5.1, where do you put the back 2 speakers?

[Percussionista]

I only just realized after all this time that in a 5.1 setup, the "rear" speakers were intended to be in the rear of the room but on the side walls not the back walls. As I have them only temporarily setup I could possibly do this, they would be just behind the seating position and only about a foot or two from the back wall. Can't put them right at the seating position. Will I really notice a difference having them on the side/back rather than the back? I certainly haven't noticed anything "odd" before!

Oops, my first poll... can't find a way to edit it... just ignore that first "category", I thought I was putting in a title.

[ttocs]

Side or back is not really important, the angles are what I pay attention to.

When I had a 5.1 setup the speakers were mounted in the wall behind the seating, but I was able to get the appropriate angles correct relative to the MLP. If the room were deeper then the speakers might have needed to be mounted on side walls.

From Dolby:

[audiogeek]

I guess mine are screwed up... due to the room config, I had to mount them in the ceiling above and slightly behind the MLP. I have tall angled and vaulted ceilings so it’s not a simple task to place them. If I wanted them on the sides they would be ahead of the MLP, so I felt high rear was a better solution. The room does sound good due to all the multiple angles though.

[ttocs]

Jun 16, 2021 12:23:29 GMT -5 audiogeek said:

I guess mine are screwed up... due to the room config, I had to mount them in the ceiling above and slightly behind the MLP. I have tall angled and vaulted ceilings so it’s not a simple task to place them. If I wanted them on the sides they would be ahead of the MLP, so I felt high rear was a better solution. The room does sound good due to all the multiple angles though.

The height of the Surrounds in a 5.1 config isn't a big deal, I had mine mounted as high as possible, just below 8'. My ceiling is a cathedral also, so the roof shingles are only 8" above the plaster so no speakers are getting mounted into it.

[Percussionista]

Hmm, ok, I can see this "ideal" situation. In my case, with the E2+'s normally mounted flat against a wall, that wouldn't be possible without rolling my own wall attachments instead, but on the other hand they have capability for different kinds of dispersion which will help. I think keeping them on the back wall in this case allows them to radiate directly at our seating.

Jun 16, 2021 12:01:12 GMT -5 ttocs said:

Side or back is not really important, the angles are what I pay attention to...

[ttocs]

Jun 16, 2021 13:35:50 GMT -5 Percussionista said:

Hmm, ok, I can see this "ideal" situation. In my case, with the E2+'s normally mounted flat against a wall, that wouldn't be possible without rolling my own wall attachments instead, but on the other hand they have capability for different kinds of dispersion which will help. I think keeping them on the back wall in this case allows them to radiate directly at our seating.

Jun 16, 2021 12:01:12 GMT -5 ttocs said:

Side or back is not really important, the angles are what I pay attention to...

And that's just what it is, it's just the "ideal" setup. None of this stuff is written in stone. Ya gotta work with what 'cha got.

My Rear Left and Surround Left are both close to 16' away, vs the Surround Right at 7', and the Rear Right at 12'. It's a multipurpose room, kitchen, dining, living. Zigzags and depth differences abound. So before I went ATMOS, and after I went to 7.1, the Surround Left turned into the Rear Left, and the Surround Left was on top of one of the kitchen wall cabinets, and the Surround Right was about the same height as the average of the others. After going to ATMOS I moved the Rears down and got in-wall speakers, moved the Surrounds down with in-walls, and repurposed the wall hanging Rears and Surrounds for hanging from the ceiling. The only speaker out of spec for angle is the Surround Left, but it's really close, sounds fine, and the most important part - I'm happy!

A couple of the guys that come over for Movie Night!, don't have a clue about all the audio stuff, they just enjoy it!

[JKCashin]

Crutchfield has a setup guide... www.crutchfield.com/learn/learningcenter/home/speaker_placement.html

[405x5]

Jun 16, 2021 15:05:08 GMT -5 ttocs said:

Jun 16, 2021 13:35:50 GMT -5 Percussionista said:

Hmm, ok, I can see this "ideal" situation. In my case, with the E2+'s normally mounted flat against a wall, that wouldn't be possible without rolling my own wall attachments instead, but on the other hand they have capability for different kinds of dispersion which will help. I think keeping them on the back wall in this case allows them to radiate directly at our seating.

And that's just what it is, it's just the "ideal" setup. None of this stuff is written in stone. Ya gotta work with what 'cha got.

My Rear Left and Surround Left are both close to 16' away, vs the Surround Right at 7', and the Rear Right at 12'. It's a multipurpose room, kitchen, dining, living. Zigzags and depth differences abound. So before I went ATMOS, and after I went to 7.1, the Surround Left turned into the Rear Left, and the Surround Left was on top of one of the kitchen wall cabinets, and the Surround Right was about the same height as the average of the others. After going to ATMOS I moved the Rears down and got in-wall speakers, moved the Surrounds down with in-walls, and repurposed the wall hanging Rears and Surrounds for hanging from the ceiling. The only speaker out of spec for angle is the Surround Left, but it's really close, sounds fine, and the most important part - I'm happy!

A couple of the guys that come over for Movie Night!, don't have a clue about all the audio stuff, they just enjoy it!

You nailed it.
My room mandated the surround locations (not the chart).