Need help picking speaker locations and general set up on 5.2.4 system.

[Ironman187]

Hey all. I'm in the process of upgrading my home theater to a 5.2.4 system. I plan on having two rows, each seating 3 people. I have Infinity RS4 towers for front left and right, an Infinity Alpha 37C center, a Klipsch Sub-12 (will be adding a second one when I find one used or on sale), and Infinity HTS Satellites for rears and overheads. I have a bit of a dilemma with rear placement, however, as I don't have a wall to attach them to on the left (facing TV), and I don't want to attach them to the ceiling as it would probably screw up my Atmos soundstage. Also, if I attach the right rear to the wall, it will be 30" away. There will be about 10" of space between the seats and the left wall, 30" of space between the seats and the right wall, and the back of the rear row will stick out past the left wall corner about 31". This is in the basement of a split entry house built in '99. The patio door on the right wall gets used a lot, so we need to be able to readily access it. Aside from building walls (not an option at this time), how would you mount your rears, and where would you place them? Btw, the dotted lines in the seating area are approximate head location, the TV is on the 11' 9" wall.

 

[2channel lover]

Hey all. I'm in the process of upgrading my home theater to a 5.2.4 system. I plan on having two rows, each seating 3 people. I have Infinity RS4 towers for front left and right, an Infinity Alpha 37C center, a Klipsch Sub-12 (will be adding a second one when I find one used or on sale), and Infinity HTS Satellites for rears and overheads. I have a bit of a dilemma with rear placement, however, as I don't have a wall to attach them to on the left (facing TV), and I don't want to attach them to the ceiling as it would probably screw up my Atmos soundstage. Also, if I attach the right rear to the wall, it will be 30" away. There will be about 10" of space between the seats and the left wall, 30" of space between the seats and the right wall, and the back of the rear row will stick out past the left wall corner about 31". This is in the basement of a split entry house built in '99. The patio door on the right wall gets used a lot, so we need to be able to readily access it. Aside from building walls (not an option at this time), how would you mount your rears, and where would you place them? Btw, the dotted lines in the seating area are approximate head location, the TV is on the 11' 9" wall.View attachment 35848

The front row of seating my guess will be the main row.

I would put the surround speakers on the side wall if possible as far back as you can on the utility room wall and match that depth up on the exterior wall for the other right surround....yes, the left speaker will a short distance to the person.....I have something very similar...if your AVR has a room correction software built into (it will note the distance of all the speakers to the MLP and normally one or maybe two other seating locations.

 

[Ironman187]

The front row of seating my guess will be the main row.

I would put the surround speakers on the side wall if possible as far back as you can on the utility room wall and match that depth up on the exterior wall for the other right surround....yes, the left speaker will a short distance to the person.....I have something very similar...if your AVR has a room correction software built into (it will note the distance of all the speakers to the MLP and normally one or maybe two other seating locations.

I'd like to retain some semblance of surround for the 2nd row. I'll be building a riser for the second row and and wondering if attaching the speakers to it might not be a good idea. Alternatively, I could put them on the back wall with the 7" 10" window, but that does seem like a pretty big distance and I'm not sure how that would affect the sound stage either. My receiver is an Onkyo TX-797 and yes, it does have room "correction" software.

 

[2channel lover]

I'd like to retain some semblance of surround for the 2nd row. I'll be building a riser for the second row and and wondering if attaching the speakers to it might not be a good idea. Alternatively, I could put them on the back wall with the 7" 10" window, but that does seem like a pretty big distance and I'm not sure how that would affect the sound stage either. My receiver is an Onkyo TX-797 and yes, it does have room "correction" software.

Best position...yeah I didn't realize the dashes meant positioning of people...maybe something on the floor on stands....the back edge of the riser.

As a general thought...this seems like it will be a nice family entertainment area. I have the exact format you're looking to achieve...5.2.4...imo the most important part of this is 5.2 because this will be 90% of the content. After looking at your drawing again...A short wall or two non-load bearing columns on the back corners on the riser and mount them there, or bookshelves on stands seem like your best options. The back wall is too far back.

 

[Ironman187]

Best position...yeah I didn't realize the dashes meant positioning of people...maybe something on the floor on stands....the back edge of the riser.

As a general thought...this seems like it will be a nice family entertainment area. I have the exact format you're looking to achieve...5.2.4...imo the most important part of this is 5.2 because this will be 90% of the content. After looking at your drawing again...A short wall or two non-load bearing columns on the back corners on the riser and mount them there, or bookshelves on stands seem like your best options. The back wall is too far back.

