Front Wall Heights, 7.2.6 Worth it?

[BFL]

For those that make use of Front Wides, do u feel it was worth it? Are we talking small difference or did really open it the front stage up?

Why are we not seeing more AVRs avail with this option?

Reason I am askiang, my AVR(Denon X4400h) is 6 years old now and if/when i replace it is it worth looking for a unit that has front wide option? Current setup is 7.2.4

 

[j_garcia]

AFAIK Yamaha was the only one doing it (maybe others, not sure), but that was before DTS-X or Atmos, etc... and they were added "fake" channels. Now that you have actual formats to support those channels as heights, there is no real need for Front Wide. So, no I do not think it is worth it.

 

[BFL]

Guess i should also ask this, am i calling Front Wides by the correct name? I am referring to small speakers mounted on the front wall close to ceiling level firing back towards the listening area.

 

[j_garcia]

Yes, that would be a front wide.

 

[BFL]

Yes, that would be a front wide.

ok, thanks...guess at this point no need to invest in that route...once it becomes time to do a AVR upgrade i will see how the speaker arrangements are at that time since the industry is evolving. Guess Atmos was the last big update for the HT crowd.

 

[ryanosaur]

Guess i should also ask this, am i calling Front Wides by the correct name? I am referring to small speakers mounted on the front wall close to ceiling level firing back towards the listening area.

Yes, that would be a front wide.

These are FRONT HEIGHT, if wall mounted above the Mains on the Floor.

Front Wide is Tower or Stand-Mount Speaker on the floor placed between Mains and Surrounds.

9.1.6 Mounted / Overhead Speaker Setup

Use our step-by-step guide to get the most from your home theater with 9.1.6 mounted overhead speakers enabled with Dolby Atmos.

www.dolby.com

The Speakers in front of the couch at between 50-70º are Front Wide.

From the same Dolby page:

The Front Height are the Speakers mounted above the mains and near the ceiling.

I only post this for clarification and to make certain no misunderstanding is existing.

Re: value of each:
Front Height and Rear Height can be used but are less impactful per report than the Top Front and Top Back locations preferred for good Atmos.

Front Wides are apparently coming into favor again, but I honestly don't know how much program you can get that encodes for that placement. I have heard some say that Netfilx is using that placement in some of their stuff... but overall, it seems like a poor choice to choose Front Wide of attempting to install a proper basic Atmos of Top Front/Top Back... Or if you can't solve for that, attempting Front Height/Rear Height.

 

[BFL]

That bottom diagram helped a lot...then i mis spoke and renamed the thread...not asking about Front Wides, but front Heights. My current front atmos are in the ceiling about 2-3 ft forward and 9ft up from my sofa. My rears are appx 18-24inches behind me and 9ft up as I have 9ft ceilings.

I guess if i were to do front heights, i would be 7.2.6, correct? Not sure it would be good for my room being i cannot move the ceiling speakers which would be in front of me instead of above me as Mids

 

[ryanosaur]

That bottom diagram helped a lot...then i mis spoke and renamed the thread...not asking about Front Wides, but front Heights. My current front atmos are in the ceiling about 2-3 ft forward and 9ft up from my sofa. My rears are appx 18-24inches behind me and 9ft up as I have 9ft ceilings.

I guess if i were to do front heights, i would be 7.2.6, correct? Not sure it would be good for my room being i cannot move the ceiling speakers which would be in front of me instead of above me as Mids

You don't want Top Middle only. Many have stated the Top Front and Top Back is the gold standard for home Atmos.
So this is what your more ideal setup will be.

7.1.4 Overhead Speaker Setup

Follow these simple steps to optimize your home theater with 7.1.4 overhead speakers enabled with Dolby Atmos. Experience your favorite entertainment in Dolby.

www.dolby.com

If you have the ability to add Top Middle to this as a 7.1.6 arrangement, you could, but many report lack of content depending on source and upmixer used in the Top Middle.
You can add Front Height if you want, but if you already have a working Top Front, it's value may not be as strong. The Height Speakers tend to be used for budget installs where in-ceiling Speakers aren't possible. Some report good effect, other disappointment. YMMV.

The other thing people do is mount the Top Front/Middle/Back Speakers on the side walls (similar to Height Speakers, and aimed at the LP.
This is how I will be installing mine, soon.

The most important aspect of getting good Atmos is the angles. Where the Speakers are relative to the listener is a big component of the experience. We all have to make allowances and compromises for our rooms, but the closer you can get to the proper placement, the better success you will have with the actual experience.

Finally, different AVRs will allow only specific placements. My Marantz SR6012 is like this. If you want to make certain what your AVR will allow, you should deep dive into the Amp Assign and Speaker placement tool in the settings. In my Marantz, I have to toggle it to full 11 channel on in order to play with it, but then you can see what placements and combinations the AVR will support.
For me, I am limited to .4 Atmos only and can do some combinations of Height and Top Speakers. Newer and more advanced machines can often do more and will vary by device.

 

[BFL]

yeah, it would have to be down the road if i were to replace my Denon ..its a 2017 model x4400h. Since 2017 i had it as 5.1.2. Now that i replaced all my speakers did i up it to 7.2.4.

 

[TLS Guy]

yeah, it would have to be down the road if i were to replace my Denon ..its a 2017 model x4400h. Since 2017 i had it as 5.1.2. Now that i replaced all my speakers did i up it to 7.2.4.

7.2.4 I think is optimal for most home theaters. Mine works perfectly with everything placed to Dolby specs.

 

[BFL]

7.2.4 I think is optimal for most home theaters. Mine works perfectly with everything placed to Dolby specs.

i wish i could place my speakers exactly where they should go, but the wife doesn't want me to rotate the listening area 90degrees cause the tv would block the windows.

 

[j_garcia]

I have a friend who utilized the front wides and I actually thought it sounded pretty good. In my opinion, Atmos is the forward looking direction though.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Yes, that would be a front wide.

Wuut?

 

[j_garcia]

Wuut?

Wide front? Wide back?

 

[Wardog555]

i wish i could place my speakers exactly where they should go, but the wife doesn't want me to rotate the listening area 90degrees cause the tv would block the windows.

That's actually a benifit as you need to block the window for watching Television. Try watching dark scenes with the curtains open etc and at day time with sunshine out!

If it's what's best for the setup I'd strongly encourage it!
Should be important right?
Have a think about it.

I don't believe front heights is going to be the best idea when you already have front atmos speakers. If they were directly above you and or only slightly forward. Then it's worth considering. Even then double check the angles as you easily want like 40-45 degrees to have even spacing and a dome of sound.

So for 6 atmos speakers. You want 45 degrees. 90 degrees. 135 degrees. Ear level being 0 degrees. Depending on room size and seating distance. It may be on the ceiling or the walls.

You are welcome!