SPEAKER PLACEMENT FOR HiFi 

 

Use the listening position (where you will sit) as the starting point, and start by placing the speakers against the opposite wall. The key ‘figure’ for getting a good sound image in speaker placement is the triangle: with yourself at the apex, the speakers should be equidistant from you and closer to each other than they are to you. By aiming the speakers at the listening position, you can often broaden the sound image. Experiment until you are satisfied.

 

If yours are floorstanders, their elements will be at the right height when you are sitting in the listening position. If you are using smaller speakers, you may need speaker stands to achieve a correct height. If you plan to place the speakers on a bookshelf, ensure that the speakers do not have bass reflex ports at the back. If they do, this position will defeat the purpose of the port – speakers need space to deliver their best results.

 

 

SPEAKER PLACEMENT

FOR HOME THEATER

 

The centerspeaker
This is perhaps the most important speaker in a home theater system, as it delivers all voice and special effects that occur in the film. Make sure that the center speaker is voice-matched with the rest of the front speakers, so that each sound that ‘travels’ across the front speakers’ sound image maintains its uniform character. Place the center speaker as close to the video image as possible – preferably directly below or above the TV screen. Front speakers
It’s important to match the front speakers with the center speaker, as well as each other, to give a balanced, natural sound. Place these three speakers in line and level with each other, to optimize your film experience. Surround speakers
The back speakers in a home theater system are called surround speakers, and it is here you can clearly see the difference between analogue and digital sound systems. In an analogue system these speakers needn’t be voice-matched with the front speakers – their sound reproduction is in mono and in a limited frequency range. In a digital system, the opposite is true. Surround speakers transmit in stereo, and in a wide frequency range, and must be voice-matched with all other speakers in the system except the subwoofer. A digital system transmits on 5 separate channels. Subwoofer
Because it ‘only’ delivers deep bass (under 100 Hz), and the human ear cannot localize sound at these frequencies, the subwoofer does not need to be visible to the listener. However, its placement in the room is critical, and it is best you test locations until you are fully satisfied: the sound should be pure and deep, and neither ‘rumbly’ or muted. We recommend a placement near a wall (which will strengthen the signal by up to 3dB) or in a corner (up to 6dB more signal strength).