How to Set Up Home Theater Speakers (Advanced)

Setting up a home theater is easy. Setting up a home theater that sounds amazing takes a little more work than the average how-to article. I will show you the advanced method to setting your speakers to fully utilize your system.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Home theater system, place to put it, speaker stands, screws, screwdriver, and anything else for mounting

1. CENTER CHANNEL SPEAKER PLACEMENT
   
   Horizontal – Horizontally centered in the listening area. Orient the speaker to the main listening position.
   
   Vertical – Place the center of the speaker at seated ear height. Orient the speaker to the main listening position.
   
   Vertical Alternate – You may place the speaker within +7 to -3 degrees from seated ear height. If such placement is not possible, locate the speaker above the display device. In this situation, the vertical center of the display device should be at the same height as the center of the front left and front right speakers. Orientation should always be to the main listening position.

2. FRONT CHANNEL (LEFT/RIGHT) SPEAKER PLACEMENT
   
   Horizontal – Placement should be +-22.5 degrees (respectively) from the center of the listening area, to form a 45 degree separation when measured from the main listening position. The speakers should be oriented so that the speakers are pointed directly at the main listening point. It is also desirable to have the distance from the speakers to the nearest side wall be the same as the result of dividing the room width by an odd number.
   
   Horizontal Alternate – You may place the main speakers up to +-15 degrees from the + or - 22.5 degree line (respectively). Both speakers should be placed symmetrically. As you adjust the angle, you will also adjust the soundstage width. A wider soundstage will be prone to “holes” in the transition of sound from a main speaker to the center channel. Orient the speakers to point directly at the main listening position.
   
   Vertical – Place the center of the speaker at seated ear height. In the case of front projection displays, or if you are not placing the front speakers at the same height as the center channel speaker, the center of the speakers should be in line with the vertical center of the display device. Orientation will be to the main listening position.
   
   Vertical Alternate – You may place the speakers within +7 to -3 degrees from seated ear height. Try to keep the main speakers and center channel speaker as close to the same height as possible.

3. SIDE SURROUND SPEAKER PLACEMENT
   
   Horizontal – Directly to the left and right of the main listening position. In the case of a speaker with a null zone, the null should be oriented to the main listening position. For direct radiating speakers, the drivers should be oriented to the main listening position.
   
   Horizontal Alternate – You may have the speakers up to 20 degrees to the rear of the main listening position.
   
   Vertical – The speakers should be placed higher than seated ear height, up to +15 degrees from the main listening position. Orientation should always be flat so as not to point the speakers directly at the main listening position.

4. SURROUND BACK SPEAKER PLACEMENT
   
   Surround back speakers should always be placed at the same height as the side surrounds. In the case of a single surround back speaker, it should be horizontally centered to the rear of the main listening position. For two back surrounds, there are two ways to place them. First, you may separate the speakers anywhere from 60 to 90 degrees horizontally and orient them either forward or toed-in to the listening environment. Second, for THX certified systems, you should place both speakers side by side and centered horizontally to the rear of the main listening position, oriented straight into the listening environment with no toe-in.

5. SUBWOOFER PLACEMENT
   
   The subwoofer is the single most misunderstood component of any home theater system.
   
   Horizontal – The subwoofer should be horizontally centered between the front left and front right speakers, on the same axis as the center channel speaker.
   
   Vertical – Most subwoofers will need to be placed on the floor, oriented to the listening environment. Adjust the depth and height of the subwoofer to get the subwoofer as close to the same distance from the front left, center, and front right speakers as possible.
   
   Multiple Subwoofers
   
   The use of more than one subwoofer may be desirable. However, you should always align one of the subwoofers as described above. You must use crossovers and delay to guide the frequencies of the extra subwoofers in such a way that their sound will properly blend with the rest of the sound stage. For one extra subwoofer, center it to the rear of the main listening position. For two extra subwoofers, center both of them to the sides of the listening environment. For three extra subwoofers, do both.

6. SPEAKER DISTANCE, DELAY, AND LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS
   
   Ideally, each speaker in the home theater system will be placed the same distance from the main listening position. However, this is not always possible. It is possible to compensate for this by programming time delay in the receiver. Consult the receiver’s user’s manual for further instructions. Once time delay has been programmed, the level of each speaker will need to be calibrated so that each speaker and subwoofer plays at the exact same volume. Use the receiver’s built in test tones and an SPL meter to calibrate the volume of each speaker and subwoofer.

Tips & Warnings

• Symmetrical placement is required. The left side should always, under all circumstances, mirror the right side.
• Contrary to popular belief, putting the subwoofer in the corner is not correct.