations I would probably choose in-wall locations for the front speakers, but I would use stand alone speakers with speaker wire directly from the receiver. I would probably have the contractor install the surrounds and rear channel speakers because working in an attic in heat and insulation is no fun. If you are going with front in-walls I would probably have them installed also.

This would also be a good time to install projector wiring and projector if you are going to use one. It would also be a good time to run a phone line to your AV setup (for satellite TV) and over-the-air antenna wiring for HDTV local channels. You might also want to run telephone wire and Ethernet wiring to each room for a computer hookup. I would run Ethernet to the AV location to because we all might have a PC type device as part of our AV systems in the future. Ethernet is faster than wireless internet and is more accommodating for on-line gaming on the PS3 as well as future downloads of TV and movies.

 

[Midcow2]

Ear level

I am purchasing a semi custom home and I have chosen the 7.1 prewire option for the media room. I am not too comfortable already with this decision of ceiling speakers, but just thought i would get it prewired just in case. If I were to use the ceiling set up would it be a better choice to use the ceiling center channel or to use a center channel more at ear level (say for example Bose VCS-10) and just keep the other 6 channels in the ceiling for surround.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. TIA.

Hugh

If you have a choice put the center at ear level. it carries most of the conversation dialog and would be more natural at ear height. However, even with a ceiling center speaker you sound levels and distance can be calibrated to sound good.

You should also conside something other than Bose! It is highly marketed and people think they make good speakers, but they are actually cheap and less than average. I speak from actual experience. I had 901s, 501s, 301s, 101s, center channel and two wave radios: one with CD and one without. The radios are still pretty good , except a recent Sony XDR-S3HD radio blows away even the wave radio. You might want to read this forum , that a many, many better choices than Bose.

What is your budget? Are you plannning on adding a subwoofer?

 

[markw]

The front speakers should be at ear/eye level, particularly the center. It's job is to focus your eyes and ears on the screen so it "fools" the brain into thinking the sound emanates from the screen. Think about how it will be with your eyes looking at the screen but your ears hearing from overhead. You might get away with the rears being in the ceiling although it would not be my choice.

As for that center speaker you mention, it sux, and I rarely come right out and dis any speakers, but I'll make an exception here.

Rethink your speakers in general, particularly that center speaker. It's recommended that at least your front speakers be from the same manufacturer and the same line.

 

[krinspire]

Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated.
Unfortunately on the pre-wire it is what is because they will not let anyone else come in to do the pre-wire other than their own hired company. So hopefully their placement is good on the ceiling. And yes I am definetly going to look into something else other than bose. I just happen to have one of their speaker systems that I plan on using in the family just for sh*ts and giggles.

 

[Alex2507]

Allow me to apologize for the headphones crack. I thought that your 1st post was something other than a genuine question. My mistake.

-Alex