Home Theater

In the past, one of the major reasons to go to the local movie theater was the theater’s sound system and its ability to immerse you in the action through sound. As home theater technology has progressed, many home owners find that they can match or exceed the local movie theater’s sound through their own home theater system.

Although you can certainly have a more advanced speaker setup, a typical home theater will have a 5.1 speaker setup which includes a left and right front main speaker, a center channel speaker and two surround speakers, plus a dedicated subwoofer channel (the .1).

The following simple speaker placement tips will help you experience the magic of the theater in the comfort of your own home.

1. Make sure the center channel is “anchored” to the screen. The role of the center channel is to communicate the dialog of the movie. If the person’s mouth is moving on the screen, but the sound is coming from off to the side the dialog will seem unnatural. A center channel speaker will be shielded so that you can place it near or directly on top of your tv.

2. Your front main speakers should have their tweeters located at ear level when sitting in the optimum listening position. It is important to invest in a quality pair of speaker stands so that you can make sure your speakers can be placed at the proper listening height.

3. The front main speakers and center channel should all be placed at an equal distance from the main listening position pointed towards the listener. The speakers will have a slight natural arc when placed in this fashion. They generally should be placed between 22 – 30 degrees from the main listening position.

4. Surround sound speakers should be placed directly to the left and right or slightly behind the main listening position and should be located about two feet above ear level. In a 6.1 system a third surround speaker is added behind the listener, but it is important to note that it is best for that speaker not to be in line with the center channel. A 7.1 system adds a rear left and a rear right full range surround channel that should be placed behind the listening position.

5. From my experience, the addition of a quality subwoofer to your setup will do wonders for your movie watching experience. Since deep bass is non directional, you have more options with where to place your subwoofer. Many people will place it in the front corner, but some prefer it in the back or hidden along the side. It is important to note that generally bass will be enhanced by being placed next to the wall and especially if placed in the corner.

These are some simple tips to get you started. Every speaker and room have their own unique qualities so use this information as a guide, but experiment further with speaker placement in your own home. Even moving a speaker a few inches can make a dramatic impact on the quality of the sound.

Although the new flat screen tvs are what are catching people’s attention, a quality sound system with properly placed speakers are what helps transform regular television viewing into a true cinematic experience.

HOME THEATER-PRO 1 (with before/after pics)

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