How should I arrange 5.1 in this room (w/ room plan)?

[joxang]

Student bedroom with desks in an L-shaped arrangement like below. TV on one desk which I use to watch films (often sitting on bed) + play racing games, monitor on the second desk that I use to game. Ideally I'd like one 5.1 speaker arrangement to cover both needs (don't want to run two 2.0/2.1 speakers off separate soundcards).

As I know practically nothing about audio set-ups, do people think there's some way of getting away with a 5.1 arrangement here? Is 5.1 even the best idea?

 

[Somnambulist]

I guess you sort of wanted speakers going around the desk, with different ones performing different duties depending on which screen you're using, but I dunno how you'd pull that off given the L/R stereo pair is the L/R stereo pair, the centre is the centre e.t.c. Your rears/sides are going to be in completely different places given the positions of the TV and monitor, for instance.

Budget depending, I would probably get a 2.1 for the monitor, and some 2.0's for the TV that can be hooked up to a sub (i.e. the one from the 2.1), with a speaker switch to flip the sub's duties based on what you're using at the time. That way you'd have a 2.1 for both.

 

[Audigex]

It is doable - the layout is pretty much the same as my uni room apart from the monitors are together. To do both systems on the same setup, the best way if you can afford it is to get an amp and hifi speakers. It's a higher initial outlay, but the speakers should last you a decade, and it gives the best flexibility.

What you need:
AV Receiver - second hand is probably your best bet. You can get a decent Onkyo for £150 with HDMI switching. I got the SR605. Just look for anything that has enough HDMI ports for your use
5 speakers. Ideally you want a matching set of centre, left, right front speakers, and probably a smaller matching set of rear speakers.
Subwoofer.

You're looking at £250 for the 5 main speakers, 100 for the sub and 150 for the amp - so £500 overall.

HOWEVER
You're a student and presumably looking at how to do this cheaply can do the system for less. I found that actually the sub was overpowering in a uni room... 4 decent bookshelf speakers provide ample bass: all I did was turn the bass up on my amp and it has more bass than any of my friends' 2.1 systems.

Similarly you don't actually need 5.1. The left and right front speakers can work together in stereo to provide the sound from the centre speaker. You just need to make sure that they are the same distance from the monitor. I'd advise adding a centre and a sub later on, when you move to a bigger room: but you REALLY don't need it yet.

So the system can be done for £350. £50x4 speakers, and £150 for a decent amp: possibly slightly less.

You don't state a budget, but it's a brilliant way to do a system if you have the £350.

In terms of placement, you would be best off moving both monitors towards the corner of the desk, and placing the front speakers each side of them, centred on the film TV. The rear speakers then go as close to the corners of the bed as possible - you want them in line with your ears if possible, but they'll work okay a bit further forward, angled behind you. A subwoofer, if you get it, can go anywhere in the room.

 

[PhillyDee]

I thinks its more important to move your chair upright tbh!
Can you not move the monitor to make it easier?

 

[whitecrook]

just get a good stereo system. forget about stuffing gadgets and all sorts into your tiny room and wasting all your money.

 

[joxang]

I have a stereo system supplementing the TV atm, but it's annoying having sound coming from my left when I'm using my monitor. I have a bit of spare cash from selling stuff atm and a 5.1 system would also be a longer term investment as when I move into new accommodation it would all come with me. Am going to probably need a van though .

In terms of placement, you would be best off moving both monitors towards the corner of the desk, and placing the front speakers each side of them, centred on the film TV. The rear speakers then go as close to the corners of the bed as possible - you want them in line with your ears if possible, but they'll work okay a bit further forward, angled behind you. A subwoofer, if you get it, can go anywhere in the room.

Thanks for the suggestion! I may well look at some screen rearrangement and report back.

 

[Audigex]

It definitely seemed to help in my situation. The only problem I found is that it makes it a bit awkward sitting sideways on the bed if there's more than a couple of you. In that situation I tend to move the TV and front speakers back round to the side, and turn surround off temporarily as it skews a bit when the speakers aren't aligned properly. There again, my room looks more square than yours if your diagram is approximately accurate, so you may find it's still angled enough to get away with the surround.