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Surround Speakers Position Review

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  • The placement of "ear height" surround speakers is generally very similar for the various immersive formats. We tend to focus on the Dolby guidelines.
  • A useful generalization is to imagine each pair of adjacent surround speakers as you do the LCRs. A narrower listening angle improves focus and envelopment; thus the development of high channel count systems.
  • One issue to be considered is the possibility of an excessive gap between the speakers. A good course of action is to try to equalize the separation between the speakers.
  • Equalizing the angles allows the placement to form spokes like a bicycle wheel emanating from the MLP.
  • In common 7.1.4 systems the absence of the "Wide" speaker is augmented by lateral reflections filling the large gap between the front and first surround speakers.
  • One should avoid placing speakers too close to listeners, and in particular immediately aside any row.
  • Surround height is important as all speakers should have a clear line of sight to all listeners.
  • Speakers in front of the first (or only) row should be at the same height as the LCRs which should be at the MLP ear height.
  • Speakers behind a row should be elevated 12" (30 cm) above the top of the listeners head of the next forward row.
  • For multi-row theaters, this progression of speaker elevation should continue as the diagram shows.
  • If possible, all speakers should be pointed at the MLP to assure the maximum SPL capability of the speaker is obtained.
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