Help With 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker Positioning

[Craftsman]

I'm a newbie regarding surround sound, etc... and need some advice/information about speaker placement.

I'm finishing my rec-room, which is 14 x 17, and have begun to hang drywall. My assumption of a 5.1 surround system was a sub-woofer and 4 speakers. I had planned to put the woofer on a shelf just above the wall mounted HDTV and mount 4 speakers on the wall. Please see attached diagram. Further investigation revealed that a 5.1 system includes a woofer and 5 speakers.

I went to several stores (Circuit City, Best Buy, etc...) to see what they have in stock. It looks like the sub-woofer is about 10" high, which will fit on the shelf - my original plan. How do I mount the remaining 5 speakers? Do I have to use all 5? Can I only mount 4 speakers?

Thanks!

 

[mtrycrafts]

I'm a newbie regarding surround sound, etc... and need some advice/information about speaker placement.

I'm finishing my rec-room, which is 14 x 17, and have begun to hang drywall. My assumption of a 5.1 surround system was a sub-woofer and 4 speakers. I had planned to put the woofer on a shelf just above the wall mounted HDTV and mount 4 speakers on the wall. Please see attached diagram. Further investigation revealed that a 5.1 system includes a woofer and 5 speakers.

I went to several stores (Circuit City, Best Buy, etc...) to see what they have in stock. It looks like the sub-woofer is about 10" high, which will fit on the shelf - my original plan. How do I mount the remaining 5 speakers? Do I have to use all 5? Can I only mount 4 speakers?

Thanks!

Welcome.
I hate to say this but you didn't pre-plan well and now you are ready to hang the Sheetrock. Almost ready to remodel before you are finished

Don't place a sub on a shelf. If you value good low frequency response with volume you can hear, you need a good sub and it will be on the floor as they are larger and heavy. In any event, it needs a 120V power outlet and an interconnect cable, similar to a TV cable. For a nice installation, it should be in the wall. Subs are finicky, response differs with location.

Your main speakers. You need 3 up front by the HDTV, one on each side and one under it. Don't mount them high as the speakers should be at ear level when seated. They need speaker wire from the receiver. 14ga should be fine.

the two surround should be on either side of the listening position to about 10-15degrees further back. and a good 2 ft above your ears when sitting.

 

[AVRat]

For a starter, read this: http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/setup/loudspeakers/hometheaterspeakerlayout.php

 

[sholling]

You won't be happy with the results of that layout. I've attached a suggested layout.

 

[Craftsman]

sholling provided a very nice schematic, but the seating is in the middle of the room. I'm thinking of combining his layout and mine to the attached diagram. This will allow me to be more flexible in the seating and switch certain speakers on and off depending on where I am sitting. Does that sound right?

mtrycrafts & AVRat also provided useful information, especially the link. I've viewed the akerlayout, plus a lot more useful links. Like mtrycrafts said, I didn't pre-plan well. Fortunately, I haven't hung any drywall in that room (started in the closet) yet and can reposition the speakers.

 

[mtrycrafts]

sholling provided a very nice schematic, but the seating is in the middle of the room. I'm thinking of combining his layout and mine to the attached diagram. This will allow me to be more flexible in the seating and switch certain speakers on and off depending on where I am sitting. Does that sound right?

mtrycrafts & AVRat also provided useful information, especially the link. I've viewed the akerlayout, plus a lot more useful links. Like mtrycrafts said, I didn't pre-plan well. Fortunately, I haven't hung any drywall in that room (started in the closet) yet and can reposition the speakers.

Are you still up in the air where you will sit? What does that depend on?
Maybe have two outlet positions on each side wall then you can test and mount the speakers after the testing, or, just have two places where you could quickly hang and plug it in if you will move the seating from time to time.

 

[Craftsman]

I haven't bought the furniture yet. This won't be a professional home threater room with dedicated seating. Instead, I'll have a couch, loveseat, chairs, etc..., so I want to be flexible in positioning the speakers.

I like your idea of "two places where you could quickly hang and plug it in" in case I (or the wife!) change the seating.

 

[AVRat]

If you use di-polar surrounds, placement won't be so crucial because the sound at the sides are diffused.

 

[mtrycrafts]

If you use di-polar surrounds, placement won't be so crucial because the sound at the sides are diffused.

Yes, but I doubt even with them you don't want the speakers forward of the seating position. But, perhaps the rear most place would satisfy a more forward seating as well and he would only need the rear position.