Rear Speaker placement?

Deep

Deep

Deep

Soldato
Joined
29 Jul 2004
Posts
6,621
Location
Esher
You may have seen this structural plan from my previous posts on this forum.
I've already got a set of Monitor Audio Bronze 500 and a Marantz NR1608 (I think it was) AV receiver.
I want to use a 5.1 system in my lounge but not sure where to put the rear speakers.

439C4nU.png


The TV, centre, fronts and sub will all go along the exterior wall (above the word lounge) and my sofa will be against the wall with the door.
Can the rear speakers be facing downwards or should they be at "ear level"? If so I would probably have to get some stands but can plan around that
 
The ideal placement is either side or slightly behind the listening position, and about 12" (30cm) above ear height when seated. However, in your case that won't be possible. With the couch close to the back wall, the potential left speaker position by the window is sitting behind the outcrop of the corner return that is the cloakroom. This rules out the mirror position on the right just past where the door opens out. This is before considering practicality such as drape positions and a speaker being in the way as someone enters/exits the room.

I think high up, facing down is your most practical solution. Look at MA Radius 45. The tweeter faces backwards so it diffuses rather than drawing attention to itself at such a short throw distance. This, or in-ceilings, but you'll have to think about how to stop the sound leaking up into the rooms above. You can end up spending as much or more on a fire hood with acoustic damping as you would a speaker.
 
Deep said:
You may have seen this structural plan from my previous posts on this forum.
I've already got a set of Monitor Audio Bronze 500 and a Marantz NR1608 (I think it was) AV receiver.
I want to use a 5.1 system in my lounge but not sure where to put the rear speakers.

439C4nU.png


The TV, centre, fronts and sub will all go along the exterior wall (above the word lounge) and my sofa will be against the wall with the door.
Can the rear speakers be facing downwards or should they be at "ear level"? If so I would probably have to get some stands but can plan around that
Click to expand...

I'd put them above the wall where it says "hall" also look into wall mount bipole speakers
 
hornetstinger said:
Since you have Monitor Audio speakers

Bronze FX | Monitor Audio

The Monitor Audio Bronze FX rear speaker delivers a true home cinema experience and will surround you in sound.
www.monitoraudio.com www.monitoraudio.com
Click to expand...
Yeah I'll be looking at which ones to get, but will stick with MA as they've done me well
hornetstinger said:
I'd put them above the wall where it says "hall" also look into wall mount bipole speakers
Click to expand...
That was my initial thought as well, I'll probably wall mount them but will look into stands just in case

lucid said:
The ideal placement is either side or slightly behind the listening position, and about 12" (30cm) above ear height when seated. However, in your case that won't be possible. With the couch close to the back wall, the potential left speaker position by the window is sitting behind the outcrop of the corner return that is the cloakroom. This rules out the mirror position on the right just past where the door opens out. This is before considering practicality such as drape positions and a speaker being in the way as someone enters/exits the room.

I think high up, facing down is your most practical solution. Look at MA Radius 45. The tweeter faces backwards so it diffuses rather than drawing attention to itself at such a short throw distance. This, or in-ceilings, but you'll have to think about how to stop the sound leaking up into the rooms above. You can end up spending as much or more on a fire hood with acoustic damping as you would a speaker.
Click to expand...
I'm definitely interested in the MA Radius 45 as they come in walnut as well.
I am thinking to put the speakers either side of where the sofa will be, so next to the door and on the other side of the cloakroom midway up the wall.
I can but don't want to do ceiling speakers, on the upper floor I'm going to be having underfloor heating and while it'll have acoustic matting I don't want my speakers getting hot so just to be careful.
 
Deep said:
I can but don't want to do ceiling speakers, on the upper floor I'm going to be having underfloor heating and while it'll have acoustic matting I don't want my speakers getting hot so just to be careful.
Click to expand...
That's info you didn't give in the OP. We can only advise on the basis of what you tell us. If there's something that's going to affect equipment choices or how you use the gear then you need to include that stuff in your opening post.

Deep said:
I'm definitely interested in the MA Radius 45 as they come in walnut as well.
I am thinking to put the speakers either side of where the sofa will be, so next to the door and on the other side of the cloakroom midway up the wall.
Click to expand...

Since you'll have underfloor heating upstairs, then that also rules out in-ceilings for Atmos (since your 1608 is 5.1.2 capable), but not upfirers. Your speaker choice for the ground level surrounds does depend to a degree on whether you plan to go Atmos sometime in the future. With a major rebuild/refurbishment job then it's prudent to include wiring now for what might reasonably progress to in the future. The argument here is simple. Opening up walls and ceilings just to run speaker wire is expensive, messy and disruptive. The cost of adding that wiring now while you have all the mess going on - even if it never gets used - is a drop in the ocean.

If Atmos will never ever happen, then you can choose diffuse surrounds. The Bronze FX are a good choice.

