Video:Quick Tip: Proper Speaker Placement for a 5.1 Home Theater
with Chris DavisSet up a 5.1 speaker surround system for the optimal listening environment in your home theater. Watch this About.com video to learn the proper speaker placement for 5.1 surround sound and hear the difference the right location can make.See Transcript
Transcript:Quick Tip: Proper Speaker Placement for a 5.1 Home Theater
Hi I'm Chris Davis for About.com. Let's review where to place your home theater speakers in a 5.1 Surround sound set up.
The 5 Speaker Surround Sound Set Up
The following speaker placement is assuming that a you are using a square or rectangular room. You may have to make some slight alterations with a different room shape. You will have 5 speakers to properly place in this system plus a subwoofer for low frequencies. The subwoofer is the point 1in your system.
Positioning the Front Speakers
Starting at the front of your room you will have the center channel and left and right main speakers. The center channel will be placed directly in front, either above or below the television. Optimal positioning places the speaker at ear level while seated.
Your left and right Main speakers should be placed on either side of the viewing screen equidistant from the center speaker. If you are using stands then the speakers should be placed inward at about a 30 degree angle. If you are mounting on the wall than place them at ear level.
Placing the Subwoofer
Place the subwoofer to the left or right of the viewing area. It provides low frequency omnidirectional sound so you can experiment with the placement a little. Try to avoid placing directly in a corner. It will produce a booming or muddled bass.
Completing Surround Sound at Home
Finally your two surround speakers should be placed at the left and right side of the listening area. They will be slightly behind and above the listener to provide ambient audio.
To learn more, check us out on the web at About.com. Thanks for watching.