AUDIO GUIDE

Loudspeaker setup:

Try as much as possible to follow the recommendations for speaker placement. AV receivers offer a wide range of options for electronically compensating for any compromises made during installation. In general, the rule applies anyway: You can always experiment on the basis of our recommendations to find out what works best acoustically on your premises. Let your ears decide!

In this post you will find information on room acoustics – this has a major impact on the sound of a home theater system.

Speaker installation in stereo systems

The rules for stereo speakers are basically applicable to all multi-channel configurations with front speakers. The two speakers and the listening area should ideally form the so-called stereo triangle . In this case, the distance between the two boxes is just as large as that between the receiver and the two speakers (which would result in an isosceles triangle if you thought of connecting lines).

The front speakers are angled at a 60-degree angle to the listening area. With the conversion factor 0.87, the ideal distance between the sitting position and the center between the speakers can be calculated – where the TV should be. The tip of the stereo triangle is often referred to as the “ sweet spot ”.

Example calculation: 4 m (speaker distance) x 0.87 = 3.48 m

• Stereo – all good things come in twos

Extend stereo speakers with a subwoofer: 2.1 set

The rules for positioning a subwoofer apply regardless of the specific speaker configuration in which it is set up. In general, the position of the subwoofer in the room is not that important anyway, because the source of bass (low frequencies) can only locate our hearing very rudimentarily or not at all. Nevertheless, something can go wrong when installing the subwoofer. The main thing is to ensure that the basses can spread in the room in the right way.

On the one hand, the subwoofer should be able to radiate the sound waves freely into the room and not be covered by cupboards or other furniture. On the other hand, it is important to prevent room resonances and erasures. The risk of these undesirable effects – also known as room modes – is particularly high if the subwoofer is in the corner of the room. Installation close to the wall can also have a negative effect. That is why the frequently recommended position “in the middle or slightly offset between the front speakers” is usually a good decision.

The speaker set-up for 5.1 systems

The speaker set-up of a classic home theater system consists of a total of six speakers. Two front speakers and the center speaker mainly reproduce voices, film music and the most important sound effects. The bass comes from the subwoofer and the two effect speakers produce the surround sound.

• 5.1 or 7.1? Which sound system is right for me?

Optimal height for 5.1 home cinema sets with dipoles in the rear area

In a 5.1 setup, the front loudspeakers in stereo tradition (as just mentioned: distance to the listener = distance between the left and right boxes) are placed next to the television at the same distance on the left and right or attached to the wall. The use of feet automatically ensures an optimal height of the front boxes.

Recommended dipole height

The following applies to wall or shelf speakers : The installation height should be between 40 centimeters and 1.20 meters. If the height is outside the range, you can also slightly bend the front speakers up or down in the direction of the listener position. It is important that the center and front speakers are located approximately on a straight line, possibly also on a circular arc that is slightly curved towards the television / screen. A staggered speaker front can cause differences in the (sound wave) runtimes, which in turn could impair the symmetry of the sound.

Since the center speaker reproduces the dialogues of the actors, it must be positioned as centrally as possible under or above the screen or screen. Only then do picture and sound form a unity. If the center is placed outside a height of between 40 centimeters and 1.20 meters, it should be slightly angled up or down towards the listener.

It is best to mount the dipoles to the side of the listener position at a height of 1.40 to 2.10 meters. Many dipoles already have an integrated wall bracket. The dipole loudspeakers then radiate towards the front (towards the TV / screen) and towards the rear (towards the rear wall), so that no direct sound can be heard at the listening position. The distance to the back wall should be at least 10 centimeters.

Alternatively, you can attach the dipoles with a wall bracket behind the seating position on the rear wall at a height of 1.40 to 2.10 meters. Almost all dipoles have an M6 plug screw integrated in the floor to accommodate the wall bracket.

Recommended distance from dipoles

We recommend optionally available wall brackets for wall mounting. Then the dipole loudspeakers can be rotated at a 45 degree angle with one sound-emitting side facing the rear wall and the other facing the side wall. The sound reflections generated in this way create the desired diffuse sound impression for the sound effects. The distance to the side wall of the room should be at least 10 centimeters.

