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whereby speakers located on the ceiling play an important role.
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The height speakers enhance imaging in the vertical plane and can even be used to create sound effects which seem to come from directly above the listening position, which provides total immersion into the surround sound experience.Dolby Atmos is on the one hand a new technology / standard in which audio objects can move freely in space (you no longer have the feeling that a sound comes from a specific speaker with it in the middle of the sound, it surrounds you) and on the other hand a new speaker setup. A downward tilt of the speaker will improve mid/high frequency response and reduce ceiling bounce reflections. Typically, this will be 40-45 degrees off-axis and about 8 feet in height. The height speaker channels should be placed in the upper left/right corners of the front stage. Audyssey recommends that the wide speakers be placed at head level when seated. The optimal location for the wide speakers is about 60 degrees off-axis, relative to the primary seating position. The goal of the wide speaker is to minimize any gaps in panning and imaging between the front main speakers and the side surround speakers and provide an additional sense of envelopment. The wide speaker channels are intended to be placed between the main front speakers and the side surround speakers. Since native Blu-ray formats are currently only available in 7.1, the use of Wide or Height speakers requires the use of an upconverting algorithm in the surround sound processor - like Audyssey DSX, DTS Neo:X and Dolby ProLogic IIz. The development of 9- and 11-channel surround sound processors brings Wide and Height ‘presence’ channels into the system to even further enhance sound stage spaciousness and immersion. Speaker Placement For 9.1 And 11.1 Systems As with the side surround speakers, position the rear surround tweeters about 2 feet above head level when seated. Place the rear surround speakers at 135-150 degrees off-axis, relative to the primary seating position. In a 7.1 system, dedicated rear surround speakers are placed behind the primary seating position for enhanced rear panning effects. For the best sense of spaciousness, the tweeter height should be about 2 feet above ear level. In a 5-channel system, the side surround speakers should be located 90-110 degrees off-axis. For more in-depth advice, check out our article on Center Channel Speaker Placement Tips. If the center channel must be located below head level, then an upward tilt of the speaker is recommended to improve mid/high frequency response and dialogue intelligibility. But depending on the placement of the video display or projection screen, this is not always possible. As with the main front speakers, placing the tweeter at/near head level when seated is optimal. The center channel should be placed directly on-axis, relative to the primary seating position. Pulling the main speakers away from the corners (to the extent allowed by room traffic) will reduce boundary reflections and improve imaging. Most tower speakers accomplish this naturally, and a bookshelf monitor will require stands. The best imaging will be obtained when the tweeters are close to ear height when seated. The main speakers should be placed 25-30 degrees off-axis, relative to the primary seating position. Speaker Placement For 5.1 And 7.1 Surround Sound Systems Front Left/Right Mains Speakers When done correctly, you will be able to clearly perceive a center focused voice when the sweet spot is hit.Ĭheck out the entire SVS Speaker line-up to choose the speakers that are best for your music experience. This can be done by ear and usually a ¼ to ½ inch toe-in is sufficient. The importance of symmetrical speaker placement for near field listening, especially in small to medium sized rooms, is hugely important for optimizing stereo sound quality.Īfter the speakers and main listening position are set as close to a perfect equilateral triangle as possible, the speakers must be angled slightly toward the listening position (also called toeing in). It does not refer to the room dimensions in any way. The listening position is determined by the "center to center" distance of the speakers from each other and the distance to the listener’s head.
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When setting up speakers for a 2-channel speaker system, the two speakers and the listener’s head should form the three points an equilateral triangle. Speaker Placement For 2-channel Stereo Systems SVS SoundPath RCA Audio Interconnect Cable SoundPath Tri-Band Wireless Audio Adapter
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