The mains on top of the subs. My wife isn't to fond of it so far only because she had decorations on the subs (they kept vibrating off anyways) but thought I'd get my DM604s up and on top my dual subs. It still sounds dang good maybe even a bit better but not sure if it looks funny or if I'll get used it. Kind reminds me of the old B&W THX speakers except maybe taller. Its just a little above ear height. I took a quick pic with my phone.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If anything I think it's the fireplace surround that looks kind of silly and 80's dated/tacky, but then you shouldn't care about my aesthetic preferences! It's your house and your satisfaction.

It looks like you have little kids in the house? I might think of getting some blutak or velcro or something to secure the speakers a little bit lest a little munchkin knock one over on him/herself.

But other than that, looks like a nice system!

Yea, I tend to agree, the cabinetry and surround are a tad out of sync. A more traditional screen would balance better and maybe draw your eye away from the speakers. Just my two cents. Of course, when accessorized in basic PLAYSCHOOL, you can take a lot of liberties. :)
I agree, a safety strap from the back of the speakers to the wall would be a very good idea.

Is that black rectangle near the top your centre speaker? If so, is there any way to replace some of the tchotchkes on the fireplace mantle and affix the centre speaker there? This way, all three front tweeters will be at the same height, giving you consistent movement across the front soundstage. Also, you may want put a mousepad or something similar between your speakers and subs. BTW, my front speakers are also a little above ear height, and it does sound dang good.

I found that with the 602s3, they sounded better when the tweeter was just above ear level. Certainly much better than when the tweeter was just below ear level.

Your center speaker is way way way too high. I'd replace it underneath the TV screen, looks like there would be enough space on top of the mantle under the TV.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If anything I think it's the fireplace surround that looks kind of silly and 80's dated/tacky, but then you shouldn't care about my aesthetic preferences! It's your house and your satisfaction.



I was actually just a talking about the mains being on top of the subs but thanks for the decor tip anyways.

The clutter that you see on the mantel is what was on both of the subs, I just stuck it up there for the time being moving stuff around. Fireplace surround....as in the italian marble tile facet or the gold trim? Or the fact that the display sits above it without a chimney looks silly? Its called a fake gas log fire place.

I'm only asking because I'm interested. I 100% agree that some of the decor needs to be updated as its been the same decor we used for our town house 9 years before we built this house in 2002. Now if your idea of updated is more contemporary with abstract art then forget it, we can agree to disagree because I hate that crap. I like the more elegant old world look.

Yea, I tend to agree, the cabinetry and surround are a tad out of sync. A more traditional screen would balance better and maybe draw your eye away from the speakers. Just my two cents. Of course, when accessorized in basic PLAYSCHOOL, you can take a lot of liberties. :)
I agree, a safety strap from the back of the speakers to the wall would be a very good idea.

The cabinetry I designed myself 7 years ago not sure what you guys mean by surround unless your meaning the marble surrounding the fireplace. Traditional screen? Where can you find transparent decor screens at? Unfortunately the kido toys and swing happen to be in the living room at the time of the picture. I was only wanting to get opinions on the mains being on the subs and if it looked out of place.

Is that black rectangle near the top your centre speaker? If so, is there any way to replace some of the tchotchkes on the fireplace mantle and affix the centre speaker there? This way, all three front tweeters will be at the same height, giving you consistent movement across the front soundstage. Also, you may want put a mousepad or something similar between your speakers and subs. BTW, my front speakers are also a little above ear height, and it does sound dang good.

Yes thats the center channel that I foolishly designed and had the carpenters make a spot for. I kick myself every day for doing that now. I actually bought a nice tilt back center speaker stand to place on the ground in front of the fire place but it just doesn't look right and having that big hole above the TV looks dumb to.

The center being that high and slightly tilted down isn't to terrible actually but if I had to do it again I'd have them make a bigger mantel because there is no room to place the center speaker. Or possibly a cut out below the mantel into the marble facet.......I don't know. Check the pics and you'll see what I mean.

I found that with the 602s3, they sounded better when the tweeter was just above ear level. Certainly much better than when the tweeter was just below ear level.

Your center speaker is way way way too high. I'd replace it underneath the TV screen, looks like there would be enough space on top of the mantle under the TV.

I'm a studio guitarist and have a 20x15 music room (should of made it into a dedicated theater instead) for my guitars, amps, recording setup etc and also have a conservative 2 channel set up with DM603 S4 that are nice but the tweeter sits below ear level when sitting up straight. When I recline back it sounds much better :)

As for the center channel, check the post right above this one with the attached pic of my mantel. The TV has a wide base/stand that covers the mantel unfortunately.

i think the speakers look a little funky on the subs, but not bad. for performance, in your setup, i think they are good.

the center speaker. i would make a stand for it, and set it in front of the fire place when needed. then move it when not needed. . covering the empty hole would be easy for a wood worker.

I read the title to your thread and skipped right to the picture. My first thought was, "This guy has a wife". I was right, and yes, it looks stupid. My wife would kill me.