As mentioned, the location of the subwoofer is largely freely selectable (with a recommended crossover frequency of below or exactly 120 Hz) and does not affect the other speakers. Placement on the straight line between the two front satellites is ideal.

5.1 home cinema sets with direct lights in the rear area

In a 5.1 setup, the front loudspeakers in stereo tradition (as just mentioned: distance to the listener = distance between the left and right boxes) are placed next to the television at the same distance on the left and right or attached to the wall. The use of feet automatically ensures an optimal height of the front boxes.

Recommended height of direct radiators

The following applies to wall or shelf speakers : The installation height should be between 40 centimeters and 1.20 meters. If the height is outside the range, you can also slightly angle the front speakers up or down to the listening position. It is important that the center and front loudspeakers are located approximately on a straight line, possibly also on an arc that is slightly curved towards the television. A staggered speaker front can cause differences in the (sound wave) runtimes. This in turn could affect the symmetry of the sound image.

Since the center speaker reproduces the dialogues of the actors, it must be positioned as centrally as possible under or above the screen or screen. Only then do picture and sound form a unity. If the center is placed outside a height of 40 centimeters to 1.20 meters, it should be slightly angled up or down towards the listener.

Recommended distance from direct radiators

In the case of the concert set with direct radiators (they radiate directly onto the listener area), the rear boxes must be attached to the left and right of the sitting position. The distance of the rear speakers to the listener position should be at least one meter.

If you cannot keep the minimum distance, make sure that the box does not shine directly on the seating area. You can align the speaker over the heads to the opposite wall or in the direction of the TV. At a distance of more than one meter from the listening position, the rear speakers are ideally in line with the front speakers – ideally on a stand or mounted on the wall at a height of up to 2.10 meters.

If the boxes have to be placed much higher or lower, aligning them with the listening position can be useful. For this, use the best fitting wall bracket from our accessories shop for wall mounting .

As mentioned, the location of the subwoofer (with a recommended crossover frequency of less than / equal to 120 Hz) is largely freely selectable and does not affect the other speakers. Placement on the straight line between the two front satellites is ideal.

Speaker setup with 7.1 systems

The surround sound is to be expanded again with a 7.1 system. The listener should be exposed to sound from all four sides. The loudspeaker system of a 7.1 system provides two additional satellites behind the listening area – the rear center boxes.

7.1 home theater sets with dipoles in the rear area

In a 7.1 setup, the front loudspeakers in stereo tradition (as just mentioned: distance to the listener = distance between the left and right boxes) are placed next to the television at the same distance on the left and right or attached to the wall. The use of feet automatically ensures an optimal height of the front boxes.

The following applies to wall or shelf speakers : The installation height should be between 40 centimeters and 1.20 meters. If the height is outside the range, you can also slightly angle the front speakers up or down to the listening position. It is important that the center and front loudspeakers are approximately on a straight line, possibly also on a circular arc that is slightly curved towards the television / screen. A staggered speaker front can cause differences in the (sound wave) runtimes, which in turn could impair the symmetry of the sound.

Since the center speaker reproduces the dialogues of the actors, it must be positioned as centrally as possible under or above the screen or screen. Only then do picture and sound form a unity. If the center is placed outside a height of 40 centimeters to 1.20 meters, it should be slightly angled up or down towards the listener.

It is best to mount the dipoles to the side of the listener position at a height of 1.40 to 2.10 meters. Many dipoles already have an integrated wall bracket. The dipole loudspeakers then radiate towards the front (towards the TV / screen) and towards the rear (towards the rear wall), so that no direct sound can be heard at the listening position. The distance to the back wall should be at least 10 centimeters.

If the distance from the listening position to the rear center speaker pair (7.1) is less than one meter, because z. For example, if the sofa is on the back wall, we recommend using dipoles instead of direct radiators.

In a 7.1 system, the effect speakers are ideally located on the side wall next to the listening position, while the rear center speakers are on the back wall – each at a height of 1.40 to 2.10 meters.

The following applies to the distances between the four effect speakers: The distance between all speakers should be the same. There should also be a distance of at least one meter between the speakers. If the distances are different or the four rear speakers are set up at different heights, this asymmetry can be compensated for in the speaker management of the AV receiver. To do this, you have to specify the actual distances of the individual speakers, the receiver software then automatically compensates for the resulting delay differences when the sound waves are emitted.

