Speaker height?

[DigitalGuy626]

Hi guy's,
I am new here on forums. I just got my first "real" home theater speaker system. I had a budget of 600 bucks and got sony,yeah i know. But I'm a student and can't afford 2k system. Anyway, How high should i set my surround speakers at? Some say,1-2 ft above ear level and some say 2-3 ft above ear level while sitting. Also should the front towers be off the ground also?

 

[jamie2112]

Some are wrong. I would suggest putting your speakers as close to ear leval as you can while watching movies or listening to music......your towers are how tall? If they are short towers you may want to adjust the level of them with some stands....

 

[DigitalGuy626]

Will,
When i measured them it said 33 inches tall. when i sit in my sofa they do sit below ear level.

 

[tattoo_Dan]

Will,
When i measured them it said 33 inches tall. when i sit in my sofa they do sit below ear level.

maybe you could get 4 of those rubber door stops to put under the front edge of the speakers to point them up slightly at ear level while still keeping a safe mount.

I use those door stops to point my center channel down a little.

home depot has these cheap

 

[j_garcia]

Ear level is defined by the centerline of the tweeter, not the top of the speaker. The tweeters should be right around ear level. For dipole/bipole surrounds you could put them above the listening position as they are intended to be diffuse, however for monopole (direct radiating speakers) I agree with the recommendation to have them at the same level as the mains.

I use Auralex Mopads to angle my center down:

http://www.auralex.com/sound_isolation_mopad/sound_isolation_mopad.asp

 

[tattoo_Dan]

Ear level is defined by the centerline of the tweeter, not the top of the speaker. The tweeters should be right around ear level. For dipole/bipole surrounds you could put them above the listening position as they are intended to be diffuse, however for monopole (direct radiating speakers) I agree with the recommendation to have them at the same level as the mains.

I use Auralex Mopads to angle my center down:

http://www.auralex.com/sound_isolation_mopad/sound_isolation_mopad.asp

those are cool,I did'nt think about them for my cc. I will have to look at those,thanks for the idea .there is a "Guitar Center" here local that has good prices on auralex.

I have a auralex bass trap and GRAMMA I just recently put in the bass trap and love what it did for my bass.

 

[supervij]

for monopole (direct radiating speakers) I agree with the recommendation to have them at the same level as the mains.

Ear level for surrounds? This is the first I'm hearing this! I remember always reading that for surrounds -- whether direct radiating or bi/dipole -- the tweeters should be two to three feet above seated ear level. When did this change?!

cheers,
supervij

 

[sptrout]

Ear level for surrounds? This is the first I'm hearing this! When did this change?!

cheers,
supervij

Dolby Labs have been recomending that surrounds be at, or slightly above, ear level for a long time. There use to be a simple diagram on Dobly's web site, but now it is full of more advanced animation; no simple diagram. However, if you dig deep enough you will find their speaker location recommendations.

 

[jostenmeat]

I think above ear height is a simple guideline. Just like 38% of room length for listener positioning, or 36 degrees for viewing angle.

If the speakers are above ear level, then you are no longer on the acoustic axis of the speaker, unless that speaker is angled towards you. If you angle the speaker, then only the person at that particular spot is on the acoustic angle.

I think the guidelines are there because, by far, most seat backs are too high and will block out the speakers. Also, there are blocking heads IF these multiple heads are on the same axis as the speaker.

Now, some people do prefer the freq response of a particular speaker when the tweeter is above ear level, even for the mains. But this is sort of a rarity.

Nutshell: above ear level for surrounds in most cases because it's simply practical in almost all situations. Ideal is ear level, however.

 

[supervij]

Yeah, it is more practical in my case. The only spot for my side surrounds are at roughly 95 degrees, so I do get the blocking-heads thing when watching with a friend or friends.

But still, now that I have this little tid-bit of info, I'm gonna be trying out new configurations and new placements . . . let the obsession begin!

cheers,
supervij

 

[walter duque]

I have designated rear towers in mirrow image. The midrange is at earlevel but the tweeters fire up and the woofers are side firing and they work fine. I would say of hand they're about 39"-42" tall.

View attachment 7274

 

[walter duque]

Here is a bigger picture. Like I said these are designated rear towers.
View attachment 7275

 

[Hicks]

I'm a believer in 1-2 feet above ear level for a more immersive surround effect. My personal preference is actually just one foot above, around four feet, but I still think you get good surround effect at five feet too. Three feet iabove ear level is only good for rear surrounds in my opinion.

 

[walter duque]

I'm a believer in 1-2 feet above ear level for a more immersive surround effect. My personal preference is actually just one foot above, around four feet, but I still think you get good surround effect at five feet too. Three feet iabove ear level is only good for rear surrounds in my opinion.

I have to agree with you since my towers are designated rear surrounds. I used to keep them about 8' feet behind the seating area. The ones I use for rears now I used to use for surrounds mounted about 5'-6' high. But since divorce I got reduced to a small aprtment and that's the only way I can setup my 7.2 system. I don't have much space.

 

[laalvarezm]

Good information, I am currently having the same question...thanks to all

 

[agarwalro]

AH Speaker Placement Article Section 3 Surround Sound Speaker Placement

Bipolar/Dipole surrounds usually perform best when placed on the side walls directly across or slightly behind the seated listening position and at approximately 18-28" above the seated ear level position.

AH article with more details