surround locations

Are you going 5.1 or 7.1?

If your going 7.1, I would have them all at the same height. Given that the LBS and RBS have to mounted high, so then are the LS and RS...

If your going 5.1, then the side locations are best. Height will be dependent on how physically large is the surround speaker -IE are you likely to bump into it at mid wall height...

Mark

What about mounting them at the sides, but at the same height at shown for the rear option?

I had a similar situation a few years back and mounted them just above my standing height so that unless someone was taller then me, would not bump their heads...

Mark

Any chance you can place the speakers in the back tri-corners of the room? That'll give you a good compromise between side and rear coverage. The wide spread will help maintain stereo separation. The multiple reflecting surfaces will give you nice envelopment.

Sanjay

+/-90 degree is best for envelopment, but no so good for rear imaging.
+/-135 degrees is better for rear imaging at te expense of envelopment.

The tri-corner location might give a little of both and is why the ITU-R recommends +/-110 degrees for the surrounds...

Mark

Can't tell from the photo, but if you moved the bookshelf into the corner, will the left surround speaker be in clear line of sight to the listeners?
Except for high frequencies, speakers tend to radiate sound pretty widely. The surround field is intended to wrap around you, which is difficult to do with only 2 speakers. Placing them in the corners will give you more reflections, making the sound more diffuse and enveloping. Think of it as a left arc and right arc, rather than two pinpoint locations for surround information.

Sanjay

Sanjay,

Would you suggest that he aims them down at the seating location, or fires them across at each other to take advantage of the splash off the ceiling?

Mark

Mark,

I would aim them roughly at the listening area, for a combination of direct and reflected sound. If the speakers are too noticeable, then they can be tilted upward for more reflected than direct sound.

BTW, I figured the location would be a decent balance between the two qualities you mentioned: rear imaging and side envelopment. It really is hard to both those things well with only 2 speakers.

Sanjay

It won't be so bad. You won't go to prison for it.

Surround placement is often about compromise. In a room that's not a dedicated HT, you do what you have to do, aesthetically. That rear location isn't so bad. If you place the speakers on the rear wall, spead them as wide as possible. If you can't get them close to the corners, then aim them down and parallel to your side walls. If you can get them into the corners, aim them down and in toward your listening area. It'll work fine.