Discover the Right Placement for a Surround Sound Setup

The way you arrange your home theater speakers makes a huge impact on how your system actually sounds. The proper speaker placement will elevate the average sounding system and make it an elite home theater experience.

So, it definitely is not just about putting them where everyone can see them or arranging them around your big screen. No. there is a proper way of placing them in your movie room, so you feel like you are in a real movie theater.

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In this review, we tell you why you need to be strategic with your surround system set up and where you should place the speakers in order to have them perform at their best. We also look at the challenges of set-up.

Discover the Right Placement for a Surround Sound Setup
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The Front Left and Right Speakers

If you want your right and front speakers to focus on their sound field at your own listening position, then angle them slightly towards the seats that are directly in front of the TV. The tweeters should also be at ear level when you sit down.

Have fun while listening to the sound, and play around with how far the speakers are placed from the wall. The closer they are, the more bass will be reinforced.

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This can be good to some degree, but the overall sonic performance will improve if the speakers are polled out of the wall. Try using a few other different positions so you can see what delivers the best results.

When you angle your front speakers in your direction, lock them in tight, and you will receive accurate sound where you sit.

Discover the Right Placement for a Surround Sound Setup
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The Center Channel Speaker

Placing your center channel speaker right at or below the TV, and lining it up with your midpoint will give you the best sound. If it’s possible, try to tilt it. This way, you receive the direct sound to your ear.

Surround Speakers

These should best be placed on speaker stands, but you can also mount them on the wall. This keeps the wires and the cables nice, clean and neat.

5.1 Surround speakers

In this system, the surround speakers should best be placed on the right and left side of your listening position.

Ensure that they are directed towards you for the best sound. If the side placement is not practical, then you can place your speakers a few feet behind your listening positions and then face them forward.

Discover the Right Placement for a Surround Sound Setup
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7.1 Surround System

If you have a 7.1 system, then they should be positioned beside, or behind your seating area.

This is just like the 5.1 setups, and the side speakers should be placed on the left and the right of your seating position so they face directly towards you.

This system mostly utilizes the side and rear surrounds. You should try to direct each speaker towards you for a good wraparound sound.

Discover the Right Placement for a Surround Sound Setup
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The Subwoofer

Now, since the bass frequencies are usually omnidirectional, you can be flexible when it comes to where the subwoofer goes.

Placing it near the wall will give you the best bass results, but placement near a corner where there is a room boundary will give you even more.

Well, most people will put the subwoofer in front of the room so it can be easy for them to connect it to their home theater receiver.

Discover the Right Placement for a Surround Sound Setup
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Add a Second Subwoofer

Using two will best improve the bass sound distribution and also help in filling in the gaps where the bass response might be weak. A second subwoofer also provides you with more impactful dynamics and a much greater system headroom.

The layout of the room will also determine where the second one should be placed. Some rooms give the best results by having a second subwoofer in each of the corners of the room.

Others, however, will get more bass distribution by having one subwoofer in the front room and the other one at the back.

Conclusion

Of course, there is a lot you want from your movie room or entertainment room, but your sound is key and your speaker placement makes all the difference. 

All the best as you arrange your room to give you the best results.