Customer wants to sit out behind the side surround speakers

[ssmokeyy]

Building a 5.2.4 system for a customer. The room is 17 wide 13 feet deep. He only wants a 65 inch tv. The room layout is open space build. Behind the living room goes into kitchen and dining space. Side surrounds speaker have to be at 12.2 feet. After that is studs and glass door 8 feet on one side other is hallway. So he wants to sit between 13-14ft back. So he's behind the surrounds. Has anyone had a customer like this? No idea what to do. Told him it will sound like crap being behind the sound.

 

[TLS Guy]

Building a 5.2.4 system for a customer. The room is 17 wide 13 feet deep. He only wants a 65 inch tv. The room layout is open space build. Behind the living room goes into kitchen and dining space. Side surrounds speaker have to be at 12.2 feet. After that is studs and glass door 8 feet on one side other is hallway. So he wants to sit between 13-14ft back. So he's behind the surrounds. Has anyone had a customer like this? No idea what to do. Told him it will sound like crap being behind the sound.

I would encourage you not to do that job. It is likely the customer won't like it and blame you. The fact the width of the room is larger than it is long is a big problem as well as all the bass leakage. That sounds like a room that is totally unsuited to multichannel audio. It sounds like a living space area, and in that case is only suitable for two or three front speakers and a sub. In a space like that in wall works best and has the best WAF.

Built on the orders of my wife, and she loves it. Two way left and right, MTM, and three way center and in wall TL sub. That is the way to handle a space like you are asking about.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Well did he say Why he wants to do it that way? Surely he has a reason. Although it sounds like building a custom bike just to sit in a sidecar.

 

[ssmokeyy]

He keeps saying he likes to sit 13 feet from a 65 inch. I can't understand that. So is there a way i could angle the side surrounds to point to the back wall and help? I will be using dirac live for tuning. I also told him that I would build it correctly and if he picks to sit behind the sound field that it's up to him.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

So use a 58” display and have him move forward? Lol!!!
Did he give the logic for the distance vs screen size? Personally at that distance I’d rather be in the 80” range. Or more…
Seems like he has arbitrary reasoning here.

 

[Teetertotter?]

I'd have him sign some kind of a nonresposible sound agreement, if the case.

 

[Wardog555]

Tell him he's going to waste money by sitting too far and being behind surround sound.
65 is worth it only for 8 feet maximum.

Tell the customer does he want good viewing experience or a mobile phone experience?

 

[lovinthehd]

You're a pro ?

 

[ssmokeyy]

I did tell him that im going to build it the correct way and if he moves his couch back its on him. I have a 65 at my house 8 feet is to much for me. I would rather have a 75 at 8 feet. Our 77 is at 7 feet. I'm just as shocked about his choice. But hey I will build it and charge him and walk away. Won't have to worry about the dirac calibration.