How to Set Up a PC 5.1 Speaker

A 5.1 speaker system is a set of five speakers and a subwoofer that are arranged to provide sound all around you. This is why 5.1 speakers are called surround-sound speakers. If you have 5.1 speakers for a PC, setting them up could not be any simpler. Once you connect the cable from the speakers to the sound jack on your PC, you just have to place the speakers correctly. Speakers have built-in feet, so there is no installation required.

Instructions

1. Place the center speaker directly above or below the PC. If your computer is in a display case and is raised high, place the speaker below. If the screen is at a regular height, then set the speaker on top of it.

2. Place the front left speaker to the left of the center speaker. The front speakers don’t need to be set at the same height as the center speaker.

3. Position the right front speaker to the right of the center one. It should be roughly the same distance from the center one as the left front speaker is, at the same height.

4. Set the left surround speaker to the left of the main seating area. You should try to avoid having anyone behind the surround speaker, as they will not hear the audio properly. Position the left surround speaker so it is slightly angled, pointing toward the right front speaker.

5. Place the right surround speaker so it is parallel to the left surround speaker. Angle the right surround so it faces the left front speaker.

6. Put the subwoofer to the right or the left of the center speaker. It doesn’t need to be at any particular height or angle.

Tips & Warnings

• If you plan on taking the speakers down and putting them up frequently, make a subtle mark for each of the speakers so you know exactly where to put them for the best sound.

• If your situation is unusual, these instructions may need to be adjusted slightly or the sound won’t be balanced.

References

• Panther Products: Surround Sound Setup
• Ecoustics: An Essential Guide to Home Theater Speaker Placement