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Need speaker positioning suggestions

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  • Jun 25th, 2013 9:07 pm
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Deal Guru
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Oct 24, 2012
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Need speaker positioning suggestions

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I have a 4.1 speaker system (old but powerful).
Now I can imagine where to hook on the walls the 2 front speakers, but I can't figure out what's best for the rear speakers and the subwoofer.

Any suggestions?

Notes:

- I won't relocate the TV or sofa (I might move the sofa off the side wall by a foot or two).
- The room opening on the right side of my floor plan is just the rest of the basement, where my kids have their toys.
16 replies
Deal Fanatic
Jun 17, 2013
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Do you want to put the rear speakers on the wall? Have you located the studs?

don't subs usually go in the front?
Deal Addict
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Feb 18, 2007
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I had similar issues on a 5.1 system and not knowing where to put the rear speakers and deal with all the cabling and stuff. finally decided to go with a 3.1 system (2 front and 1 center) and then finally decided on a 2.0 system for music because i didn't have room for the center or sub. My LG has pretty good sound for movies and regular TV but not that great for music so i make do.

I've been looking at sound bars for awhile now but haven't tried any yet.

Hope someone can tell you the best way to do it.
Poor Grammar and being long winded don't fit well together, Oh well.
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Aug 20, 2012
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Seems the regular config to me. 2 right fronts on the tv stand and 2 rear/surrounds on the back wall either side of couch. You said u were willing to move the couch down 1-2 feet. The sub on the left side of tv stand. Typical set-up. I would suggest pushing the couch off the wall by a foot or two. Gives better surround sound with spacing behind you than just a back hard wall. Sound has no where to travel in above config whereas with spacing behind couch sounds gives fuller effect. Calibration takes care of the rest. What type of speakers, sub do u have? Tech specs? Receiver/amplifier?? I'm looking at the Energy 5.1 tower set myself. Futureshop gives great deals during boxing day sales.
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The rule for the subwoofer is to put it where you are going to sit, then move around the room and listen to where it sounds best. Then reverse the positions of you and the subwoofer - it should sound the same.
Deal Guru
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Oct 24, 2012
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neverhaveiever wrote: Do you want to put the rear speakers on the wall? Have you located the studs?

don't subs usually go in the front?

I want them to be on the rear, but they could be hooked to the ceiling, or wall, but where?
aznnorth wrote: What type of speakers, sub do u have? Tech specs? Receiver/amplifier?? I'm looking at the Energy 5.1 tower set myself. Futureshop gives great deals during boxing day sales.

Logitech 540

I had them eons ago, gave them to my father, then he moved to a condo where it was too loud, so I got them back.
They are POWERFUL for a set of computer speakers.
I remember my neighbor saying he could hear them (two detached houses).
My wife will hate them :D
JamesA1 wrote: The rule for the subwoofer is to put it where you are going to sit, then move around the room and listen to where it sounds best. Then reverse the positions of you and the subwoofer - it should sound the same.
I can't exactly put them under my sofa.
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Jul 15, 2008
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alkizmo wrote: I can't exactly put them under my sofa.
What JamesA1 is saying is to put the subwoofer on the sofa seat you will sit on, then power it up and go around the room to hear where it sounds best. Once you found that nice sweet spot, place the sub there. He isn't telling you to put the sub underneath your sofa haha.
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Jul 13, 2009
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Loud?

I don't remember them being *that* powerful.

I had the 640, 5.1 set. They were good for the price, bought at $55. I sold them for $35.

For that size area, I suggest looking at a good decent 65watt/ch system like this http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/onk ... ageIndex=1

That will give you lasting value. As for placement, I would suggest wall mounting the rears so they fire directly to the sofa from left and right. Fronts should be mounted high, at viewing level beside the TV. Sub usually best in corners...but something you should play around with. Subs should sound as 'invisible' as possible, and be careful of placement as it will rattle things.


alkizmo wrote: I want them to be on the rear, but they could be hooked to the ceiling, or wall, but where?



Logitech 540

I had them eons ago, gave them to my father, then he moved to a condo where it was too loud, so I got them back.
They are POWERFUL for a set of computer speakers.
I remember my neighbor saying he could hear them (two detached houses).
My wife will hate them :D



I can't exactly put them under my sofa.
Deal Guru
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Apr 24, 2006
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Sub should really go in a corner
Deal Guru
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chinesedevil wrote: What JamesA1 is saying is to put the subwoofer on the sofa seat you will sit on, then power it up and go around the room to hear where it sounds best. Once you found that nice sweet spot, place the sub there. He isn't telling you to put the sub underneath your sofa haha.
Really? Wouldn't the sub's vibrations be different based on its proximity to walls, corners and such? Meaning that on the sofa it might sound one way while I stand in a corner, but when you reverse the positions, it would be different.
bhrm wrote: Loud?

I don't remember them being *that* powerful.

I had the 640, 5.1 set. They were good for the price, bought at $55. I sold them for $35.

