Hi new to the forum. I have read many articles here but never posted.
I have a 7.1 system in a dedicated theater room. the room is 35'x15' I have two rows of seats. 4 seats per row. I currently have the side surround speakers at about 90 degrees to the first row maybe 85 degrees slightly in front of the first row I guess. They are mounted in the wall about 6' feet up. The rear surrounds are also mounted in the side wall farther back. they are about 135 degrees from the center of the first row. The problem is the second row. First the side surrounds are 3 feet forward and the rears are at about a 110 degree angle from the center of the second row. the system sounds good but I am in belief that this probably isn't correct for all seats.
I also suffer similarly.
There are two ways to think about this:
1. Compromise for all positions.
2. Create the ideal spot, and all other positions as compromised.
They both have their pros and cons.
I chose #2. I think gene chose #1. The way I see it is that there are many times I have only 2-3 viewers. Filling all seats is rare, though I've done that twice already with the dark knight.
If you compromise all seating, then NO ONE gets a perfect seat.
My questions is should I move the seats forward so the side surrounds are in the middle of the rows, which would also put the rear surrounds farther back from the second row. ( more of an angle behind me)
I'd personally decide on video immersion as #1 priority, and think of compromising from that point of view.
or should I just leave it the way it is, since it sounds good? I am not sure it would sound better. I really don't want to move all these theater seats since they are bolted to the ground if It wont sound any better. THX
Then there's that whole thing about enjoying what you have. I have my surrounds pointed so that its ideal in the front/center. By angling away from the rear row, the undesired localization of the surround being in front of viewer is reduced. Not as much as I might hope, but still helpful. And again, the front seats have more ideal surround. I almost always sit in front/center.
You can use the surround amp channels to power one row, and then use the preouts to power a separate amp for another set of side surrounds.
When you do so, not only do you want to level match, but you also would generally like to choose the exact same speaker, same angles, and same distances.
As for employing room correction with two sets of side surrounds, its been asked, and I cannot possibly recall what was recommended.
Hope this helps.
