Surrounds - Sides vs Rear

[alexadams77]

I ordered at set of QS8's and currently have a 5.1 system right now. I don't see the need for 6.1/7.1 with the minimal support from Movies. I was wondering if there's an advantage of mounting the Surrounds at the Sides vs the Rear? Either place that I mount the surrounds, they'll be on the ceiling facing towards the listeners. Both mounting options will be the same distance from the listeners as well.

 

[avaserfi]

I ordered at set of QS8's and currently have a 5.1 system right now. I don't see the need for 6.1/7.1 with the minimal support from Movies. I was wondering if there's an advantage of mounting the Surrounds at the Sides vs the Rear? Either place that I mount the surrounds, they'll be on the ceiling facing towards the listeners. Both mounting options will be the same distance from the listeners as well.

If you are going to have a 5.1 set up you should put the surrounds on the sides as that is where they are meant to be in the given set up. Channels 6 and 7 are designed to be behind the listeners.

Check this out: http://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/speaker-setup-guidelines/home-theater-speaker-layout-an-essential-guide

 

[j_garcia]

I ordered at set of QS8's and currently have a 5.1 system right now. I don't see the need for 6.1/7.1 with the minimal support from Movies. I was wondering if there's an advantage of mounting the Surrounds at the Sides vs the Rear? Either place that I mount the surrounds, they'll be on the ceiling facing towards the listeners. Both mounting options will be the same distance from the listeners as well.

Not sure what you mean by "minimal" support; there are hundreds of 6.1 movies available and that will only grow going forward.

I do believe the side surrounds are essentially your rears when you don't use a 7.1 configuration, so rear mounting would be more desirable. It also depends on the type of surround you use, a bi/dipole speaker should be mounted along side the listener while a monopole could be mounted wherever it sounds best, so in the case of the QS8, side would be the spot. These speakers are not intended to be pointed at the listener, nor mounted on the ceiling.

 

[alexadams77]

I've always had my surround channels on the back wall facing the listeners. I find that the action in some movies goes through you with this setup. That includes bullets, cars, all that stuff. Will having them mounted on the side wall give me that same effect?

 

[j_garcia]

If they are located properly, they should do the job just fine, though I find that I prefer the sound of monopole surrounds and I like them behind me.

Axiom likely have a guide on how exactly to mount them along side you included in the box, if not on their website.

 

[obscbyclouds]

The QS8's are not technically a dipole speaker, since all the drivers fire in phase. A Dipole speaker usually has one set in phase and one out of phase to produce that diffuse sound. With that being said, Axiom typically recommends the speakers on the side in a 5.1 configuration. Here's their article on it.

http://www.axiomaudio.com/home_theater_layout.html

 

[j_garcia]

That would make them bipoles, and I believe the general setup for both types is essentially the same: you want to be sitting in the null area produced.

 

[Sheep]

In 5.1, I prefer the surrounds to be bookshelf speakers, in the corner, facing inward slightly. From all the positions I've tried, this make the most expansive field for me. The front to back pans won't work if there isn't a speaker behind you. Put them on the back, only put surrounds on the side in 6.1 and 7.1, when you have at least one speaker behind you.

SheepStar

 

[alexadams77]

In 5.1, I prefer the surrounds to be bookshelf speakers, in the corner, facing inward slightly. From all the positions I've tried, this make the most expansive field for me. The front to back pans won't work if there isn't a speaker behind you. Put them on the back, only put surrounds on the side in 6.1 and 7.1, when you have at least one speaker behind you.

SheepStar

I've had 5.1 for about 10 years now and have always placed the surrounds directly behind the listening area. Just as stated above, the bullets, pans and everything seem to go through you. With the surrounds mounted on the side, I feel like I'm going to miss all of that.

 

[GlocksRock]

Regardless of how many 6.1 movies are out there, if you have a 7.1 receiver, then you should have a PLIIx decoder. Once you start using that decoder, all your 5.1/6.1 material becomes 7.1, and you can overlay PLIIx on top of all forms Dolby Digital, DTS, and THX processing. The advantage of overlaying PLIIx on top of something like DTS ES Discrete 6.1 is that it creates a stereo rear surround instead of a discreet rear channel.

But if all you have is a 5.1 receiver, or don't have room for a 6.1/7.1 setup, I would highly reccomend getting some bipolar surrounds, they make a big difference when I started using them, it creates a much larger sound field.

 

[alexadams77]

I only have a 6.1 receiver and I'm getting a pair of Axiom QS8's that have "Multi-directional Quadpolar Technology". I'm just trying to decide where I'm going to put my surround channels at. I currently have mine on stands right beside/behind the listener. This works for now until I get the QS8's. I think that I'm going to just try and mount them on the sides like everyone suggests. Here's a quick drawing of my space.

 

[jcPanny]

Surround channels

Uless it is a mounting or asthetics issue, place the surround speakers on the sides per the dolby spec. The sound track was mixed for this intended configuration and your ears can hear sound comming from the sides better than the can from behind you.

The quad-pole design of the QS8s does make them more flexible for placement than your typical monopole speaker but it desn't look like there is much room behind the listening position.

 

[j_garcia]

How big is that plasma? Sitting almost 20ft away puts it really far away.

I'd put those surrounds above and to either side of the couch. With them closer to the rear wall, proper level calibration is going to be important.

 

[dem beats]

WOW

So many different opinions. Here is my .02 cents.


I have 5.1, I will go 7.1 when the funds happen.

I much much prefere monopole. I think that is 100% due to me never being impressed with anything dipole before. I haven't heard anything great. I put the monoples behind me... currently waaaay too far behind, and then I calibrate and usualy run them 1-2 DB hot so my ears pick it up... Durring some movies People will turn their head freaked because of the sound it makes in those rare moments of HT glory when they make just the right noise.

Now lets say I were to dipoles... well i would place them on the sides... maybe a hair behind the seating position... I have heard this before and it opens up a huge playing feild of sound.... but I'm just not in love with the dipoles I have heard in 5.1 set ups. For 7.1 I haven't had enough time to criticaly listen to what they can do in a well done room to say they don't have their value....

For me though to re-affirm what I beleive a dipole behind the seating position but not to far is the way to go... just run them a bit hotter than what your auto calibrate suggests to compensate for the fact ears are better at receiving sounds from the front and sides.... but from behind it can make for the most amazing experience.

 

[jimfitz]

I would move your monitor to one of the side walls and put the sofa on the opposite side wall.

 

[j_garcia]

I would move the couch(es).

 

[alexadams77]

If I were to do that, I wouldn't get the sofa centered with viewing area. I looked into everything and the way it's setup right now works well. I have a 43 inch Plasma right now and I used to have a 28 inch tv prior to, so that's not an issue either.

 

[jimfitz]

Twenty feet is WAY to far away from a 43 inch screen. Maybe you could move the couch to the center of the room and use it to divide the room in two. Make a separate seating area in the back half of the room, or put a game table back there.

 

[alexadams77]

Too far for 43 inch? You should've seen it when I had my 28 inch tv up front and in the corner. I'll see what I can do with it, as the wife is incharge of the decorating.

 

[jimfitz]

Too far for 43 inch? You should've seen it when I had my 28 inch tv up front and in the corner. I'll see what I can do with it, as the wife is incharge of the decorating.

I hear you about the wife thing. Sometimes a large room like yours is too big to place all the furniture along the walls. Another option would be to get a corner couch and place it about mid-room. That's what my wife and I have except it is made up of two "love-seat" sized sections joined by a corner piece.