center speaker above or below monitor?

[johnnysflooring]

I'm setting up my speakers for my home theater and I was wondering If the center channel should be mounted above or below the tv. Below would be under ear level and above is over ear level. I have a 58" panasonic so there's alot of difference from top to bottom. any suggestions?

 

[mike c]

basically, you choose the one which has the smallest difference to ear level (tweeter to ear)

 

[krzywica]

If you have anything that would be in between you and the center if it is bottom mounted you would want to mount it above.

Ear level doesn't matter so much with the center just as long as it is not to one extreme or the other. Also you would want the center pointing directly at your head as far as the rotation angle goes.

 

[just-some-guy]

what those guys said. i like to put it as close to the screen as possible. on top, 1" off. on the bottom, with the bottom of the set, and the stand, you would be lucky to get it 8" off.

 

[CraigV]

It’s a good idea to keep the tweeter on the center as close in line with the tweeters of the mains as possible, so as to create a smooth panning across the front sound stage.

 

[johnnysflooring]

I'm using wall mounted speakers so lining things up is impossible. so now what?

 

[krzywica]

In wall or wall mounted?

 

[johnnysflooring]

wall mounted

 

[krzywica]

Well if they are wall mounted you should still be able to adjust the angle....which is often most important especially if your speakers do not have wide dispersion characteristics.

Have you actually been playing back content on this system yet? Or are you just spit balling?

 

[johnnysflooring]

just in the process of setting it up. I have 5 rbh wm-24 speakers I will be using for my L/R, center and rears a new svs 12nsd sub on the way and a new onkyo 905 a/v receiver. none of this stuff has been hooked up yet

 

[krzywica]

Sounds like you have the makings of a truly killer system. Make sure you calibrate it correctly when you get it all in place.

Good luck....and God's Speed *Sean Connery voice*

 

[johnnysflooring]

I know this is a whole different subject and I'm new to this stuff but what do you mean by calabrating?

 

[krzywica]

You may have an auto setup mic that does everything for you. You want to make sure all the speakers are bamanced and your room Equalization is correct. This is mostly a large concern with the subwoofer more than anything as it is usually the most tricky to place in ther correct spot.

 

[johnnysflooring]

yes I do have an auto set up mic. Is that all I need to do or I have heard talk on the site of getting a meter?

 

[krzywica]

Usually thats all you will need.

If you still have bad acoustic dips in your room....or your anal about having the perfect balance like most on this site....you will want to pick up an SPL meter from Radio Shack and use a test CD/DVD that plays looped audio at a specified frequency so you can tweak your in room response perfectly. Capiche?