7.1 side & rear speaker heights

i'm putting a 7.1 system in my family room and need some advice on
rear speaker heights. i'm using identical in-wall speakers for all
channels (B&W CWM650)

the front left and right are centered on either side of the plasma,
center channel is just below screen. side channels will need to be
high (7') due to the fact that the room open on to the kitchen/dining
room and there is no wall below 7'.

rears could go at any height, they would look better if i get them up
out of the way at 7' like the sides but i don't want to do that if
they would sound significantly bettre at ear height.

my understanding is that so little comes from the rear that it
probably doesn't matter, but before i cut holes in the wall would
appreciate any feedback

primary seat to speaker distances a
fronts - 11'
sides - 5'
rears - 7'

thanks, alan

I personally like to install side or rear speakers at ear level while seated
but this isn't always possible. You can mount them higher -- all the way to
the ceiling -- without discerning much of a difference.

Regards,
Robert

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i'm putting a 7.1 system in my family room and need some advice on
rear speaker heights. i'm using identical in-wall speakers for all
channels (B&W CWM650)

the front left and right are centered on either side of the plasma,
center channel is just below screen. side channels will need to be
high (7') due to the fact that the room open on to the kitchen/dining
room and there is no wall below 7'.

rears could go at any height, they would look better if i get them up
out of the way at 7' like the sides but i don't want to do that if
they would sound significantly bettre at ear height.

my understanding is that so little comes from the rear that it
probably doesn't matter, but before i cut holes in the wall would
appreciate any feedback

primary seat to speaker distances a
fronts - 11'
sides - 5'
rears - 7'

thanks, alan

(alan) wrote:


| my understanding is that so little comes from the rear that it
| probably doesn't matter,
|

Not true. YMMV, though.

Go he

http://www.dolby.com/ht/Guide.HomeTheater.0110.html

I followed this guide to the letter when setting up my HT and I'm
delighted with the results. The surround envelopment is just awesome,
and I have only a 5.1 HT-in-a-box system.

I didn't want to drill holes into the wall so I use speaker stands on
top of end tables placed slightly to the rear of the couch.

Hyde
-it *is* from Dolby, after all
============================
"Ad hoc, ad loc and quid pro quo…
so little time, so much to know!".
~ Jeremy Hillary Boop ~

None of these guides talk about 7.1 placement!!! Here's
what I did to hook up seven speakers to the B&K 307.
Front and center speakers in front, a pair of dipoles
on the side walls, six inches down from the ceiling,
lined up with the main listening spot and then a pair
of direct firing speakers back in the corners of the
listening area, both firing forward towards the main listening
area. I have a powered subwofer in front on the left
side, behind the front speakers. I have my front speakers
about 4 feet away from the front wall. I sit about
14 feet back from the front speakers. My rear speakers
are about another 5 feet back. The back wall is another
12 feet back.

I used Chesky Record's 5.1 setup disk to balance and
place the speakers. They have one test where a white
noise is supposed to seemlessly circle around you. I
could get the sound to do that. I didn't use a sound
pressure meter, I just adjusted the levels by (my) ears.

I've had this setup for about a year now and I still
enjoy it. "Lord of the Rings" was excellant, with
sounds behind and above the listener. I could track
movement from left to right and from back to front.
In the first Harry Potter movie, I could distinctly
hear a flying broom go from front right to left rear.

I listen to DVD-Audio alot and I've bought a couple
of DTS audio disks. I'm thinking about swapping out my
DVD player for a SACD/DVD-Audio player.