Rear (surround) speaker placement

[olds]

Looks like we are moving into a rental for a year to see if we like a local, gated community. There is no ideal location for the rear speakers in our HT.

Placing them on stands is an option but unsightly. I am kicking around the idea of building a sofa table to place behind the sofa. It would be two pedestals joined by a flat surface (table). Into the pedestals, I would build a box to set the speakers in. From behind it, you wouldn't see the speakers. From in front (seating area) there would be an opening for the speakers.
Then on top of the pedestals would be a plant like a spider plant to grow down the sides of the pedestal.

What do you guys think of this idea?
If it's feasible, what height should the speakers be?

I may have to replace the rears to do this and go with more of a bookshelf type speaker because of my present rears.

Sofa table
My rears
Room

 

[PurdueRy]

I'm assuming you actually mean "surrounds" when you say rears. If that's the case I don't think your solution would work well. Dipole speakers are meant to be placed along a side wall so they reflect off this nearby surface and around you. Putting them in a cabinet may have some off effect on their sound.

 

[erwos]

Are you able to wall mount them?

 

[olds]

Title edited.

...Putting them in a cabinet may have some off effect on their sound.

I was wondering, how much?
Also, my receiver has a mic to calibrate the speakers. I assume that would adjust the spl levels but have no other compensation effect on the sound?
There may be some EQ setting in the receiver, I'd have to scroll through and see.

Denon 3805

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: erwos
Are you able to wall mount them?

I could wall mount one but not the other.

Room

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Title edited.

...Putting them in a cabinet may have some off effect on their sound.

I was wondering, how much?
Also, my receiver has a mic to calibrate the speakers. I assume that would adjust the spl levels but have no other compensation effect on the sound?
There may be some EQ setting in the receiver, I'd have to scroll through and see.

Denon 3805

I have never ran Denon's EQ but typically the Frequency Response EQ is only performed on the front speakers.

I am not necessarily concerned with a screwed up FR if they are in a cabinet but rather what effect that will have on their directivity. Dipole speakers are designed to be placed to the side of the listener and typically near a wall. If you place them behind you it could really screw with the ability to localize surround effects.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
I'm assuming you actually mean "surrounds" when you say rears. If that's the case I don't think your solution would work well. Dipole speakers are meant to be placed along a side wall so they reflect off this nearby surface and around you. Putting them in a cabinet may have some off effect on their sound.

The page Olds linked to claims their bipolar speakers don't have the same issue as dipole-

Definitive's bipolar surrounds are designed for easy and unobtrusive placement in your room. Easy-to-use mounting plates are included for wall mounting if desired. Positioning is extremely non-critical; unlike dipolar surrounds, which are limited by their specific sidewall placement placement requirements, Definitive's bipolars may be located on the sides or rear of the room (or both as in Dolby EX installations) or on the ceiling. They may be mounted on the rear wall (with their front drivers shooting towards each other and their rear drivers shooting toward the side walls) with excellent results.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Although placement seems to be more versatile, putting them in an enclosed cabinet would still not be a good idea imo. You could probably get away with it with frontal direct radiating speakers, but these have drivers that shoot off to the side and having them shoot right into the walls of their enclosed space could mess their sound up.

If the goal is to make the speakers not as noticeable from the back, could the top of the columns be mostly open on 3 sides rather than enclosed except for the front?

Something like this?
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Y...OhowsDAjello/Stand.png

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Although placement seems to be more versatile, putting them in an enclosed cabinet would still not be a good idea imo. You could probably get away with it with frontal direct radiating speakers, but these have drivers that shoot off to the side and having them shoot right into the walls of their enclosed space could mess their sound up.

If the goal is to make the speakers not as noticeable from the back, could the top of the columns be mostly open on 3 sides rather than enclosed except for the front?

Something like this?
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Y...OhowsDAjello/Stand.png

Something like that may work too.

How do you guys think it would sound if i mounted them on the walls about 6 feet behind the sofa?

Room 2

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Well this is all about compromises.

Ideally you'd want them to the sides like this http://www.dolby.com/consumer/...nment/roomlayout2.html (5.1 configuration)

Most of the time surround speakers aren't doing much anyway, so I wouldn't get too worked up about this.

Could you potentially test out a couple of these positions and decide which one works best for you?