Help before I buy

[mmmmmm887766]

I have a home system, small room, a speaker in each corner plus centre speaker and sub, rear speakers are directly above seating position. I'm looking to upgrade, possibly with presence speakers. The TV is in a corner to the side of a chimney so central isn't really an option. Question is will presence speakers make a difference? I'm looking at a new AV, the new speakers I'm looking at will replace the existing rear but the front two have front presence (separately wired) built in. I was thinking as I only have one speaker cable to each corner, replacing the rear like for like and placing the new front speakers (with front presence) either side of the TV. My question is will this benefit at all and second (AV has both front and rear presence) should I install additional presence speakers in the front corners in place of the old surround ones? Novice looking for help

 

[lovinthehd]

Is this a 5.1 or 7.1 setup? Sounds like a 5.1with surrounds. Rear surrounds are in 7ch mode, 5ch mode only uses surrounds (side, altho can be placed somewhat to the rear of the listening position). A diagram of the room with speaker/display and seating placement or photo might be helpful. Also specify the gear you have/are looking at by make/model please.

 

[shadyJ]

I don't think presence speakers will make a big difference for you, but its hard to tell from your description. What absolutely would make a difference is good front left/right placement and a well-designed speaker, if you don't already have those things. They would improve the sound much more than presence speakers if there is room for improvement there.

 

[mmmmmm887766]

Hi, thanks for replying, it won't allow me to upload a pic .
The room isn't very big, iys a squate room, it has a chimney breast so the TV is sited to the right of that and the sofas are against the walls opposite. I currently have a speaker high up in each corner of the room from L and R and rear L and R, a centre speaker under the TV and a sub behind. Was thinking of getting a Yamaha RX-V685, don't want to spend out for so much if I don't need it though. Are the front speakers best sited in each corner or either side of the TV? I can send a drawing later if easier? Thanks in advance.

 

[mmmmmm887766]

Best I could do on my phone for a drawing

 

[lovinthehd]

Man that's gonna drive the OCD guys wild! It would drive me a little bonkers to not have the speakers framing the display, too, tho. Fireplaces can be nice, but don't mix well with TVs (or audio gear) sometimes. I'd try to get all the speakers to surround the display better, not just the L/R but also surrounds, but that's me. Ear level is my preference as well for the fronts, surrounds I could live with up near the ceiling, tho.

What are the current speakers? What are the speakers you're considering? They have built in presence speakers? Not familiar with anything like that I can think of. Bounce off the ceiling type or ?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Man that's gonna drive the OCD guys wild!

Yeah, no kidding. I don't know if I can continue reading this thread. LOL.

Wow. Where to start?

The 2 front L/R speakers are all the way up in the ceiling corners. The 2 surround speakers are all the way up the ceiling corners right ABOVE the listening position.

I would add 2 EAR-Level Surround speakers and make the current corner ceiling rear speakers the PRESENCE OVERHEAD speakers for ATMOS 5.1.2.

 

[mmmmmm887766]

Man that's gonna drive the OCD guys wild! It would drive me a little bonkers to not have the speakers framing the display, too, tho. Fireplaces can be nice, but don't mix well with TVs (or audio gear) sometimes. I'd try to get all the speakers to surround the display better, not just the L/R but also surrounds, but that's me. Ear level is my preference as well for the fronts, surrounds I could live with up near the ceiling, tho.

What are the current speakers? What are the speakers you're considering? They have built in presence speakers? Not familiar with anything like that I can think of. Bounce off the ceiling type or ?

I currently have an old don't 5.1 setup, it's ok but was thinking of upgrading, the space and location isn't ideal. After reading comments on here tempted to stick with it lol

 

[mmmmmm887766]

Yeah, no kidding. I don't know if I can continue reading this thread. LOL.

Wow. Where to start?

The 2 front L/R speakers are all the way up in the ceiling corners. The 2 surround speakers are all the way up the ceiling corners right ABOVE the listening position.

I would add 2 EAR-Level Surround speakers and make the current corner ceiling rear speakers the PRESENCE OVERHEAD speakers for ATMOS 5.1.2.

Thanks is for the reply haha.

Only prob with ear level is that the rear right would literally be in your ear, I'd give it a week before I was deaf lol. I've seen a speaker set that has from presence built in although separately cabled, would it make a difference? I'd have to site them either side of the TV rather than front corners though as only have one cable (buried in wall) going to each, or maybe put front speakers either side and presence speakers in place of existing front? Have a Sony 5.1 at the moment, reading this tempted to stick with rather than pay loads of money for something that won t make much difference.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Thanks is for the reply haha.

Only prob with ear level is that the rear right would literally be in your ear, I'd give it a week before I was deaf lol. I've seen a speaker set that has from presence built in although separately cabled, would it make a difference? I'd have to site them either side of the TV rather than front corners though as only have one cable (buried in wall) going to each, or maybe put front speakers either side and presence speakers in place of existing front? Have a Sony 5.1 at the moment, reading this tempted to stick with rather than pay loads of money for something that won t make much difference.

I wouldn't do FRONT PRESENCE at all.

Just have the OVERHEAD PRESENCE in the rear corner farthest away and have the SURROUND SPEAKERS in the rear corner a few feet below that.

For example, if the OVERHEAD PRESENCE (ATMOS) is 10FT above the floor, then the SURROUND speakers might be 6 FT above the floor.

 

[mmmmmm887766]

I wouldn't do FRONT PRESENCE at all.

Just have the OVERHEAD PRESENCE in the rear corner farthest away and have the SURROUND SPEAKERS in the rear corner a few feet below that.

For example, if the OVERHEAD PRESENCE (ATMOS) is 10FT above the floor, then the SURROUND speakers might be 6 FT above the floor.

Thank you so much for the advice, really appreciate it . One last question, would you reccomend moving front speakers to either side of the TV or leave in corners? Or will it make no difference?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Thank you so much for the advice, really appreciate it . One last question, would you reccomend moving front speakers to either side of the TV or leave in corners? Or will it make no difference?

Given that situation, I would probably just leave the front speakers where they are.

 

[mmmmmm887766]

Given that situation, I would probably just leave the front speakers where they are.

Cheers, short of taking the chimney out I'm stuck with it the way it is :/

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Ooooh. Seeeeeee. Deeeeeeee!!!

 

[everettT]

Yeah, no kidding. I don't know if I can continue reading this thread. LOL.

Wow. Where to start?

The 2 front L/R speakers are all the way up in the ceiling corners. The 2 surround speakers are all the way up the ceiling corners right ABOVE the listening position.

I would add 2 EAR-Level Surround speakers and make the current corner ceiling rear speakers the PRESENCE OVERHEAD speakers for ATMOS 5.1.2.

Did someone say beds in the media room? How do those surrounds sound upside down