I have a basic set-up question I hope someone could help with. I am just setting up a 5.1 set-up in my living room. The room is kind of a square shape (approx 4m x 4m) with hallways running off each side.

I have 2 couches in the room that cannot be moved due to size constraints. One couch runs along the side of the room and is therefore at the edge of the 5.1 surround range.

I have attached a basic picture of the layout with couches (with 2 speaker placement options) and wondered whether I should slightly turn the front and surround speakers inwards or not? We will mainly listen from the couch along the back wall that faces the tv, however when friends come over, the other couch will be used.

I have read a few websites containing layout suggestions and some say to have the back speakers facing front whilst others show the speakers turned inwards slightly. Is there a more accepted way or will it not make any difference??

We will mainly listen from the couch along the back wall that faces the tv, however when friends come over, the other couch will be used.I would toe in the front speakers, pointing them at the centre of the couch that is against the back wall. If you point them straight into the room, the person sitting at the front end of the other couch will have a speaker shouting right into his face.

For the surrounds, I would place them high up in the back corners of the room, facing each other, tilted down so they point roughly at the middle of the couch.

Trying to improve the sound for listeners seated way off to the side will just compromise the main listening area, and still won't make for much improvement at the side wall couch. Better to have one optimized couch and one compromised, rather than all seats compromised.

Good Luck,
Sanjay

I have my setup so that the optimal listening spot is the center of couch. If everything is set up perfectly and balanced, and reflections eliminated as much as possible, you still will get a very enjoyable listening experience even if you're on a couch off to the side and not in the center. Granted, bass might not be perfectly in line with the center spot, but you will still experience the imaging to an extent, as your ears will be able to decipher where that center area is, and extrapolate from there. The soundstage will just seem more off to the right or left depending on where you're seated. Instead of a plane going overhead, it will just fly over besides you.

I have a basic set-up question I hope someone could help with. I am just setting up a 5.1 set-up in my living room. The room is kind of a square shape (approx 4m x 4m) with hallways running off each side.

I have 2 couches in the room that cannot be moved due to size constraints. One couch runs along the side of the room and is therefore at the edge of the 5.1 surround range.

I have attached a basic picture of the layout with couches (with 2 speaker placement options) and wondered whether I should slightly turn the front and surround speakers inwards or not? We will mainly listen from the couch along the back wall that faces the tv, however when friends come over, the other couch will be used.

I have read a few websites containing layout suggestions and some say to have the back speakers facing front whilst others show the speakers turned inwards slightly. Is there a more accepted way or will it not make any difference??

If they are direct radiating speakers for the rear I would suggest slighlty angling off axis from the listening area so as to give you more ambience as opposed to dierct sound for the surrounds. I prefer dipoles for surround just for that reason.

Do you have a subwoofer as well? Sitting against the wall makes for very poor (uneven) bass response. I'd move the couch off the wall a bit if possible.