I agree, there really isn't a better area in the house for it. I'll definitely be adding that back wall to the riser. The question is, do I carpet it, or paint it? My gut says fill it with rockwool and carpet it. Also, since I'm going that route, would it be a terrible idea to buy a pair of Infinity RS4 towers, RS2000.4 towers, RS1 bookshelves, or RS2000.1 bookshelves to use as my rear surrounds? I'd still be using the Infinity HTS satellites for overheads.

 

[2channel lover]

I agree, there really isn't a better area in the house for it. I'll definitely be adding that back wall to the riser. The question is, do I carpet it, or paint it? My gut says fill it with rockwool and carpet it. Also, since I'm going that route, would it be a terrible idea to buy a pair of Infinity RS4 towers, RS2000.4 towers, RS1 bookshelves, or RS2000.1 bookshelves to use as my rear surrounds? I'd still be using the Infinity HTS satellites for overheads.

If the floor has carpet...that would work great....if the floor is something other than carpet, that's still not a bad option. A relatively cheap option would be drywall, but then you'd need to finish and paint it...another option is a beadboard type material.

Speakers...I'm going to take a look and circle back to this.

 

[Ironman187]

If the floor has carpet...that would work great....if the floor is something other than carpet, that's still not a bad option. A relatively cheap option would be drywall, but then you'd need to finish and paint it...another option is a beadboard type material.

Speakers...I'm going to take a look and circle back to this.

The floors are carpet on concrete. I'll be carpeting the riser for sure. The back wall on the riser would likely be drywall. But maybe with carpet on the side facing the seats.

 

[2channel lover]

I agree, there really isn't a better area in the house for it. I'll definitely be adding that back wall to the riser. The question is, do I carpet it, or paint it? My gut says fill it with rockwool and carpet it. Also, since I'm going that route, would it be a terrible idea to buy a pair of Infinity RS4 towers, RS2000.4 towers, RS1 bookshelves, or RS2000.1 bookshelves to use as my rear surrounds? I'd still be using the Infinity HTS satellites for overheads.

Carpet with a good staple gun might be the easiest.

Speakers....I still don't have a firm opinion on them, seems like many of the reviews were mixed...but on the question of larger surrounds...you don't need them really, but why not? If you ever get into multi-ch music...the surrounds can get a full range signal (to the point the sub takes over)...I like my B&W floor standers better than the RBH book shelf as surrounds.

Rear surrounds suggest a 7.1 system......"surround" will do in a 5.1 set up....less confusing.

 

[Ironman187]

Carpet with a good staple gun might be the easiest.

Speakers....I still don't have a firm opinion on them, seems like many of the reviews were mixed...but on the question of larger surrounds...you don't need them really, but why not? If you ever get into multi-ch music...the surrounds can get a full range signal (to the point the sub takes over)...I like my B&W floor standers better than the RBH book shelf as surrounds.

Rear surrounds suggest a 7.1 system......"surround" will do in a 5.1 set up....less confusing.

Duely noted. I probably should have been more specific in my question for surround. I was trying to ask if bookshelf or tower speakers were something I should upgrade to. The speakers I listed are all the same line as my front towers so I know what to expect from them soundwise. However, today I found another Klipsch Sub-12, the guy was also selling a pair of Infinity RS2000.3 bookshelfs. These are virtually identical the the RS3 bookshelf speakers, which are the bookshelf version of my towers. I got all three for $220. All I need now is two more Infinity HTS satellites for overheads. Thanks for all the input, it's been invaluable.

 

[2channel lover]

Duely noted. I probably should have been more specific in my question for surround. I was trying to ask if bookshelf or tower speakers were something I should upgrade to. The speakers I listed are all the same line as my front towers so I know what to expect from them soundwise. However, today I found another Klipsch Sub-12, the guy was also selling a pair of Infinity RS2000.3 bookshelfs. These are virtually identical the the RS3 bookshelf speakers, which are the bookshelf version of my towers. I got all three for $220. All I need now is two more Infinity HTS satellites for overheads. Thanks for all the input, it's been invaluable.

Oh...okay.

Surrounds...if you can get them at a good price, do it. The brands don't need to match, but it never hurts. It sounds like you're getting good prices...go for the larger speaker especially if you can incorporate them easier than wall mounted book shelf speakers.

You didn't ask for this, but your real upgrade to the HT system is probably in the subs down the line...I have a good friend with a Klipsch speaker system complete with a 12" powered subs...I hate to tell him but his sub is the weakest part of his system. A second will help, so adding a second one is a good idea, but the direct sell companies like HSU, SVS, etc. their subs deliver a performance far exceeding most of the OEM speaker branded subs and value wise are typically very good for the impact on the system.

My space is 18'x16'x9' and open to other areas of the house.

Two 15" HSU...grills off

Post TV upgrade...grills on

Maybe the two Klipsch subs will suffice for you, but if you feel you're turning them way up for the impact you want...you know you're ready for an upgrade.