Check the pics and you'll see what I mean.I see what you mean. Guess the TV stand makes it impossible to place the centre speaker in front of the TV's lower bezel. Well, if you ever decide to back-mount the TV and toss the stand.....

As for your original question: no, I don't think those speakers look stupid on the subs. Keep 'em that way, especially if it sounds better than before.

The mains on top of the subs. My wife isn't to fond of it so far only because she had decorations on the subs (they kept vibrating off anyways) but thought I'd get my DM604s up and on top my dual subs. It still sounds dang good maybe even a bit better but not sure if it looks funny or if I'll get used it. Kind reminds me of the old B&W THX speakers except maybe taller.


Yes. Obviously you need a large, acoustically transparent screen to hide those speakers from your view. If your significant other objects we'll back up that need :-)

Its just a little above ear height. I took a quick pic with my phone.

To get correct height imaging I think the tweeters need to be above ear level. Seems more natural sounding. Splitting the tweeter/mid-range axis seems to be reasonable. With only a few inches of baffle above the tweeter this means the tops of the speakers are getting about 4' off the ground.

I think it's an evolutionary thing. Outside of action movies set in prehistoric times we didn't need to evade giant man eating pterosaurs. Humans were cursorial hunters that ran down prey on the ground. Consequently we do a better job at height localization below ear level as opposed to above.

With 2-way speakers you may change how the speakers interact with the room's height modes too.

i read the title to your thread and skipped right to the picture. My first thought was, "this guy has a wife". I was right, and yes, it looks stupid. My wife would kill me.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/images/icons/icon10.gif

I read the title to your thread and skipped right to the picture. My first thought was, "This guy has a wife". I was right, and yes, it looks stupid. My wife would kill me.

Cruel, but funny and sorry to say not entirely untrue. The look is not my cup of tea, nor my wife's.

It just looks very dated.

Cruel, but funny and sorry to say not entirely untrue. The look is not my cup of tea, nor my wife's.

It just looks very dated.

Well what could I/we change to "up date it"? Obviously I'm not going to tear down my entertainment center though. If money wasn't an objective my taste would be whats pictured below.

First update I'd do is buy a better camera. Should make the room look much better.:p

First update I'd do is buy a better camera. Should make the room look much better.:p


I have a decent Nikon but for all those pics I was using my Iphone. :p

My wife also tries to sneak decorations onto the speakers.... WHY?!

Anyway, the speakers on the subs looks silly. Let them stand as they were meant to.

Well what could I/we change to "up date it"? Obviously I'm not going to tear down my entertainment center though. If money wasn't an objective my taste would be whats pictured below.

I hope I didn't offend you. I was just kidding. On a serious note though, if you're unwilling to get rid of the entertainment center, what you have is what you're gonna have to live with. You just don't see them too much anymore. I and most people apparently go with more of an open look.

Just out of curiosity, why did you ask the question the way you did?: "Is this set-up stupid looking?" You must not be a big fan of it, or did someone say something about it that got you thinking..........

I currently have a massive entertainment center the wife is hesitant to get rid of. I love the minimalist look.

I hope I didn't offend you. I was just kidding. On a serious note though, if you're unwilling to get rid of the entertainment center, what you have is what you're gonna have to live with. You just don't see them too much anymore. I and most people apparently go with more of an open look.

Just out of curiosity, why did you ask the question the way you did?: "Is this set-up stupid looking?" You must not be a big fan of it, or did someone say something about it that got you thinking..........

No no not at all. I have to admit I was shocked at how critical everyone was of the decor when I wasn't even asking for decor opinions but thats ok. Its just a particular taste and style thats pretty common where I live. Most new 300k+ homes have built in large entertainment centers.

No no not at all. I have to admit I was shocked at how critical everyone was of the decor when I wasn't even asking for decor opinions but thats ok. Its just a particular taste and style thats pretty common where I live. Most new 300k+ homes have built in large entertainment centers.

I think it's all in how you framed the original question. It seems like a very general question, not specific to the speaker/sub setup.

I wouldn't say it looks stupid, but I think it looks awkward with the speakers on top of the subs. ;)

If only I had pics of some of the setiups I've tried . . . .:D
Seriously, the only thing "stupid" about it seems to be the placement of those towers at the wall and hugging that console. Are you getting a center image at all?

I also would suggest that you put the towers back on the floor and move the subs outward. Right now, the towers obscure you pictures to either side, and that's more objectionable to me than the other items. Raising the pictures would put them far too high on the wall.

Alright, after getting opinions and living with it for a while I decided to put the towers back on the floor toed in slightly (used a laser) with the subs on each outward side of them. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the center. I think if it was a huge problem in SQ I would just pull out my center channel stand again and start working on filling in the hole but it sounds pretty good up there angled down. Plus having the center on the floor in front of the fire place is a nuances especially with a 5yr old and 10 month old. I'll take a pic tonight (with a better camera :D )

I'd say off the sides of the Entertainment center remove the middle and relocate them to each side of the room possibly bolted to the wall.

I'd be compelled to dump that fireplace into a strip-mining pit.