Surround placement in 5.1 setup

[Tungsten06GT]

I've got a bit of a setup issue for my surrounds in my 5.1 setup. Now, I haven't actually placed anything yet, but I'm trying to map out how I'm going to do this.

My room is 20x13, with the tv at the long end, and a sectional couch which places me in the center of the room, but a little farther back. I would say I have 12 feet to the tv, and 8 feet behind me.

Now, due to the WAF, I'm not exactly able to place my surrounds at a 90 to 110 degree angle to seating position. She would like them out of the way as much as possible, so my thought was placing them a couple feet above ear height on the rear wall (but more towards the corners and angle them down to the center). In a sense, they would be placed more where "rear surrounds" would go. Is this going to be an issue for my setup?

 

[m_vanmeter]

of course it will work, but it is a compromise. The surrounds in a DD 5.1 mastered audio track are really more sides....a continuation of the right vs. left positional audio for ambient and positional sounds.

What about smaller surrounds on stands. Leave them along a wall for storage and bring out and place properly for "movie night" ?

 

[Tungsten06GT]

Hmm, I've already ordered the EMP impression bookshelf speakers for my surrounds so I don't really want to have separate speakers. The thing is, I could definitely put stands up for optimal positioning, and actually have a killer 7.1 setup, but the WAF is having a hard time with the stands idea. She wouldn't say anything, but I see her point of view that they would kind of be in the way.

I guess I'll just see how it goes for now with the surrounds in more of the rear, and if it really doesn't sound right then I guess I'll just have to pull the old Jedi mind trick and convince the WAF additional bookshelf speakers will be needed haha. At least I'll already have my rear surrounds in position...

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Personally I’ve never cared for the systems I’ve heard that had the rear speakers directly to the sides. To me it always sounds exactly like it is: Everything's to the sides and in front of you. There's no "surround" to the sound because nothing's behind you. I’ve always had my speakers behind the seating; to me you’re not “immersed” in the sound unless there’s some coming from behind as well as in front.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Tungsten06GT]

Yeah I actually never knew they were "technically" supposed to be beside you until I really started researching placement. I always thought they should surround you, hence surround sound.

I'm sure I won't be the only other person to set things up this way either, but yeah I'm gonna give it a try. Worst case, I guess I'll have to add 2 more speakers and get proper 7.1. What WAF??!! heh

 

[htgeek]

I have mine about 3' behind main sitting area 12' apart aiming at a 45 degree angle into listening area. My tweeters are 2" above ear height on stands, it's really all relative to what we have to work with. By the way it sounds great!!!!

 

[m_vanmeter]

I regret using the term "sides" as Dolby Labs clearly shows the surrounds in a 5.1 setup as slightly behind and a little above the listener. But they are more "sides" than "rears" which confuses a lot of folks who think the surrounds go completely behind the listener in a 5.1 setup.

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/setup/speaker-setup-guide/index.html

 

[KASR]

Are you able to mount on the ceiling? In my room, I am unable to mount or place to the side where the surrounds are "supposed" to go - but mounting them to the side on the ceiling and then angling them down, firing into the soundstage works like a charm!