What's the right way to place the surround speakers for 5.1 setup? Is it behind the Seating or Left and Right from the Seat? i checked Crutchfield and they placed the surround speakers Left and Right from the seat.

http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/ca/learningcenter/home/HT/5.1.gif


I'm asking this because my seating is up against the rear wall and there is no place for me to put the surround speakers behind... only left and right from the seat.

Thanks

With a 5.1 set-up, ideally you'd want the surrounds to strike some sort of decent compromise between side and rear coverage in the surround field. I would place them on the side walls, but somewhat rearward of the listening area.

However, with your seating up against the rear wall, you can't do that. In that case, I would place them in the back corners of the room, a couple of feet above ear level, pointing inward. If you can move your seating a little bit away from the wall, that would help.

Good Luck,
Sanjay