Home Theater Speaker Setup Help

[Woodie]

Hello everyone! I am in the process of finishing my basement and running speaker wires. I am going to buy an InFocus ScreenPlay 4805 projector and project it onto a 97 inch diagnol screen roughly 15 feet away. I am wanting to put 7.1 surround sound in the room.

I also have a pic of the setup that I am planning in the basement below.

Questions:
1) With the screen being 48 inches tall and 85 inches wide, should I place my front speakers on each side of the screen about setting ear level with a slight angle in.

2) Where should the center channel speaker go? Maybe below the screen with an upwards tilt or above the screen with a slight downwards tilt?

3) Back speakers: I was going to put them at sitting ear level on each side of the couch. Is this correct?

4) Back surround speakers: How wide do I put these speakers from my center listening area? Should I set them at both edges of the loveseat and recliner? This would be the edge of my seating area.

I also have a pic of the setup that I am planning in the basement.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give

Woodie

 

[Johnd]

Welcome to Audioholics, Woodie!
1) Yes, with some caveats. I would try to separate them another couple of feet. You have not mentioned the speakers you'll be using. Most mains sound best toed in at a point right in front of the listening spot. Paradigms sound best toed in right behind the listening spot. Trial and error.
2) I'd say below the screen (as high as possible) and directed right at your ear. If there is not enough room for this, you will have to put it above.
3) You'll have to see what sounds best.
4) Usually closer to the walls (further away from the ear), but it depends on the speaker you'll be using. Also, surrounds are usually better slightly abve the ear (0'-2'0"). It looks as though you've done your homework, and are pretty close to correct placement. Set up as noted and tweak accordingly. Check the Dolby recommendations here:

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/home_e...oomlayout.html

Happy listening.

 

[Woodie]

Thanks John for the advice.

My Main concern was how wide to put the surround sound speakers. They may be over 20 feet apart if I put them like I have them in the picture.

Do you think this is too far or should I have them at the edge of my listening area.

Thanks

Woodie

 

[Johnd]

20' apart is far too wide unless you have some towers (you still haven't mentioned which speakers you'll be using). Right at the edge of the listening area will give a very small sweet spot.

Additionally, you may want to consider flipping the room 90' (having the screen at the end). This will give you better parameters for speaker positioning (it is acoustically better to have the room longer than the width). Cheers.

 

[Woodie]

I have considered flipping the room, but i would be limited on seating. Also the wide wants it the way it is shown in the picture. As far as speakers I have not decided on any, but have been looking at some jbl's or Klipsch's, looking to keep the 7.1 system under $1,500. Any suggestions

I too think the 20ft difference in surround sound speakers is a little much. Should I bring them in a little bit to the middle of the recliner and middle of the loveseat? That would bring the total distance apart under 15 foot.

Also with some of the receivers you can have a microphone to adjust speakers. Would that help at all with my situation?

Majority of the time I plan to be setting on the middle couch. So i could have the back surround sound speakers on either side of it. I would just like to maximize the setup so that whoever sets down in the seating area will have good sound.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Johnd]

You could also do the room on a diagonal. I think this option too would give you better options (for both seating and sound). Lining stuff along the walls is often the first inclination, but not always the best option.

Speakers you really need to audition for yourself (they're your ears). I like the sound of Paradigms & B&W's, and I used to like Klipsch. Although the former are probably out of your range, Paradigm Monitor series are in your range. Give them an audition with your other picks.

Finally, I really can't blame your wife for her domineering ways when you insist on calling her "wide." I'm sure it was a typo, so I'm just having fun at your expense. Cheers.

 

[Woodie]

I cannot put the projector at diagonal or on the east wall do to current wiring. Knowing this where would you recomend putting the surround sound speakers. i am leaning to putting them about 15ft aport vs the original 20ft that i have in my drawing. Do you think this will work?

Woodie

 

[AVRat]

The Chukker's setup is similar to what you're proposing. Check out his pics: http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18987