I'm currently setting up a 5.1 system. I'm using a 100" projection screen. My dilemma is that I'm not sure how far back to place the surrounds on the side walls. I have several chairs in the "front row" that are our primary seating positions. However, we occasionally have guests over to watch movies and use a couch positioned behind the chairs and table mounted projector. I only have two surround speakers to work with. Do I place the surrounds in the ideal position for the front row (used most often) which leaves them a ways in front of the couch, or position them parallel with the couch and quite a ways behind the front row?

Bottom line is, I want them to sound great in our normal listening position without ruining the surround effect for those sitting in the back row.

Suggestions appreciated!

Get a cluster and wire them up in series with a good few stereo amplifiers to drive the impedance load. As well as providing good headroom extension. Look for a 6 ½ bass mid with a high frequency driver or a good 8” bass mid thou an 8” would mean a larger enclosure and would soon look imposing in the room.

Look in “Google Product” select the name and model of the loudspeaker and fish around “Google Product” looking for the lowest price, you’ll see the type of loudspeaker displayed and the name of the company supplier as well as price. Once you see something that catches the eye and that you have the budget to buy, calculate how many you’ll need for the sidewalls and rear walls arrays.

One thing you don’t want is a hole in the bucket, you what to be able to walk around the room and say to yourself, wow sounds and looks like I’m in the cinema!

If you have a wife factor, that won’t put up with it, give her to me I’ll take the load and weight off you’re mind. :D

Surrounds and I’m betting that most common size rooms in the US are about auditorium size that of a small auditorium. Surrounds should be placed in a horseshoe shape configuration that is how surround works!

I'm looking for the best compromise for the current two speaker surround setup I have. What I'm looking for is would it be better to place the surrounds on opposite walls in between the two rows of seating - a little too far IMO behind the front row, and too far forward of the rear, or pick an optimal position for one or the other? Keep in mind the front row is used most often. Currently another series of speakers is out of the question.

Are your surrounds direct firing or dipole/bipoles?

I had a similar decision when building my HT. I ended up with two solutions depending on whether or not we had both seating rows occupied.

For front-row-only viewing, I use my JBL Synthesis dipoles mounted on either side of that row. In my experience, moving them back to cover both rows only ruins the surround experience for both rows, so...

I have direct firing surrounds mounted a couple feet behind the back row that I can switch on (and turn off the dipoles) for a better "whole room" surround setup. Unfortunately for those in the back row, I do have the levels adjusted best for the front seating, but I'm a nice guy - I let guests sit up front. :D

My advice is: If you have Dipoles, leave them in the optimal position for the front (best to have good surround for most of your viewing than bad surround all the time;)). If they are forward-firing, I'd move them back behind the last row and set levels for the primary seating. The effects will be a bit louder in the back, but everyone will have pretty good surround sound (Actually, I often forget to switch back to the dipoles and I'm still happy with the sound).

Are your surrounds direct firing or dipole/bipoles?

I had a similar decision when building my HT. I ended up with two solutions depending on whether or not we had both seating rows occupied.

For front-row-only viewing, I use my JBL Synthesis dipoles mounted on either side of that row. In my experience, moving them back to cover both rows only ruins the surround experience for both rows, so...

I have direct firing surrounds mounted a couple feet behind the back row that I can switch on (and turn off the dipoles) for a better "whole room" surround setup. Unfortunately for those in the back row, I do have the levels adjusted best for the front seating, but I'm a nice guy - I let guests sit up front. :D

My advice is: If you have Dipoles, leave them in the optimal position for the front (best to have good surround for most of your viewing than bad surround all the time;)). If they are forward-firing, I'd move them back behind the last row and set levels for the primary seating. The effects will be a bit louder in the back, but everyone will have pretty good surround sound (Actually, I often forget to switch back to the dipoles and I'm still happy with the sound).


Thanks for the advice. Mine are direct firing. So, I'll try placing them slightly behind the back row and adjust levels for the front row. I'm just hoping I can get the levels loud enough to do this.