Question:
Dear Big Picture Big Sound,
What is the correct way to place your speakers for a new house? I have to run the wire, and want to know if it matters where you place the speakers. I have a 5 speaker set-up.
Thanks for your time.
-Mike H.
Answer:
Dear Mike,
Congratulations on your new home. In a regularly shaped room, speaker placement for a 5.1-channel system is fairly straightforward, assuming you are using direct-radiating speakers (not bi-polar or di-polar). The three front speakers should all be positioned at the height of your screen, just below or just above. Ideally you want the speakers at or near ear-height when seated. The rear speakers should be behind the main listening position, at or above ear level, and preferably an equal distance from the primary listening position.
If you're working with a projection screen, then a woven or micro-perforated screen will allow you to place the center channel speaker behind the screen itself, which will lock the dialog to the on-screen faces. If you're working with a flat panel, direct view CRT or RPTV, then you'll need to place your center channel speaker just below or just above the screen.
Ideally the front speakers should each be the same distance from the center channel speaker and the total distance between the left and right speaker should be slightly less than the distance between either speaker and the listener. I guess this would make it an Isosceles triangle if my memory of high school geometry is accurate.
You can find a much more detailed recommendation (and diagrams) on the eCoustics forum in this article by Alan Lofft.
Hope that helps.
Regards,
-Chris
