Is it imperative that the center channel be located above/below the TV? I am thinking of going with wall mount speakers, but the center speaker will be about 1.5' - 2' to the left of the TV.

Will that throw the sound off and make a big difference?

JT

Well, depends more on the angle

The point of a center channel is to lock the dialogue to the screen, so that people sitting to the left or right will hear voices coming from the center. That's why it's called a center channel. If it isn't centered, is it really a center?

You just made me think of something. If the speaker is wall mounted to the side of the TV, make sure the TV isn't blocking the sound going to the other side.

It will still be a center channel because it will be between the L and R speakers, now won't it.

Anyways, the speakers wil be about 7.5' high, spaced out over an 18' foot space. It more for aesthetics? than anything, otherwise it will look odd with the speakers center to the TV and not the room itself.

Thanks,

JT

It sure seems like sarcasm around here seems to be the norm these days, and I'm not referring to you, JT.

In answer to your original question, NOTHING is imperative regarding this hobby. It's all a matter of YOUR priorities and what you are willing to compromise.

In answer to your second question, having your center speaker 1.5 to 2 feet off center and having all of your speakers 7.5 feet high WILL throw the sound off and make a pretty darn big difference from what should ideally be done.

Will the front L & R speakers be equal distances away from the TV? If so, you'd be better off running a phantom center.

Or a speaker bar might be your best option to balance aesthetics & acoustics.

The LCR speakers will be evenly spaced on the wall, the TV will be just below and right of the center speaker. The TV is not centered to the room, just right of center. I thought in-wall speakers would be a better fit than standing or shelf speakers, because of the room configuration and aesthetics.

Thanks,

JT

Sounds like--no pun intended--you're more concerned with room configuration & aesthetics than with sound. Your proposed set-up is not ideal. But you can do whatever you want. There are no speaker configuration stormtroopers that will bust down your door.

Something that you may want to consider JT and that is with your proposed set up, it may be better just to forgo a sound system completely and just use the speakers that are in your TV. Having a center that is not centered in relationship to your TV and having ALL your speakers 7.5 feet high as you have stated is a bit more than just not ideal.

How high is your TV, BTW?

Something that you may want to consider JT and that is with your proposed set up, it may be better just to forgo a sound system completely and just use the speakers that are in your TV. Having a center that is not centered in relationship to your TV and having ALL your speakers 7.5 feet high as you have stated is a bit more than just not ideal.

I was trying to soften the blow. ;)

I hear ya, biffva. Just trying to help JT save a bit of money.

But I am really curious if his TV is as high (7.5 feet) as his main speakers are.

Compromising the visual and audio aspects of ones HT so that you can maintain aesthetics is one thing, but this is capitulation disguised as compromise.

I didn't think I'd ever say it but considering the apparent situation, I'd go audition one of these:

Yamaha YSP-4000 (http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=556966&CTID=5001100).

The TV (Pioneer PDP-5070) is at eye level, about 16" below the speakers, bottom of TV 3.5' off floor. Yes I am concerned with aesthetics, but sound is most important. I just think it will look odd if the speakers are centered around the TV. What about in-wall/ceiling directional speakers? Atleast then I could aim the sound at the seating area. But still the center speaker will be off.

I appreciate all of your help and input!

JT

I bet there's a WAF involved.....anyone who asks if you can use the TV speakers as a center sounds whipped.

Yes I am concerned with aesthetics, but sound is most important. I just think it will look odd if the speakers are centered around the TV.

If sound is most important, then you need the speakers centered around the TV. There's just no question about it; you won't be able to get anything else to sound quite right.

Now, if you were only using the speakers for music, it would be a different matter.

I bet there's a WAF involved.....anyone who asks if you can use the TV speakers as a center sounds whipped.

The OP NEVER asked if he could use the TV speakers as a center.

If sound is most important, then you need the speakers centered around the TV. There's just no question about it; you won't be able to get anything else to sound quite right.


Not only that, but his mains are 16" above his TV. With his mains this far away, AND with the center not centered, the audio will not sound like it is emanating from his TV, which is at the foundation of audio in a HT system.

JT, you said, "Yes I am concerned with aesthetics, but sound is most important". If what you are saying is that audio is more important to you than aesthetics, than you really need to start from scratch regarding this setup. A center should be centered on your tv, and your mains should be as close to level with the TV as possible, and 16" is way off the mark.

