How to Set Up a Polk Audio Home Theater System

Learning how to position the speakers is the most important part of setting up of a Polk Audio home theater system. Good speaker placement is vital because it enhances the listening experience, while poor speaker placement can be distracting. Follow these steps to learn the science of speaker placement.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Polk Audio Home Theater System

1. Set up the front left and right speakers so that they flank the television or video display screen. If your Polk Audio system uses bookshelf speakers, you may want to place them slightly above the level of the television. Try to keep at least 3 feet between the speakers.

2. Place the center speaker. The center speaker is placed on the centerline of the television screen. You may place this speaker above the screen or below the screen, but try to keep the center speaker close to the television.

3. Set up the rear "left surround" and "right surround" speakers. They should be placed farther apart than the left and right speakers. Try to keep them about the same distance away from the listeners as the front speakers.

4. Choose a spot for the sub-woofer. Many people like to place the sub-woofer near the seating area so that the sub-sonic rumble of a movie soundtrack is felt as well as heard.

5. Connect the speakers to the receiver. Make good, solid connections for best performance. And make sure that you're not crossing the left and right channels.

6. Hook up the receiver to the television. Double-check all connections.

7. Power up the system. Insert your favorite DVD into the receiver and check for sound quality issues. You may have to make minor adjustments to the placement of the speakers until you have optimized your stereo sound.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that all of your audio equipment is turned off before making any connections. This protects the speakers from power spikes and surges that may damage the cones.
• As a guide that can be tweaked to perfection, speaker placement is roughly in the shape of an equilateral triangle if one of the points were clipped off. The clipped-off point is where the television and front speakers go, with the rear speakers at the two remaining points.
• Keep the sub-woofer at least 3 feet away from your television screen. The magnets used in the sub-woofer may cause interference.