Speaker Placement

[FSUguy]

I am setting up my HT system and have a question about the best place for my surrounds. From my understanding, the best place is on the side walls (rectangular room 10x12) (perpendicular to the TV), about ear height standing (maybe a little higher) and slightly behind the listening position. My problem is that how my bedroom is setup, to put them on the sides, I will have to mount them with the bottom edge of the speaker at about 7 ft high on each side !!! Not to mention, the studs seem pretty random in my house too. I was thinking of maybe mounting them that high, then angling them down to the listen position....even then I have a problem, b/c when I play video games I will be at the front of the bed and at the back of the bed when watching movies (surrounds would be even with or slightly in front of me here). Should I put them on the back wall facing the tv given my situation, or maybe try to hang them in the corner somehow at a 45 degree angle? I just don't know what to do and any suggestions would be GREAT!!!

5.1 system BTW

Thanks

 

[The Chukker]

Surround speakers are by nature "ambiance" or "effect" speakers and are therefore by nature less difficult to place effectively. I like your first idea; surrounds should ideally be above ear level, slightly behind, and directed past the listeners ear and not directly at them. You should, as a rule, not place surrounds in front of the listening position. Angling them down towards you may or may not sound good to you -- you should experiment with this. If your surrounds are dipolar or bipolar you may benefit from their output being less localized (diffuse) -- this is especially effective with horror movies, effect sweeps, ambient crowd effects in a concert DVD. These types of speakers are highly recommended for surround duties. Hope this helps.

 

[Exit]

My sidewalls are 15-20 feet away from my HT so I essentially don't have sidewalls. I have got a pair of Klipsch wall mount 180 degrees radiators mounted on my rear walls about 6 feet high. They put out a broad soundfield so each speaker can be heard regardless of the seating position. I think they work well as I can hear the ambient field and specific sound effects as coming from the rear sides. Normally it is recommended to put direct radiators on the rear wall of a 7.1 system. In your situation I would recommend speakers that have a diffuse soundfield (I.e. bipoles, dipoles or Klipsch wall mounts),whether you put them on the sidewalls or rear wall.