As mentioned, the location of the subwoofer is largely freely selectable (with a recommended crossover frequency of less than or equal to 120 Hz) and does not affect the other speakers. Placement on the straight line between the two front satellites is ideal.

7.1 home cinema sets with 2 direct radiators and 2 dipoles in the rear area

In a 7.1 setup, the front loudspeakers in stereo tradition (as just mentioned: distance to the listener = distance between the left and right boxes) are placed next to the television at the same distance on the left and right or attached to the wall. The use of feet automatically ensures an optimal height of the front boxes.

The following applies to wall or shelf speakers : The installation height should be between 40 centimeters and 1.20 meters. If the height is outside the range, you can also slightly angle the front speakers up or down to the listening position. It is important that the center and front speakers are located approximately on a straight line, possibly also on a circular arc that is slightly curved towards the television / screen. A staggered front can cause differences in the (sound wave) transit times, which in turn could impair the symmetry of the sound image.

Since the center speaker reproduces the dialogues of the actors, it must be positioned as centrally as possible under or above the screen or screen. Only then do picture and sound form a unity. If the center is placed outside a height of between 40 centimeters and 1.20 meters, it should be slightly angled up or down towards the listener.

It is best to mount the dipoles to the side of the listening position at a height of 1.40 to 2.10 meters. Many  dipoles already have an integrated wall bracket. The dipole loudspeakers then radiate to the front (towards the TV / screen) and backwards (towards the rear wall), so that no direct sound can be heard at the listening position. The distance to the back wall should be at least 10 centimeters.

If the distance from the listening position to the rear center speaker pair (7.1) is less than one meter, because z. For example, if the sofa is on the back wall, we recommend using dipoles instead of direct radiators.

In a 7.1 system, the effect speakers are ideally located on the side wall next to the listening position, while the rear center speakers are on the back wall – each at a height of 1.40 to 2.10 meters.

The following applies to the distances between the four effect speakers: The distance between all speakers should be the same. There should also be a distance of at least one meter between the speakers. If the distances are different or the four rear speakers are set up at different heights, this asymmetry can be compensated for in the speaker management of the AV receiver. To do this, you have to specify the actual distances of the individual speakers, the receiver software then automatically compensates for the resulting delay differences when the sound waves are emitted.

As mentioned, the location of the subwoofer is largely freely selectable (with a recommended crossover frequency of less than or equal to 120 Hz) and does not affect the other speakers. Placement on the straight line between the two front satellites is ideal.

7.1 home theater sets with four direct lights in the rear area

A speaker installation with four direct radiators in the rear area can also be implemented. All effect speakers should then be more than one meter away from the listener position. If you cannot keep the minimum distance, do not let the speakers radiate directly to the listener position. The rear speakers should always be located in a range between 1.40 and 2.10 meters.

Option: front high speakers

Front high speakers give film sound more spaciousness and brilliance. The AV receiver must have front high or “presence” speaker connections for this. The front high speakers should be located directly above the screen or above the TV and should be slightly aligned with the listening position. Front high speakers can be installed in addition to a 5.1 set or a 7.1 set.

Speaker setup with a Dolby Atmos set

In contrast to other surround sound standards, Dolby Atmos is not channel-related, but works with so-called sound objects. With the 5.1 or 7.1 systems described so far, the sound is mixed beforehand in such a way that it later works with precisely these six or eight channels. Dolby Atmos, on the other hand, can control the channels flexibly.

The minimum number of speakers for Atmos sound is eight (5.1.2). Theoretically, up to 32 (as 31.1 or 24.2.6) speakers can be operated. If sound engineers now produce in Dolby Atmos, they can represent sound objects spatially without having to commit to a specific channel. An explosion on the left side of the picture is now simply defined as a noise from a certain position on the left, at the appropriate level and at the appropriate time. A similar process has been used in gaming engines for years.

The installation of the Dolby Atmos top speaker (Reflekt) is relatively uncomplicated, since these are placed on the front speakers. Atmos sound requires at least two, or better four, top speakers.

The immersive sound effect is created by the targeted use of sound reflections. With the LT 5 (Licensed by Dolby Atmos) , these are integrated directly into the front or rear speakers.