I have a narrow room (12' x 19') and planning a 10' wide AT screen (SMX soundscreen). when planning for speaker placement I have read that you don't want the main speakers right against the side walls. In the past I always had my mains close to the side walls but angled toward the listening position.

Is it better to place the mains a foot or two away from the side walls, firing directly out into the room, or closer to the edge, and angled?

Another question, as the LRC will be behind the screen, and the screen wall framing is done with 2x4 studs, I assume you need to plan to have the studs spaced so they are not in front of any speaker?

Rob: your dimensions (12x19) are similar to mine, (13x20) I also am using the SMX screen.

There are formulas you may have already found by searching the forum that will give you a pretty good picture of where to place the R and L channels of your system.

If you have the SMX screen, it appears that placing all the front channels behind the screen would allow you to get the right placement, and you shouldn't need to place the side speakers so close to the walls; an unfavorable condition.

I would like to speculate that a 10 foot wide (120") screen is pretty big, and MAY cause some problems. Naturally, everyone has their own needs and likes/dislikes, but eye fatigue is very real, and can occur with side a wide angle of vision a 120" wide screen would give.

My screen is planned for 110" x 46", a format in 2:39:1 that will give a 120" diagonal screen. Even that is right on the bubble for width to seating placement. Cinemascope standards recommend maintaining a minimum 1.54 -1 seating to screen width ration. For me, that's about 14 feet. My "money seats" will be about 13.5" from the screen, and the stadium "cheap seats" will be about 17 '

I feel if I need to decrease the screen size I can use the 12 yards of fidelio velvet to make a "mask". I guess better to be big than too small, eh?

All my speakers will have unfettered access to the audience. No studs, no frames, nothing between them and me except for the SMX screen. At least, that's the plan! ;)

Best,

Tom'
Chinaclipper

Thanks for the reply!

I think I am leaning towards placing them all behind the screen (although now I will lose another 8" of depth). I know the screen will likely be too large for the room. but the area on the outside of the screen I will be putting in velcro, fabric covered panels. If I find the screen is too big and uncomfortable, I will just make larger panels, and mask the screen down to a smaller size on all sides.

My thought was that the screen wall is fixed, and harder to change, but I can make fabric wrapped panels pretty readily if I need to make modifications...

So, I guess that's 1 vote for all three channels, behind the screen firing straight out.

Rob,

Are you doing a scope screen? 2.39:1? My vote is for all 3 behind the screen and the L and R toed in towards the money seat.

Judson

Not at this time. the screen will be 16:9. My pj is rather old, and I haven't been able to convince the wife the we *need* a new one. in the next few years, I will probably be in the market for a new pj, and at that time I think I will go to a 2.35 screen. I will use the same screen width, just mask the top and bottom of the SMX.

It really depends on your speakers as well some need room behind them to sound right. I have a 120W Smx 2:35 scope screen with REVEL M22's and C52 center behind my screen the right and left fronts are about a foot from the side walls, [all treated as well as the wall behind screen] and they are about 15" from that back wall my screen wall is a fake wall 24" out from the back wall.

My seating by the way starts at eyes, 9.5 feet from the screen for the first row and 12.5 for row two, raised. and no one has reported any eye fatigue or having to turn their head.

My side surrounds are midway between the rows and about 2' above ear level of second row. Rears are a foot from rear wall and tweeters are level with side surrounds.

I placed my fronts 1/3 way down from the top of the screen which is a bit higher than some people say but is really where peoples mouths usually come, in any event it is fabulously realistic.

Rob:
Does your projector or DVD player do "scaling"? If so, you don't need a new projector. You need a panamorphic lens!

There are some pretty interesting DIY lenses out there as well as some pretty inexpensive retail ones....

Just a thought!
Best,
Tom
Chinaclipper

Not at this time. the screen will be 16:9. My pj is rather old, and I haven't been able to convince the wife the we *need* a new one. in the next few years, I will probably be in the market for a new pj, and at that time I think I will go to a 2.35 screen. I will use the same screen width, just mask the top and bottom of the SMX.

Chinaclipper is right! Why not put in the scope screen now and mask the sides for 16:9?