Surround speaker location help!

[Mpsafranski]

Brand new to all of this but when I bought my 4K tv I decided the sound bar would no longer cut it. Have been running a 3.1 with Elac b6 bookshelves and the c5 center, and an SVS pb-2000. Sub #2 is on its way after I read on here about how important that is, so now it’s 3.2. Now that that’s out of the way I’m wanting to get some surrounds. Love the elac so am planning on the on wall model they offer. Now the problem: the room is a little wonky and backs up to our stairs. The couch is all the way against the wall. Unfortunately the opposite wall ends about a foot short. Also, placing them behind the seating area is not an option. So in the end the only option will be to mount the surrounds slightly forward of the seating position, 6”-12”. I know it’s not optimal but my question is will it be worth it or will it sound poor/distracting? Any help is very much appreciated.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Any pics? IMO yeah, it’s worth it but it’s gonna take a little work.

 

[Mpsafranski]

Yeah! Thanks for replying! So here is one from the back of the room. You can see how the wall on the left ends roughly 12-15 inches in front of the other. Also notice the light switch at about 93 degrees behind the recliner. Assuming that means the on wall will need to be slightly forward of that. That’s my seat, wife sits in the corner of the couch tho she really couldn’t care less about it! Second sub going between tv and RF same as left.

 

[Verdinut]

Brand new to all of this but when I bought my 4K tv I decided the sound bar would no longer cut it. Have been running a 3.1 with Elac b6 bookshelves and the c5 center, and an SVS pb-2000. Sub #2 is on its way after I read on here about how important that is, so now it’s 3.2. Now that that’s out of the way I’m wanting to get some surrounds. Love the elac so am planning on the on wall model they offer. Now the problem: the room is a little wonky and backs up to our stairs. The couch is all the way against the wall. Unfortunately the opposite wall ends about a foot short. Also, placing them behind the seating area is not an option. So in the end the only option will be to mount the surrounds slightly forward of the seating position, 6”-12”. I know it’s not optimal but my question is will it be worth it or will it sound poor/distracting? Any help is very much appreciated.

Having the surround left and right speakers a little forward of the seating position is acceptable and works.

In my listening room, my surround speakers are about 2 feet forward of the seating positions and I am satisfied with the results. It's not always possible to have the ideal listening room, and we often have to work around it.

 

[Mpsafranski]

Having the surround left and right speakers a little forward of the seating position is acceptable and works.

In my listening room, my surround speakers are about 2 feet forward of the seating positions and I am satisfied with the results. It's not always possible to have the ideal listening room, and we often have to work around it.

Thanks for the feedback, nice to know others have managed to work around these issues. And after all the money spent in the last few months am still just feeling missing surrounds for movies. That pair is only $220 or so and matches the rest. I know there’s other options but I get overwhelmed trying to process it all myself.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Well, that’s definitely not the worst space a guy could have! So I guess if it were my space(not knowing how the traffic runs in there) and assuming NOT an atmos installation, I would mount the left surround above the light switch as far back as I could. You know there’s a stud there so drill pilot holes and run some screws. Then I’d mirror it on the other side(or possibly go in the corner to avoid heads). Also. If it’s not an atmos install, I’d mount them at about 5.5 to 6’ high.
If you’re more comfortable mounting them forward of the LP as verdinut said, it can definitely be acceptable. Although getting them behind the LP will be more immersive. Any way to scoot the couch ahead and losing the chair? Or moving the chair over more toward center? Might just be my ocd for symmetry but that would drive me crazy! Lol

Also, it looks like the light switch is a little behind the chair. Is that right?

Btw, nice little tortie!!!

 

[Mpsafranski]

Well, that’s definitely not the worst space a guy could have! So I guess if it were my space(not knowing how the traffic runs in there) and assuming NOT an atmos installation, I would mount the left surround above the light switch as far back as I could. You know there’s a stud there so drill pilot holes and run some screws. Then I’d mirror it on the other side(or possibly go in the corner to avoid heads). Also. If it’s not an atmos install, I’d mount them at about 5.5 to 6’ high.
If you’re more comfortable mounting them forward of the LP as verdinut said, it can definitely be acceptable. Although getting them behind the LP will be more immersive. Any way to scoot the couch ahead and losing the chair? Or moving the chair over more toward center? Might just be my ocd for symmetry but that would drive me crazy! Lol

Also, it looks like the light switch is a little behind the chair. Is that right?

Btw, nice little tortie!!!

Ha! Yeah she snuck in there last second. Dog is in bed so out roaming. And yeah for our first house it’s a great but quirky room

Unfortunately I hate that couch (even though we bought it “together” with wedding money less than 2 years ago. There is another piece to it that goes where the recliner is, but then pushing the whole thing forward would result with the other end not being flush to the opening to the right which is the office (and I’d be sitting on that couch ). Certainly an option to consider in the future.

So my understanding is to get it as far back as possible on the left and match it for the right.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Lol I guess we do what we can!

IMO, yes get as far back as you can(in that space). Usually 110° is good.