Do I need to angle my speakers?

[casbach]

I have a new home under construction and we are installing a 5.1 system in our great room. This room will also feature a 61 plasma.

Let me do my best to describe the room to you. There is a double-sided fireplace that starts in the basement, and extends through to the second floor master bedroom. On the first floor, the great room and the kitchen are divided by the fireplace. To the left and right of the fireplace there is open space to walk through into the kitchen. The ceilings in the great room are about 25' high. Obviously we are putting the plasma on the fireplace, so that is my focus. Approx 12' above the base of the fireplace is and running the width of the room is the second floor master bedroom.

This outside wall to the master bedroom seems to be the only logical place to install an inwall speaker system, but they would be 12+ feet above floor level.

I would like to create a system that will direct the speaker downward toward the listening area. I have been told by some that it won't make a difference because of the height of the ceiling in the great room and it is OK to fire them straight on...12 feet over my head.

What should I be doing here? (Tower speakers are not going to be allowed.)

 

[saurabh]

What speakers are you putting up, Dipole, tripole.......and a diagram to explain the setup is definitely more helpful.

 

[jaxvon]

What kind of budget are you looking at? Are these going to be all inwall speakers, or just some? And a diagram/pictures would be quite helpful.

 

[Nick250]

Ideally the height the tweeters should be at the same height as your ears while sitting. Also the speakers will be need to be fine tuned east/west. It would seem to me the compromises you are making to my aforementioned comments will most likely give you so-so results at best, but you will not know for sure how much until everything up and in place. If it were me I would reconsider in wall placement of the speakers, too many compromises. But thats me, you may feel different.

 

[casbach]

The first picture in looking from the seating area toward the fireplace.

The second picture is looking up the fireplace to the outer wall for the master bedroom on the second floor.

The third is from the left of the fireplace looking back into seating area.

Obviously the stairs will not be there once construction is completed.

 

[markw]

Lemme get this straight...

You're mounting the speakers twelve feet off the floor?

I'd say that will create a truly "unique" listening experience, angled or not.

 

[goodman]

This outside wall to the master bedroom seems to be the only logical place to install an inwall speaker system, but they would be 12+ feet above floor level.

I would like to create a system that will direct the speaker downward toward the listening area. I have been told by some that it won't make a difference because of the height of the ceiling in the great room and it is OK to fire them straight on...12 feet over my head.

That is bizarre. Don't do it The tweeters of your speakers should be approximately at ear-level when you are seated watching your display or listening to music. Installing the speakers on the outside of the bedroom wall will also disturb anyone who might be in the bedroom when your speakers are on. Your room and your desired display position apparently are not appropriate for inwalls. There are numerous, beautiful-looking, floor-standing speakers that would look great and will sound much better. May I suggest Anthony Gallo Reference3s? Check them out at www.roundsound.com.

 

[casbach]

Has anyone had any experience with the Artison Portrait speakers? Having speakers on the floor is probably something that just isn't going to happen.

 

[cownd]

I'd wait until you finish your basement and do it right