| Whether investing a large amount of your savings or a | | | | the wall or placed on a speaker stand. Floor standing |
| small part of your budget on your home theater, your | | | | speakers normally have this covered in their design. |
| speaker placement will play a big role in the sound | | | | SURROUND SPEAKERS |
| quality and sonic performance in your home theater | | | | The purpose of the surround speakers is to provide |
| room. | | | | low and high level sound from other parts of the room, |
| The instructions that come with your speakers will give | | | | creating a movie theater feel in your home theater. |
| you recommendation for where to place them within a | | | | The surround speaker placement will depend on the |
| room but below are a few things to consider as you | | | | size of your home theater, the shape of the room, and |
| begin setting up your new home theater speakers. | | | | the space needed for the actual speakers. Be |
| CENTER CHANNEL SPEAKER | | | | creative and experiment with the placement of these |
| This speaker's main purpose is to anchor sounds | | | | particular speakers throughout the room. |
| on-screen, like dialogue. | | | | Tips for placement of the surround speakers: |
| Tips for placement of the center channel speaker: | | | | 1. Place the primary pair to the right and to the left of |
| 1. Center it directly above or below your television. | | | | your optimal listening position. This can be done in line |
| 2. If you place it above the television, the front edge of | | | | with your position or just behind it. When placement to |
| the speaker should line up precisely with the front | | | | the side is impossible, or when you have a surround |
| edge of the television. This will cut down on any kind | | | | system with more than two surround speakers, you |
| of sound "bouncing around" inside the television cabinet. | | | | may wish to place the speakers behind the listening |
| 3. The tweeter of this particular speaker should be at | | | | position, with the sound being directed toward the front |
| the same height as the tweeters of the front | | | | of the room. |
| speakers. If you can accomplish this to within 24 | | | | 2. These speakers should be placed at approximately |
| inches, that will allow for the best sound quality. | | | | ear level when you are in a standing position. |
| 4. The front speakers and this particular speaker | | | | 3. Experiment with the aiming of these speakers when |
| should be spaced the same distance away from your | | | | mounted on the walls. Sometimes good results can be |
| planned listening position. | | | | achieved when you point them up at the ceiling or |
| FRONT SPEAKERS: BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT | | | | back at the rear corners of the room. |
| These speakers have two distinct purposes. They | | | | SUBWOOFER |
| reproduce stereo music sound while also handling a | | | | A home theater subwoofer provides your home audio |
| movie's soundtrack. | | | | system with all the low bass frequencies needed for a |
| Tips for placement of the front speakers: | | | | movie theater, surround sound experience. However, it |
| 1. Find your optimal listening position. Now space the | | | | is one of the least difficult to position. In most cases, |
| two front speakers at points in the room that are | | | | you can position your home theater subwoofer |
| equal is distance to that position, with one to the left | | | | anywhere in your home theater and still get good |
| and one to the right. The front right, front left and | | | | results. |
| center channel speakers should all be approximately | | | | There is no one "perfect" placement for any given |
| the same distance from where you are sitting, with the | | | | home theater speaker. No two rooms' acoustics will |
| tweeters of each directed at your ears. Don't just | | | | be the same, all speakers will have various sonic |
| eyeball this and get an approximate distance, as even | | | | characteristics, and no two ears will hear any given |
| an inch variation in the distance of the speakers can | | | | sound identically. This doesn't mean you will never |
| make a noticeable difference in your home audio | | | | achieve the best sound quality from your home audio |
| system's sound quality. | | | | system. All it means is take the advice given and |
| 2. These speakers' tweeters should be even to your | | | | modify it when you actually install your home theater |
| ear level when seated in the optimal listening position. | | | | speakers to accommodate your specific needs. |
| Smaller home theater speakers can be mounted on | | | | |