System Configuration
When all audio, video and system con-
nections have been made, there are a few
configuration adjustments to be made. A
few minutes spent to correctly configure
and calibrate the unit will greatly add to
your listening experience.
Speaker Selection and Placement
The placement of speakers in a multi-
channel-home-theater system can have
a noticeable impact on the quality of
sound reproduced.
No matter which type or brand of speakers
is used, the same model or brand of
speaker should be used for the front left,
center and right speakers. This creates a
seamless front soundstage, and elimi-
nates the possibility of distracting sonic
disturbances that occur when a sound
moves across mismatched front channel
speakers.
Speaker Placement
Depending on the type of center channel
speaker in use and your viewing device,
place the center speaker directly above or
below your TV or in the center behind a
perforated front projection screen.
Once the center channel speaker is
installed, position the left and right
front speakers so that they are as far
away from one another as the center
channel speaker is from the preferred
listening position. Ideally, the front
channel speakers should be placed so
that their tweeters are no more than 24"
off center from the tweeter in the center
channel speaker.
Depending on the specifics of your room
acoustics and the type of speakers in use,
you may find that imaging is improved
by moving the front left and right speak-
ers slightly forward of the center channel
speaker. If possible, adjust all front
loudspeakers so that they are aimed at
ear height when you are seated in the
listening position.
Using these guidelines, you’ll find that it
takes some experimentation to find the
correct location for the front speakers in
your particular installation. Don’t be
afraid to move things around until the
system sounds correct. Optimize your
speakers so that pans across the front of
the room sound smooth, and that sounds
from all speakers appear to arrive at the
listening position at the same time with-
out delay from the center speaker as
opposed to the left and right speakers.
Surround speakers should be placed on
the side walls of the room, at or slightly
behind the listening position. The center
of the speaker should face into the room.
The speakers should be located so that
the bottom of the cabinet is at least two
feet higher than the listeners’ ears when
seated in the desired area.
If side wall mounting is not practical, the
speakers may be placed on a rear wall,
behind the listening position. Again, they
should be located so that the bottom of
the cabinet is at least two feet higher
than the listeners’ ears. The speakers
should be no more than six feet behind
the rear of the seating area.
Subwoofers produce non-directional
sound, so they may be placed almost
anywhere in a room. Subwoofer place-
ment is highly influenced by room size
and shape, and the type of subwoofer
used. Follow the instructions of the sub-
woofer’s manufacturer, or experiment
with the best location for a subwoofer in
your listening room.
17
Right Front
Speaker
Left Front
Speaker
No more
than 24"
Center Front Speaker
A) Front Channel Speaker Installation
with Direct-View TV Sets or Rear-Screen
Projectors
Center Front
Speaker
Optional Rear Wall Mounting
TV or Projection Screen
Right Front
Speaker
Left Front
Speaker
No more than 6 feet
when rear-mounted
speakers are used
At least 2 feet
At least 6 inches from ceiling
B) The distance between the left and right
speakers should be equal to the distance
from the seating position to the viewing
screen.You may also experiment with
placing the left and right speakers slightly
forward of the center speaker.
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