7.1 speaker placement

[felang]

So I´ve had my speakers in storage for a couple of years and have finally decided to set up the home theater in my living room.

I have 2 pair of PSB Alpha B1 bookshelfs (5.25 inch) and one pair of PSB Alpha LR1 monitors (3.5 inch) and Alpha C1 center channel all powered by an HK 7.1 amplifier.

In other words, I have everything I need to set up a 7.1 system... but I need help deciding which speakers should be hooked up as rear surround (RB, LB) and which should be at the side surround position (LS, RS).

Should the larger bookshelfs (5.25 inch) be used at the rear or sides?

I would be listening mostly to 5.1 source using HK´s simulated 7.1 mode if it makes a difference...

 

[Soccerman06]

Something similar to these.

 

[felang]

Thanks, but that still doesn´t show if I should use largers speakers for side or rear duties...

 

[Soccerman06]

I read the op wrong >.> The b1 are suppose to be fronts, so I would put atleast one set in front, then the other set on the l/r sides and the lr1 for your behinds.

 

[sdifox]

first of all, what is the dimension and layout of your room? Just because you have the hardware for 7.1 doesn't mean it will work better than 5.1. Your room and layout determines that.

 

[felang]

I read the op wrong >.> The b1 are suppose to be fronts, so I would put atleast one set in front, then the other set on the l/r sides and the lr1 for your behinds.

Yeah that´s what I was thinking... thanks!

 

[felang]

first of all, what is the dimension and layout of your room? Just because you have the hardware for 7.1 doesn't mean it will work better than 5.1. Your room and layout determines that.

It´s a pretty big room about 15m x 10m... when I last setup the HT in my old apartment I stuck to 5.1 because I had less space but I was thinking since I already have the speakers I might as well try 7.1 for the "WOW factor" even though they would make very little difference sound quality wise...

I´m also thinking about installing the smaller speakers in the patio and run them as a separate zone and just having the 5.1 setup in the living room. I guess I´ll try out different options but if I decide to go with 7.1 i´ll definitely use the larger speakers as side surround and the smaller as rear surround.

 

[sdifox]

It´s a pretty big room about 15m x 10m... when I last setup the HT in my old apartment I stuck to 5.1 because I had less space but I was thinking since I already have the speakers I might as well try 7.1 for the "WOW factor" even though they would make very little difference sound quality wise...

I´m also thinking about installing the smaller speakers in the patio and run them as a separate zone and just having the 5.1 setup in the living room. I guess I´ll try out different options but if I decide to go with 7.1 i´ll definitely use the larger speakers as side surround and the smaller as rear surround.

good luck 🙂

 

[queequeg99]

I´m also thinking about installing the smaller speakers in the patio and run them as a separate zone and just having the 5.1 setup in the living room. I guess I´ll try out different options but if I decide to go with 7.1 i´ll definitely use the larger speakers as side surround and the smaller as rear surround.

This sounds like a decent plan, especially if you actually use the patio a lot (and have an easy means of disconnecting the speakers during the offseason if you have an offseason where you live). Most movies that are advertised as 7.1 typically have relatively weak rear surround emphasis. There are some exceptions (Master and Commander is pretty sweet on a 7.1 system when the cannonballs go flying overhead). But to get the effect you don't need really awesome rear surrounds. So if you do go for a 7.1 setup, I would use the smaller speakers for the rears.

 

[alcoholbob]

Wow that's a pretty big room, 50 feet by 35 feet? Do you live in a renovated warehouse?

 

[felang]

Wow that's a pretty big room, 50 feet by 35 feet? Do you live in a renovated warehouse?

My bad, don´t know what i was thinking... it´s probably more like 20x15 feet... was trying to convert meters to feet in my head and something went completely wrong... have to get more sleep!