rear surround

[dmathieu]

From what I understand the best location for my rear surround sound speakers (5.1) is slightly behind me pointing in and at ear level.

My room is "L" shape so one of the bookshelve speakers is sitting out in the middle of the room.

What are my options?

- ceiling speakers or small satellites to hang from ceiling.
- putting speakers on the back wall.
- putting speakers on side walls, but one is further away then the other.

Thanks for any suggestion you can provide

 

[mpompey]

Welcome to the forum man. I'm sure you'll find all sorts of help with the design and layout of your room.

First thing, you are talking about surrounds (5.1) not rear surrounds (6.1, 7.1,etc.) If your room allows it these would probably be best placed to the side of the main listening area, above the listeners heads about 2-3 feet, and slightly behind them.

Depending on your receiver you should have no problem installing that one surround on the wall further away. Your receiver can compensate for the extra distance, when you enter in the distance from your listening area to that speaker, during your setup. Plus, you'll adjust that speaker's audio level, with your analog Radio Shack SPL meter (you do have one don't you?)

Why don't you post us back with the gear you are running/installing? It'll help folks give you some additional feedback.

 

[mpompey]

D,

After thinking about your post for awhile, I would recommend you install some decent side surrounds on the walls, as well as some rear surrounds on the back wall. A good dipole, tripole, quadpole speaker coupled with a good receiver/amp, will put out a diffuse enough sound field that you won't be able to tell that the speaker is further away. Hopefully you have a receiver that will let you do this.

And if you don't, you are in the best place to find out info about upgrading your receiver.

In addition, if you don't have any surrounds picked out yet, I would highly recommend Axiom's QS8's or QS4's for your surrounds. You can check them out here:

http://www.axiomaudio.com/surroundspeakers.html

 

[Nestor]

I have a similar dilemma for one of my speakers. I have an open concept and a speaker without a wall.

I purchased a pair of Klipsch surrounds that have a lower profile than bookshelf speakers, and will be hanging the one speaker from a ceiling mount.

 

[dmathieu]

Thank you all for replying with very good advise.

I have older MB Quarts speakers (4ohms fronts,6ohms surround, powered sub) and a budget receiver: Onkyo TX-SR504. I am very pleased with the receiver espeicially since I paid only $150 for it. I believe I can configure the distance of the speaker with it so thats probably my easiest and cheapest solution.

I don't have a SPL meter, but I will soon.

Thanks again.