Speaker placement trade-offs: home theater vs. music

[RickH]

Recently going hi-rez and home theater with 5.1, I was wondering if some of you (who have one system for both music & movies) have experienced the situation where you have made some changes in the locations of your speakers when you went with surround sound to accomodate "home theater" acoustics for movies and then found out that your music discs sounded different, maybe less acoustically correct than they were before you moved them around (long sentence!) For myself, after much experimenting, I've found a fairly happy medium with my little Optimus LX-5's (the fronts) spread further apart than I had them previously. Movies sound pretty awesome and music fills the room, although music sounds maybe a little more echoey, it still sounds pretty cool, especially with the surrounds adding some ambience. Just curious if anyone cares to comment on how you found your happy medium speaker locations that sound excellent on both music and movies (if you have, that is).

[JohnG]

My 5.1 system has the classic 3 speakers up front with the 2 rear speakers directly on the sides of the wall facing the prime seat.
My 2 subs are also up front behind each respective front speaker.

Now this set-up is optimal for Home Theater but may be slightly off for true stereo listening since I can't really move the 2 front speakers around too much (their small bookshelf speakers on a stand).

Overall the sound is spacious and sounds pretty good to me. Movies rock! SACD's and DVDA's also sound great.

[Cliff]

Rick, I had to spread my mains further apart (hope this doesn't get "Gorted" :D) to accomidate my Widescreen TV. I justed used a bit more "toe-in", and it's worked out fine. I am very happy with any minor trade off, since I love HT almost as much as music.

[Henry Love]

Try cardas.com/insights (http://cardas.com/insights) and click on room setup.It worked for me.

[RickH]

Originally posted by Cliff
Rick, I had to spread my mains further apart (hope this doesn't get "Gorted" :D) to accomidate my Widescreen TV. I justed used a bit more "toe-in", and it's worked out fine. I am very happy with any minor trade off, since I love HT almost as much as music.

That's what I did as well, toe them in just a bit and with the rear-firing tweeter closer to the wall, the soundstage is huge.

[RickH]

Originally posted by Henry Love
Try cardas.com/insights (http://cardas.com/insights) and click on room setup.It worked for me.

Thank you, I'll check that out.

[Michael St. Clair]

I'm using five identical PSB Alpha speakers. Yep, even my center channel is identical.

Excellent imaging, great for surround music.

As far as placement goes, I find this (nothing else comes close in my room) the best for both music and movies if using traditional (direct radiating) speakers in the rear:

[RickH]

Originally posted by Michael St. Clair
I'm using five identical PSB Alpha speakers. Yep, even my center channel is identical.

Excellent imaging, great for surround music.

As far as placement goes, I find this (nothing else comes close in my room) the best for both music and movies if using traditional (direct radiating) speakers in the rear:

Thanks for that. My set-up is similar. My center channel is not the exact speaker as the surrounds but it is the same brand and sounds fairly timbre-matched regardless. Another question: how important is it for the center channel to be on the same horizontal level as the fronts? My center is on top of my stereo cabinet and is like a foot or more higher than the fronts, but doesn't call too much attention to itself. If I could get it lowered to the same ear level as my fronts, would it improve the overall image/soundstage that much more?

[Michael St. Clair]

Another question: how important is it for the center channel to be on the same horizontal level as the fronts? My center is on top of my stereo cabinet and is like a foot or more higher than the fronts, but doesn't call too much attention to itself. If I could get it lowered to the same ear level as my fronts, would it improve the overall image/soundstage that much more?

This is a typical problem, I have it too.

All I can say is that if you angle the speaker so that the tweeter points towards your head, it still images pretty good.

If dealing with a big TV or entertainment stand in the middle, mount the center speaker from the ceiling or wall with a bracket like this:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Product_ID=4925&DID=7

This will reduce the resonance from sitting the speaker on the TV or entertainment center. Invert the speaker if needed to get the tweeter as low as possible.

If you have to sit the speaker on a TV or entertainment center, use a center stand that can angle the speaker towards you, and dampen vibrabation between the speaker that TV/center. I recommend using a soft rubber foam mouse pad, cut into little squares.

[petermwilson]

Hi,

The tools that my Denon 5800/03 provide for distance from the sweet spot for each speaker as well as an spl meter have helped me make the best of a rather small media room 15' D X 10-12'w X 8'H.

I use Totem Model 1's X 5 for music including the Signature center which sits on top of a Tosh 65h80 and is angled toward the sweet spot with rubber door stops. The rears are adjacent and 4' wall mounted to the listening position.
If I want to move the couch forward a foot I can truly center myself.

For film I've added a pair of Axiom QS4 dipoles, again wall mounted about 3/4 of the way down from the TV and again distanced and spl'd

Behind me on the shelf of a doulbe sliding door closet, (with doors removed) there's a pair of Monitor Audio bronze effects speakers also distanced and spl'd.

I'm into HIREZ, (170 discs) in a big way and even though I have two entry level mltidisc players I feel that the Denon and Totems (with other speakers not engaged for music) have helped to overcome some room size limitations. The crossover is set to 60hz and flat response on an NHT SUB 2. I tried also telling the Denon that the sub went to 20hz but it didn't seem to make any difference bass wise.


I feel very strongly that using an spl meter regardless of whether you are able to have the ideal setup, or speakers of your dreams at this particular moment can not be over emphasised.

godd luck,
Peter m.