The Best Sound

DOES IT REALLY MATTER WHERE I PLACE MY SPEAKERS?

Speaker placement is very important in order to achieve the best performance in any given room. Of course, it's not always possible to place your speakers at the optimum locations – room layouts and configurations can limit you. However, by follow certain guidelines, your listening experience will be as good as possible for that given space.

The center channel speaker, or the "front" speaker that goes in the middle, should be centered with the screen, as close to ear level (when seated) as possible. Your two front speakers, a left and right, should be placed in the front of the room, an equal distance from the center channel speaker. Ideally, your front speakers should also be positioned at ear level (when seated). Your surround speakers (rear and/or side speakers) should be placed behind and/or to the sides of your seating area. The recommended height for the surround speakers is above ear level.

For your subwoofer, beyond keeping it on the floor, there is no specific rule for placement. However, the amount of bass and tightness of the bass may vary depending on the location. You may want to try a few different spots to determine what yields the best bass in your seating areas – Sometimes moving a sub just a few inches can have a dramatic change in sound.

Room acoustics also play a big part in sound performance. The shape of your room and how it is furnished will have an affect on the sound. For instance, too many bare surfaces can cause reflections that may add harshness to the sound. Adding soft (sound absorbing) surfaces like drapes, carpeting, and pillows can help. In addition, always try and have the seating area “centered” to the sound. The closer to the exact middle of the listening zone, the more dramatic the sound will be.