Surround back or front height or 9.1??

[CanadianZ]

Hello,

This is my first post and I am trying to learn as much as I can before I start to build my home theater room.

First off I am thinking of the new line of pioneer amps, possibly the 820 or 920.

I have a few questions though.

My room is about 21' long. 12.5' wide. With a 6'8" ceiling. Seating position ~100" from a ~103" screen. I am going to start out with a 5.1 in-wall speaker set-up. But was going to prewire for future upgrades.

1. Which is "better" surround back or front height?? (I know this can be subjective, but let me know your opinion)

2. Do I have to choose between the two or can either of the receivers I have do 9.1??


I am sure I will have a ton more question but hopefully this will be a good start. THanks.

Tony

 

[AVRat]

Welcome to the site Tony. For starters, those receivers are only 7.1 and have no way to expand to 9.1 so it’s heights or rears.

Given your low ceiling height and the fact that you’re going to use in-walls, which can be placed higher if wanted, I don’t believe the heights would offer any benefit.

Another thing to consider, with in-walls and your room/screen height, is an Acoustically Transparent (AT) screen. By using the AT screen, you can position it lower and the center channel can be placed in-line with the L/R and be the same model for the best front soundstage. If you’re handy, it can be done relatively inexpensively.

http://www.seymourav.com/screensDIY.asp
http://www.seymourav.com/screens.asp

Another Canadian member had similar questions recently: http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63853

 

[AVRat]

You may also want to rethink your screen size/seating distance. That’s a pretty large screen for that distance, but that too is subjective.
http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html

 

[jostenmeat]

You may also want to rethink your screen size/seating distance. That’s a pretty large screen for that distance, but that too is subjective.
http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html

If it's a scope screen, it just might be perfect. In fact, I think mperfct's viewing angle might be significantly greater than even this setup. (He uses a scope setup.)

 

[Shock]

1. Which is "better" surround back or front height?? (I know this can be subjective, but let me know your opinion)

2. Do I have to choose between the two or can either of the receivers I have do 9.1??

I am sure I will have a ton more question but hopefully this will be a good start. THanks.

1. Surround back is much more important imo. A typical 7.1 system as surround backs, not front height channels. I also believe 7.1 formatted audio attempts to reproduce the surround back channels.

2. You can only do one or the other, not both at the same time.

As far as receivers are concerned, I am a big Pioneer fan and whole heartedly support that choice.

 

[bigbassdave]

I agree with shock. Surround back speakers would be more desireable than height. As stated before any movies that are actually encoded for discrete 7.1 would be trying to send information to surround back channels not height. If you are pre wiring the room why not just run wires for both to future proof a little?

 

[jostenmeat]

Just curious, of those offering their opinion that rears are more important, who actually has height speakers? Who has even heard them, at least? (I've never implemented them, nor heard them.)

I wouldn't be surprised if some people with 9.1/heights preferred the heights to the rears. We can ask rmk, I suppose, as he's the only one here with them, AFAIR. He did mention the taller soundstage.

 

[lsiberian]

Just curious, of those offering their opinion that rears are more important, who actually has height speakers? Who has even heard them, at least? (I've never implemented them, nor heard them.)

I wouldn't be surprised if some people with 9.1/heights preferred the heights to the rears. We can ask rmk, I suppose, as he's the only one here with them, AFAIR. He did mention the taller soundstage.

Well rears typically are replicated sides most of the time. Cues usually come from the front sound stage. Of course there are some exceptions.

 

[jostenmeat]

Well rears typically are replicated sides most of the time.

That's putting it in rather simple terms. Well, it's either simple terms, or simply incorrect terms. The rears are derived from the surround channels, assuming 5.1, but they are not playing the same information when matrixed.

Still, I am not answering the OP's question. Because I don't have an opinion. If I were the OP, I'd ask rmk.

 

[CanadianZ]

Thanks for all the input guys. I think that with the low ceiling height (80") I might not notice the front height speakers. I will probably prewire for them just to be safe but the rear surrounds will be the direction I will end up going first.

As far as screen size goes, I know the screen is larger than recommended. I was looking for an encompassing view. I am planning on projecting on the wall at first (I know pic quality will suffer slightly) so I can play with the screen size a bit, also I can adjust my seating area slightly.

Does anyone have any calculators for speaker placement?? Everything I have seen gives speaker placement in degrees. Do I have to tap into all the trig I learned many years ago??

Again, thanks everyone for the help. I am glad to be part of this forum. Thanks.

CanadianZ

 

[MidnightSensi]

Thanks for all the input guys. I think that with the low ceiling height (80") I might not notice the front height speakers. I will probably prewire for them just to be safe but the rear surrounds will be the direction I will end up going first.

As far as screen size goes, I know the screen is larger than recommended. I was looking for an encompassing view. I am planning on projecting on the wall at first (I know pic quality will suffer slightly) so I can play with the screen size a bit, also I can adjust my seating area slightly.

Does anyone have any calculators for speaker placement?? Everything I have seen gives speaker placement in degrees. Do I have to tap into all the trig I learned many years ago??

Again, thanks everyone for the help. I am glad to be part of this forum. Thanks.

CanadianZ

You can do it using a protractor, or just get close, no trig needed. Stick near the guidelines, but, your room is going to determine the exact placement...so just get close and then play with placement within the limitations of your room.

This might help you: http://www.dolby.com/consumer/setup/speaker-setup-guide/index.html