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.

 

[Wardog555]

That's why I said maximum distance...
I'm at 4.6 feet for my immersion! Makes me quite happy.

 

[Eppie]

You can show him the recommended placement per the AVR manual. Side surround is 90-110 degrees, preferably behind the listener. Beyond that, it's the owner's money and if you won't do it someone else will. Open concept rooms are best suited to having just front speakers so compromises have to be made. Are there high or vaulted ceilings? A ceiling speaker with angled baffles angled towards the main seating area might work better but you can not add ATMOS in that situation.

 

[ssmokeyy]

Him and I got into some last week. I told him that I would only install it correctly and where he picks to sit is up to him. Showing him speakers around 400-600 per in wall he came out me saying I was showing him high on a stuff and thats not this house. Shitt getting good budget wire was a nightmare. I probably shouldn't have opened my mouth on this one with good ideas of things I could do. At this point I have no idea where the rack is going. He keeps changing his mind. So much stress for a little system.

 

[Wardog555]

You can show him the recommended placement per the AVR manual. Side surround is 90-110 degrees, preferably behind the listener. Beyond that, it's the owner's money and if you won't do it someone else will. Open concept rooms are best suited to having just front speakers so compromises have to be made. Are there high or vaulted ceilings? A ceiling speaker with angled baffles angled towards the main seating area might work better but you can not add ATMOS in that situation.

View attachment 73832

The only speaker placement information you should ever use is from dolby themselves.

 

[Wardog555]

Perhaps your customers wants and needs should be more important than your rigid requirements as a builder. It's his house and his money. Offer good advice and accept your customer's desires.

Go find Floyd Toole's HT layout on the internet.

If people don't care for home theater and consuming what the filmmakers intended. They shouldn't be wasting time and money on the equipment only to treat it with such disrespect and neglect.

Two options here. Make them sign a agreement accepting that the way speakers are placed are intended to hear the creative intention of the soundmix.

Or leave the customer and tell them what they are doing if aginst the design and creative intention of the filmmaker.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

If people don't care for home theater and consuming what the filmmakers intended. They shouldn't be wasting time and money on the equipment only to treat it with such disrespect and neglect.

Two options here. Make them sign a agreement accepting that the way speakers are placed are intended to hear the creative intention of the soundmix.

Or leave the customer and tell them what they are doing if aginst the design and creative intention of the filmmaker.

Did you make your mom sign an agreement when you installed the system in her bedroom where you live? You should shut the Fukk up. Even AVS can’t stand you.

 

[mannyorton]

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.

Yeah, I’ve had a similar situation with a client before. Room layout wasn’t ideal, and they insisted on sitting behind the surrounds, which definitely throws off the soundstage. In setups like that, it’s all about compromise and clear communication. I explained that the rear imaging would be weak or even distracting.


What worked for me was recommending a strong front stage and ceiling Atmos speakers to compensate. Also suggested repositioning furniture a bit forward if possible even a couple feet can help.


Interestingly, I’ve worked with another client on a full home setup where the layout was open-plan too, and we had to plan around awkward dimensions and traffic flow. For some context, they also needed chauffeur perth airport services regularly, so the home was always in use but had to stay clean and accessible.


Back to your case if the client’s willing to rethink the seating a bit or even bring the surrounds forward with angle adjustments, you might still get decent results. Otherwise, set the expectation that the rear channel experience won’t be ideal.