Is it ok if left right speakers are not same distance from center speaker?

[forsberg78]

Hi, please see my attachment picture. Circles indicate speakers, L-shape = couch, and rectangle is the TV.

As you can see with my floor plan, I cannot position the TV / center speaker so that left and right speakers are the same distance from the center.

Will this be a problem? I plan to use KEF 2005.2 satellite speakers. I dunno whether or not their uni-q technology helps with this.

I've got 3 options:

1) Achieve left - center - right speakers same distance from each other by moving my center speaker to the right by about 20-25cm.

2) Leave it as is, so that the right speaker is about 40cm more to the right.

3) Put the right speaker on a stand and move it to the middle of the door everytime I watch a movie.

Which is the more recommended move? Thanks.

 

[majorloser]

Perfection is rairly acheived

Yes, it is better to have the speakers the same distance apart but it can be worked around. When you calibrate the system using an meter they'll get leveled out. You also have to program the distances into your receiver (pre/pro) settings so the delays will be properly set.

Even if they were the same distance apart the speaker on the left side would probably receive a low frequency "boost' since it is located in a corner.

The speakers could also be mounted higher on the wall so the right side would end up over the door. Not pretty but it would get the speaker out of your way next to the doorway.

 

[forsberg78]

Right speaker on top of doorway? Isn't the front speakers supposed to be @ ear level height?

The receiver will be Onkyo 703. That has a mic you can place in the sitting position when doing initial setup. So will that make up for the speaker imbalance?

The thing is, it's not a big deal for me to move the speaker to the middle of the doorway if need be, since that room is rarely used. It's just kinda ugly that way. But if that microphone speaker setup thing can solve my problem then that's even better.

 

[MDS]

Yes, that is what majorloser was getting at. The auto calibration will attempt to determine the speaker distances and set their levels. You can always do that manually if the results of the auto calibration are not satisfactory.

 

[bpape]

If it was me, I'd turn the whole setup 90 degrees and put the TV and main speakers against what is the left wall of your drawing. That will not only allow better symmetry but getting the couch out in the room and away from the wall will give you much smoother listening response.

Bryan

 

[forsberg78]

I would do that except there's the window there.

What I'm thinking now is moving the couch a few inches closer to the TV so that my surround speakers are slightly behind my ears. Then move them up by the suggested "2 feet above ear level".

Only problem is the right surround is not against the wall, so I need to put it on a stand (100m) then put the whole thing up on some type of box/table so it levels with the left surround (which will be wall mounted).

 

[bpape]

Unless it's an aesthics thing, having the window behind everything will be much less of a problem than you're going to have the way it's set up now.

Bryan

 

[forsberg78]

but the auto setup that majorloser and mds suggested would "fix" any problems with my layout wouldnt it?

I'm sure my wife would throw a fit if i place the tv in front of the window.

What about a diagonal setup? (ie TV against the corner...)

 

[mpompey]

You could always put a curtain on the window behind the couch. How about suspending the surround speakers from the ceiling? The surrounds can be a bit higher than the TV.