For that size area, I suggest looking at a good decent 65watt/ch system like this http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/onk ... ageIndex=1

That will give you lasting value. As for placement, I would suggest wall mounting the rears so they fire directly to the sofa from left and right. Fronts should be mounted high, at viewing level beside the TV. Sub usually best in corners...but something you should play around with. Subs should sound as 'invisible' as possible, and be careful of placement as it will rattle things.

Well, it isn't THAT loud, as in night club loud, but it is loud enough that we never go near the full volume.
The 65W/Channel system you linked would be way too much if the Logitech 540 is enough, though I do plan one day to get a better sound system as these (540) are technically just PC speakers with 3.5mm audio jacks.

Tijuana wrote: Sub should really go in a corner
Yup, it seems everyone is saying that. In a corner it will go, too bad I don't have any free corners, I will have to free up something.
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alkizmo wrote: Really? Wouldn't the sub's vibrations be different based on its proximity to walls, corners and such? Meaning that on the sofa it might sound one way while I stand in a corner, but when you reverse the positions, it would be different.
No, it's basic Acoustics 101 - the position of your ear and the position of the speaker can be exchanged without changing the sound. The sound waves traverse the exact same path, just in reverse. The idea is that if you put the speaker at the listening position where your ear is going to be normally, then move around the room checking out walls, corners etc. until you find the sweet spot where it sounds good, that's exactly where you want the speaker to go.
Deal Guru
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JamesA1 wrote: No, it's basic Acoustics 101 - the position of your ear and the position of the speaker can be exchanged without changing the sound. The sound waves traverse the exact same path, just in reverse. The idea is that if you put the speaker at the listening position where your ear is going to be normally, then move around the room checking out walls, corners etc. until you find the sweet spot where it sounds good, that's exactly where you want the speaker to go.
Ah I see.

Well anyway I believe I will be limited to only where I CAN place the sub and not where it sounds better :p

Now if you don't mind me guys, I will be making a new thread to get speaker recommendation for my price range and room size.
Seems like a center speaker is quite the hot thing (and all my HDTV stuff is in 6 channels).

edit - Holy crap I just realized I was wrong about my speakers. They aren't the 540, they are the 560.

No wonder bhrm didn't think my speakers were powerful. These were 40W speakers while mine are 400W.

Crap, that means I do need powerful speakers which means money.
I think I'll install my 560 instead of buying new ones right away.
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I assumed you were using the typical receiver with a 4.1 set. Didnt know you were using puter speakers. That means no calibration. A good deal is the 5.1 energy system. Very popular and typically goes on sale for $499 or less, full set at xmas and boxing day at Futureshop. But you need a decent receiver. Decent set for a small room.

http://www.energy-speakers.com/home-the ... CLASSI-5-1

[IMG]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/7 ... A1500_.jpg[/IMG]

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aznnorth wrote: I assumed you were using the typical receiver with a 4.1 set. Didnt know you were using puter speakers. That means no calibration. A good deal is the 5.1 energy system. Very popular and typically goes on sale for $499 or less, full set at xmas and boxing day at Futureshop. But you need a decent receiver. Decent set for a small room.
Well I use my computer. Everything, absolutely everything plays from the computer. I don't feel like control is lacking.
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Oct 15, 2005
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i would place the small satellute speakers on the ceiling corners pointing down.
you wont need anything super powerful for that size of a room.
heck you can even use in wall speakers.
your space is limited and you don't want anything obstructive in the space you already have.
sub you can put beside or behind the couch even under if you can fit under there.
you can get nice mounts here as well as in wall speakers here as well.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subde ... id=1082804

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subde ... id=1083702

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subde ... id=1083703

you can also check ebay. some sellers sell mono stuff at a fraction of the price.
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infamouskid wrote: i would place the small satellute speakers on the ceiling corners pointing down.
you wont need anything super powerful for that size of a room.
heck you can even use in wall speakers.
your space is limited and you don't want anything obstructive in the space you already have.
sub you can put beside or behind the couch even under if you can fit under there.
you can get nice mounts here as well as in wall speakers here as well.
Mirage line of speakers fire sound up and outwards. The OS-Sat and nanosat miniature speakers can do the same. No need to drill holes in the walls and ceilings. I've personally tested and tried these. They really work but pricing appears to be out of OP's limit.

Small, takes little space. You can even place the the surrounds on coffee tables beside the couch or on small stands. Takes very little space in small room.

http://www.amazon.com/electronics/dp/B001IX5IZA

http://www.miragespeakers.com/home-thea ... sku=MX-5-1

http://www.miragespeakers.com/home-thea ... NO-SAT-5-1

http://www.miragespeakers.com/home-thea ... PRESTIGE-5 (sub-woofer sold separately).

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infamouskid wrote: you can get nice mounts here as well as in wall speakers here as well.
Monoprice, the location for most cables and accessories :p

Good thing the logitech Z560 already come with wall mounts :D

I mounted them today, and oh wow... OH wow, even if they are not 5.1, they wake up the whole house and more!

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