Good luck the rest of the way...and do keep us posted on the project!

 

[Ironman187]

Oh...okay.

Surrounds...if you can get them at a good price, do it. The brands don't need to match, but it never hurts. It sounds like you're getting good prices...go for the larger speaker especially if you can incorporate them easier than wall mounted book shelf speakers.

You didn't ask for this, but your real upgrade to the HT system is probably in the subs down the line...I have a good friend with a Klipsch speaker system complete with a 12" powered subs...I hate to tell him but his sub is the weakest part of his system. A second will help, so adding a second one is a good idea, but the direct sell companies like HSU, SVS, etc. their subs deliver a performance far exceeding most of the OEM speaker branded subs and value wise are typically very good for the impact on the system.

My space is 18'x16'x9' and open to other areas of the house.

Two 15" HSU...grills off
View attachment 35999

Post TV upgrade...grills on

View attachment 36000

Maybe the two Klipsch subs will suffice for you, but if you feel you're turning them way up for the impact you want...you know you're ready for an upgrade.

Good luck the rest of the way...and do keep us posted on the project!

I probably will upgrade subs at some point in the distant future when I have the budget for them. The twin Sub-12s are a massive upgrade from the single 8", 100w Kenwood sub I had before (I bought a Kenwood theater-in-a-box set up off a buddy for $50 about 10 years ago), and cost me $275 combined, so the price is right. I do like to feel the impact while watching movies, and a single Sub12 almost got me there. That's without adjusting it properly and finding the best sounding location for it. Two should give me better coverage and a bit more kick if what I've read is true. That certainly doesn't mean I won't have G.A.S. for a good pair of 15s though.

 

[2channel lover]

I probably will upgrade subs at some point in the distant future when I have the budget for them. The twin Sub-12s are a massive upgrade from the single 8", 100w Kenwood sub I had before (I bought a Kenwood theater-in-a-box set up off a buddy for $50 about 10 years ago), and cost me $275 combined, so the price is right. I do like to feel the impact while watching movies, and a single Sub12 almost got me there. That's without adjusting it properly and finding the best sounding location for it. Two should give me better coverage and a bit more kick if what I've read is true. That certainly doesn't mean I won't have G.A.S. for a good pair of 15s though.

Two will definitely help.

But until you've been in that trench it's hard to know the difference. When I started out on building a new system...sub (especially 2) was not on my mind at all...I had a 15 yr Paradigm 15" beast (so I thought i was good to go on a sub)...once I was heard some newer subs I realized it was time to put my old sub out the pasture...actually sold it to a co-worker for $25 as long as he would come and get it that day...lol.

As I mentioned...this is down the road, I know you have other fish to fry to get the system off the ground right now.

 

[Ironman187]

Two will definitely help.

But until you've been in that trench it's hard to know the difference. When I started out on building a new system...sub (especially 2) was not on my mind at all...I had a 15 yr Paradigm 15" beast (so I thought i was good to go on a sub)...once I was heard some newer subs I realized it was time to put my old sub out the pasture...actually sold it to a co-worker for $25 as long as he would come and get it that day...lol.

As I mentioned...this is down the road, I know you have other fish to fry to get the system off the ground right now.

I know what you mean. That's a rabbit hole I don't have the resources to go down at this stage in my life. Even what I'm doing now is pushing it. Honestly, this all started when I hooked up the Kenwood receiver for the first time in 3 or 4 years and heard what sounded like dual square waves at mid to high volumes. It was the first time I'd hooked my towers up to that receiver, and I didn't want it to blow them. Since I needed to replace the receiver, I figured why not go with a 5.1.4 atmos capable and ended up buying an Onkyo TX-NR797. Down the budget audio rabbit hole I went, and now here I am.

 

[2channel lover]

I know what you mean. That's a rabbit hole I don't have the resources to go down at this stage in my life. Even what I'm doing now is pushing it. Honestly, this all started when I hooked up the Kenwood receiver for the first time in 3 or 4 years and heard what sounded like dual square waves at mid to high volumes. It was the first time I'd hooked my towers up to that receiver, and I didn't want it to blow them. Since I needed to replace the receiver, I figured why not go with a 5.1.4 atmos capable and ended up buying an Onkyo TX-NR797. Down the budget audio rabbit hole I went, and now here I am.

It's definitely a rabbit hole!

I bought my 2nd system back when my kids were in elementary school...I resisted the upgrade affliction for a long time with my that system...when I was starting to get the itch to upgrade about 7 yrs ago...I knew I didn't have the budget to get what I wanted so since I'm mostly into music, I bought pair of nice headphones and headphone amp/dac to tide me over for a couple of years while saving up . So...with the kids no longer being kids, bought the wife her new car I was free to splurge on me!