Speaker Placement Problems

[maygit]

I'm in progress of moving into my new house and I'm having some issues deciding how to place my speakers. The diagram below is not to scale, but a pretty solid representation of what the room is like. The primary problem comes in with the Side Left (SL) speaker and therefore also affects the Side Right (SR) speaker. Where the SL speaker is to go, there is no wall, it's all open to the hallway/up the stairs. The grey bar represents a beam that comes down about 6 inches from the ceiling. I don't know exactly the height of the ceiling, didn't think to measure, but i would say it's probably standard 8ft. I was thinking about mounting the SL to the ceiling and i'm assuming i should mount the SR at the same height to balance the two out (yes/no?).

If I do mount those high up, should they be angled down towards the center of the room and furthermore angled towards the center viewing position since they are a few feet in front of the center position?

Then from there, should i mount my back speakers and height speakers at normal levels, or high up on the ceiling as well? Or should i just forget setting up SL/SR speakers and go with a 5.1 plus the height speakers? I would really like to stick with 7.1 + Height if i could, but if it'll do more harm than good i can reason.

Lastly, should the height speakers be angled down and furthermore angled in towards the center viewing position, or level and perpendicular to the wall, OR level but in towards the center position (if confused, i'll further clarify)?

[Disco Batman]

I would do it just like you have set up in your drawings. Most people would tell you to angle the speakers towards the listening position.

My rears are at ceiling level and I don't have the angled down. Works fine for me.

[MDRiggs]

I would be a little concerned about having the side speakers so far forward of the couch, but I'm not very good at figuring out angles from drawings, so it's probably worth a shot. Then you could compare it against 5.1+height with the speakers in the back corners as the only surrounds. I doubt that the angled vs. flat placement for the height (or side) speakers would make much difference. And I wouldn't put anything at or on the ceiling that I didn't have to.

[david_b]

Get some Polk OWM series for the sides and rears.

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/surround.php#owm

[Disco Batman]

Get some Polk OWM series for the sides and rears.

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/surround.php#owm

That's what I use for my rears.

[maygit]

I would be a little concerned about having the side speakers so far forward of the couch, but I'm not very good at figuring out angles from drawings, so it's probably worth a shot. Then you could compare it against 5.1+height with the speakers in the back corners as the only surrounds. I doubt that the angled vs. flat placement for the height (or side) speakers would make much difference. And I wouldn't put anything at or on the ceiling that I didn't have to.

Ya, again the drawing is not to scale, but the side speakers will definitely end up being in front of where the couch is going. I could mount the side left (SL) speaker perpendicular to the couch, but i wouldnt be able to do that with the side right (SR) speaker due to the window there. Reading speaker placement guides for the ideal room, the side left and side right speakers should be placed anywhere from exactly perpendicular to the center seating position up to 20 degrees behind the center position and they always seem to be angled towards the center position, so i think it would only be logical to angle the speakers towards the center position even though they are in front. I've decided i'm going to place all my other speakers at normal levels.

I agree, i wouldn't put the SL speaker on the ceiling, but there's no where else to go with it without having a speaker randomly hanging out in between the living room and hallway. Not to mention it'd get knocked over all the time as well. Ceiling is the only place for it and i think i'm going to mount the side right speaker in the same position so they are balanced properly (agree?).

Get some Polk OWM series for the sides and rears.

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/surround.php#owm

Ahh, if only it were that easy my friend. Right now all my savings are going to the 65" VT50. Probably won't be for another year before I go all out and upgrade my speakers. I'm going to try to manage with what i've got for now.

[Disco Batman]

On a good note those speakers are cheap. And work great for surrounds.

[MDRiggs]

Ya, again the drawing is not to scale, but the side speakers will definitely end up being in front of where the couch is going. I could mount the side left (SL) speaker perpendicular to the couch, but i wouldnt be able to do that with the side right (SR) speaker due to the window there. Reading speaker placement guides for the ideal room, the side left and side right speakers should be placed anywhere from exactly perpendicular to the center seating position up to 20 degrees behind the center position and they always seem to be angled towards the center position, so i think it would only be logical to angle the speakers towards the center position even though they are in front.

Sides can go forward of the seating position in a 7.1 system, up to about 20 degrees. Slightly to the back or directly to the sides is usually better, though. Assuming the speakers have good and even dispersion, there's not much reason to worry about aiming them, especially horizontally, IMHO, but no harm, either.

I agree, i wouldn't put the SL speaker on the ceiling, but there's no where else to go with it without having a speaker randomly hanging out in between the living room and hallway. Not to mention it'd get knocked over all the time as well. Ceiling is the only place for it and i think i'm going to mount the side right speaker in the same position so they are balanced properly (agree?).

Yeah, and it probably will look better, too.

[MDRiggs]

One further thought: With that configuration, make sure you have PLIIx engaged for all multichannel programs.