Also, when you say that you are at eye level with the tv, and that the tv is 42" off the floor, this statement does not seem right unless your main viewing location is from bar stools.

Something is amiss here.......

It sure seems like sarcasm around here seems to be the norm these days, and I'm not referring to you, JT.

In answer to your original question, NOTHING is imperative regarding this hobby. It's all a matter of YOUR priorities and what you are willing to compromise.

In answer to your second question, having your center speaker 1.5 to 2 feet off center and having all of your speakers 7.5 feet high WILL throw the sound off and make a pretty darn big difference from what should ideally be done.
But as you say, nothing is imperative and it's all a matter of JT's priorities and what he's willing to compromise.

It will still be a center channel because it will be between the L and R speakers, now won't it.

No it won't: it needs to be centered under or over the television. That's what makes it a center. Of course, as lwien said, "NOTHING is imperative regarding this hobby. It's all a matter of YOUR priorities and what you are willing to compromise." Just realize that setting it up as you intend is a big compromise. In your situation, I'd use a phantom center and not worry about placing a hard center in a very compromised position.

But as you say, nothing is imperative and it's all a matter of JT's priorities and what he's willing to compromise.

With a non-centered center, with mains 7.5 feet high, and with his TV 42" off the floor, it sounds more like capitulation rather than compromise.

The OP NEVER asked if he could use the TV speakers as a center.

Really? Never? :confused:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1019056

Really? Never? :confused:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1019056

Sigh. I just respond to each thread individually. I assumed most everyone else kinda does the same thing. My bad. I guess it would have been more correct if I said that he never mentioned that in THIS thread.

With a non-centered center, with mains 7.5 feet high, and with his TV 42" off the floor, it sounds more like capitulation rather than compromise.

I couldn't have said it better myself.:)

Eye level (standing). And actually she has not said much (for once!) about this project. Just trying to get all my ducks in-a-row before I proceed. I guess that the described set-up would be more suitable for audio rather than HT. I suppose I can go with standing speakers for the L/R and place the center on the cabinet just below the TV and the rear speakers in the ceiling.

Thanks for the help

Well, JT, I guess if you do most of your TV viewing while standing, than the TV at that height is perfect.

As an aside, being that the speakers are mounted that high, that setup would not be really suitable for music either.

How good is the TV speakers? Could you wire those up to serve as the center channel? Since you are going in-wall I am guessing that center channel off to the side isn't the best sound producing speaker out there. You may very well be better off on all levels having a pre-out split to the TV speakers for the center.

I should preface that the TV is in a good viewing position and I can also adjust the viewing angle with the wall mount too. Can the speaker bar on the Pioneer be wired as the center channel on the receiver?

JT

If your receiver has pre-outs, i.e. unamped signal outputs. Don't send 90 watts of power to your tv speaker inputs. Your tv will have its own amp. Also your TV will have a L/R speaker most likely and will need a signal for both, so you'll just need an RCA splitter. Monoprice probably sells one for a buck or two. If you don't have pre-outs this won't work of course. Any thoughts to not having a center channel at all? You may want to try different combinations to find something that sounds suitable at least. Going 4.1 may be better than a poor 5.1 set up.

Something that you may want to consider JT and that is with your proposed set up, it may be better just to forgo a sound system completely and just use the speakers that are in your TV. Having a center that is not centered in relationship to your TV and having ALL your speakers 7.5 feet high as you have stated is a bit more than just not ideal.

How high is your TV, BTW?

WAF from a man who'd a thunk it lol! :eek::rolleyes:

So if I opted out of a center speaker, then the voice would come from the TV speakers? Would it still make a difference if the L/R speakers were not centered on the TV? And they can be lowered a little more.

Again, this is just the pre-planning phase, nothing is set in stone yet. I will be using the Onkyo 805, I assume it has pre-outs.?

Thank you,

JT

I can't imagine the time spent hooking up the TV speakers--if it will work--would be worth the agony of listening to said speakers.

If you won't center the TV between the front L & R and also center your center--such torture for the language--then either do without any speakers other than the TV speakers or get a speaker bar like the Yamaha and center it.

Why do anything else?

You're right. Ok aside from said placement, is the height (7' - 7.5') of the speakers going to pose another problem? What about going with in-wall/ceiling speakers which allow for aiming?

JT