@hornetstinger is correct. If you're going to be close to the speakers then you don't really want direct firing monopoles (ordinary speakers) because they'll just be too distracting. That's part of the reason why the 45s work well. The tweeter doesn't point at the listener. It points away. Position them about 1ft from the ceiling, and facing diagonally down. The 45 speakers will work okay with Atmos. The FX though won't image correctly when working with the other Atmos speakers to create the height effects.
 
Also to add to above regarding diffused surround speakers in 5.1 and direct firing (all round) for atmos, just how common will discrete (not expanded) atmos mixes be? 95% of my material is 5.1 and 7.1 lossy or lossless, so the compromise of diffused surround speakers to direct- seems a fair one. Also cost of changing them.
 
lucid said:
That's info you didn't give in the OP. We can only advise on the basis of what you tell us. If there's something that's going to affect equipment choices or how you use the gear then you need to include that stuff in your opening post.



Since you'll have underfloor heating upstairs, then that also rules out in-ceilings for Atmos (since your 1608 is 5.1.2 capable), but not upfirers. Your speaker choice for the ground level surrounds does depend to a degree on whether you plan to go Atmos sometime in the future. With a major rebuild/refurbishment job then it's prudent to include wiring now for what might reasonably progress to in the future. The argument here is simple. Opening up walls and ceilings just to run speaker wire is expensive, messy and disruptive. The cost of adding that wiring now while you have all the mess going on - even if it never gets used - is a drop in the ocean.

If Atmos will never ever happen, then you can choose diffuse surrounds. The Bronze FX are a good choice.
Click to expand...
Good point, I completely forgot about UFH having an impact on this.
Honestly I'm not an audiophile in the sense I want the latest and greatest, I've never had a proper 5.1 so this will be a big step up. I've only ever had a 3.0!

The I will probably get the Bronze FX speakers as they'll fit in and will just need to research how high I need to put them.

Edit
Hold the phone I just read on the MA site that I can put the dolby speakers on top of my normal speakers?

Document Library

A Powerful Brand Powered by Frontify
brand.monitoraudio.group brand.monitoraudio.group

What do you all think of this concept?
 
Last edited:
Deep said:
Good point, I completely forgot about UFH having an impact on this.
Honestly I'm not an audiophile in the sense I want the latest and greatest, I've never had a proper 5.1 so this will be a big step up. I've only ever had a 3.0!

The I will probably get the Bronze FX speakers as they'll fit in and will just need to research how high I need to put them.

Edit
Hold the phone I just read on the MA site that I can put the dolby speakers on top of my normal speakers?

Document Library

A Powerful Brand Powered by Frontify
brand.monitoraudio.group brand.monitoraudio.group

What do you all think of this concept?
Click to expand...

Dolby upfirers aren't as good as ceiling or height speakers, angled down and placed a high as possible on the wall
 
hornetstinger said:
Dolby upfirers aren't as good as ceiling or height speakers, angled down and placed a high as possible on the wall
Click to expand...
Oh that's good to hear, then I'll stick with the Bronze FX as mentioned earlier.
I tried to find out how high to place them on the wall but was struggling to find an answer
 
Deep said:
Oh that's good to hear, then I'll stick with the Bronze FX as mentioned earlier.
I tried to find out how high to place them on the wall but was struggling to find an answer
Click to expand...

In 5.1 system put FX to ear height or about one foot above ear height

In Atmos system you wouldn't use FX speakers as they're diffused you'd use monopole speakers. With monopole speakers as atmos height.
 
Thanks so much!

Just to give you a updated view of what I'm working with!

Side view of the room
SAMhQGe.jpeg

TV wall
uY7qWk3.jpeg

Sofa and door wall
nQ1Kz75.jpeg
 
hornetstinger said:
Ore wire system to 7.2.4 or whatever you think you may need.

Lay trunking for hdmi cables where you can replace whenever needed. Lay one in for projector as well
Click to expand...
I'd love to eventually plan for a surround system like that but I feel with the sofa being against the wall I'll lose a lot of the impact, which then makes me reconsider whether it's worth it.

I want to eventually get a projector and will be planning some conduit for a projector above the sofa area.
 
Deep said:
I'd love to eventually plan for a surround system like that but I feel with the sofa being against the wall I'll lose a lot of the impact, which then makes me reconsider whether it's worth it.

I want to eventually get a projector and will be planning some conduit for a projector above the sofa area.
Click to expand...

Use bipole wall mount rear speakers and you'll be ok
 
If you want to go audiophile:
* Start with what you're going to listen to
* Next design around the positioning of the kit and your listening spot(s).
* Then design/treat the room - materials, that can include the build itself of the room.
* Make sure you have enough power connectors :) and route a circuit for the equipment to a separate breaker on the consumer box.
* Use decent metal shielded conduit pipes - use set of one pipes for power, a different set of pipes for speakers, another for signal if need be. Don't let them touch (ground loops) but then ground at a single point in the room in a star format so noise goes back to the earth but doesn't create current flow around the conduits.
* Filter(s) on the power.. simplest way is to use an IEC inlet filter (or a normal mains cable with a IEC filter plug at the equipment end). That will help reduce noise from the house.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom