Home theater speaker placement is an important consideration for your home audio system. Spending a few minutes in setting up your home theater speakers will make a big difference in your home theater experience.
One of the major reasons to go to the movie cinema is the theater’s sound system and its ability to immerse you in the action through sound. As home theater technology has continued to improve, home theater owners find that they can match or exceed the local movie theater’s sound through their own home theater system.
Today’s typical home theater will have a 5.1 speaker setup which includes 5 speakers, a left and right main speaker, a center channel speaker and two surround speakers, along with a dedicated low frequency effects channel which is the .1.
To enjoy the magic of the movies in the comfort of your own home try the following simple speaker placement tips.
1. Make sure the center channel is "anchored" to the screen. The center channels function is to communicate the movie’s dialog. If the actor’s mouth is moving on the screen, but if the sound appears to be coming from off the screen the dialog will seem unnatural. A center channel speaker will be shielded so that you can place it directly on top of or below your tv.
2. Place the tweeters from your main speakers at ear level. In order to get the speakers to the proper ear level you will want to invest in a quality pair of speaker stands.
3. Each of the front three speakers, the main left, the main right and the center channel should all be placed at an equal distance from the main listening position and should be pointed towards the listener. The speakers should also be placed so that they have a slight natural arc. They generally should be placed between 22 - 30 degrees from the main listening position.
4. Surround sound speakers should be placed directly to the left and right or slightly behind the main listening position and should be located about two feet above ear level. A 6.1 system adds a third surround speaker behind the listener. It is important to note that it is best for that speaker not to be directly in line with the center channel. A 7.1 system adds a rear left and a rear right full range surround channel that should be added behind the listening position.
5. From my experience, nothing will add more impact to your movie watching experience then the addition of a quality subwoofer to your setup. Since deep bass is non directional, you can place your subwoofer pretty much anywhere. Many people will place it in the front corner, but some prefer it in the back or hidden along the side. It is important to note that generally bass will be enhanced by being placed next to the wall and even more so if placed in the corner.
These simple tips will get you started towards an enjoyable home theater experience. Every speaker and room have their own unique qualities so use this information as a guide, but experiment further with speaker placement in your own home. Moving a speaker even a few inches can make a dramatic impact on the quality of the sound.
Although the new flat screen tvs are what is getting everyone’s attention, a quality sound system with properly placed speakers are what helps transform regular television viewing into a true cinematic experience.
By Jared Dawson
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