7.1 speaker placement

Proper Surround Sound 7.1 Speaker Placement

7.1 speaker placement is a topic that we know many people are trying to discover more about, and it is not always easy to do. Most do not take the time to look deeper in the search results, and they often miss out on what they need. It is usually a frequent effect of the way search engine algorithms are written – so you are not alone. What we have done is compile some solid research about 7.1 speaker placement and put it in one place. So just finish reading this to glean enough to begin forming a good foundation..


If you are looking for a brand new surround sound speaker system, either 7.1 speaker system or 5.1 speaker system, I’m quite sure you’ve been a little baffled by all the choices, bells, whistles, gadgets, gizmos, and price tags on the market today.Believe me, you are not alone. One of the most baffling things to most of the potential surround sound system consumers is where on earth should you put all the speakers. I intend to answer that question and a few more over the course of the next few paragraphs and hope that you will read along.

The first thing you need to understand for 7.1speaker placement is that there are several different types of surround sound systems. The industry standard and most common is the 5.1 channel surround sound systems. This set up calls for the use of five speakers plus one subwoofer in addition to the receiver. The five speakers are the front speakers which include a left, right, and center speaker and the left and right surround speakers that are located to the left and right from the rear. You should also have a subwoofer located behind you in order to create the ‘bass notes’ of sound. The next two types of surround sound systems include the 6.1 channel and 7.1 channel system. The primary differences in these are the addition of one additional speaker for each.

Sony blue ray home theater

Sony blue ray home theater

7.1 Speaker Placement

You will be happy to know that most receivers will accommodate the 8 total speakers of a 7.1 surround sound speakers system but you may want to check in order to be certain you can upgrade if you chose to buy a 5.1 channel system for the time being. The addition of speakers when you upgrade change the layout of the speakers in your home.

The more speakers you have, the greater sound you will enjoy, however, the better the quality of your speakers, the better quality your sound will have. In other words don’t go with lower quality speakers in the beginning in order to have more speakers, as you will be shooting the quality of sound you can experience in the foot. It is better to buy fewer speakers in the beginning and add to your system over time in order to receive better quality.

When it comes to the placement of the additional speakers if you upgrade to a 6.1 channel surround sound system you will move the speakers currently in the left and right rear to the left and right side and place the new speaker in the center back. If you then upgrade to the 7.1 channel surround sound system you will move the speaker that is in the center to the rear left and place the new speaker to the rear right for better 7.1 speaker placement. This allows you to be literally surrounded by the sound in order to maximize your listening experience.

Of course this is only a recommendation and it is entirely up to you what will work best within your home and according to your tastes and wants in a surround sound system. Not everyone hears music or sound the same and the experience for each will vary greatly from one person to the next. For this reasons it is also a good idea to be sure you have listened to the system in a store before deciding on one and bringing it home. This is a wise decision regardless. I also recommend taking more than one CD or DVD for the listening process in order to make sure the quality is consistent through different mediums.

While the setup of your system is very important to the sound experience it is quite difficult provided you follow the directions (you didn’t forget to read those did you?). Whether this is your first home theater or surround sound system or one of many upgrades you’ve made along the way I’m sure you will agree that the sound is far superior to the two speaker systems of days not that long ago.

We have included a few basic things about 7.1 speaker placement, and they are essential to consider in your research. Of course we strongly recommend you discover more about them. We feel you will find them to be beneficial in a lot of ways. However, we always emphasize that anyone takes a closer examination at the general big picture as it applies to this subject. The rest of the article will provide you with a few more tips..How is 7.1 speaker placement looks like ?

 

 

7.1 Speaker Placement As Recommended by Dolby

 

Seating Position For 7.1 Speaker Placement


 

This is the focal point of your sound system and will affect all of your 7.1 speaker placement.it’s

important to note that the measurement of your position should be from your head to the TV. after all, we’re optimizing for your ears, not your couch.

Left and Right speakers

Both speakers should be equidistant from your TV (and from you). A good set up is usually 3 feet away on each side. Also, they should be placed at ear-level height when you are seated.

Center Speaker

The center speaker should be centered with your TV and your seating position.It can be placed above or below your TV , the most important aspect is that it be as close to ear level as possible.

Left and Right Speaker Angle

The angle of your Light and Right speakers to your seating position should be a straight line. As a starting position, the speakers should be pointed directly at you, angled inward for the best sound.

Subwoofer Placement


 

The subwoofer delivers bass, which is omnidirectional sound.That means that the subwoofer can be placed  in a variaty of locations, and angle is unimportant. You should not,however,put in a corner, or it will generate “boom” bass that is both too heavy and too muddy.

Left and Right surround speakers

These speakers should be placed directly to the sides of your seating position.These speakers are designed to be just above ear level to maximize ambience.

Left and Right Back Speakers

The synergistic partners to the left and right surround speakers , the back surround speakers should be placed behind the seating position (for better 7.1 speaker placement).

 

Check the following image for 7.1 speaker placement :

 

7.1 surround sound speaker placement as recommended by DOLBY

7.1 speaker placement by DOLBY

We only wanted to give you a taste of what can be found on this subject. 7.1 speaker placement is simply a vast area of knowledge that can take a long time to master. If you want to get the most from your efforts, then it is a must to learn all you can before you decide to purchase your home theater system. Many people see the mountains of info online and they get intimidated very quickly..Hopefully The image above is self explanatory for 7.1 speaker placement.