Need Advice- Home Theater Placement

[Amarendra]

Hi,

I have just bought a Marantz SR5007 AVR to complete my Ht Setup. My present system comprises of:

1. Epson 6100 PJ ( red circle at the back of the room)
2. Grandview 120 inch screen (yellow bar in diagram)
3. Marantz SR 5007 (yellow box on table)
4. Monitor Audio M2 book shelves- used as FR and FL
5. Monitor Audio M Center (kept below the Screen)
6. Old Sony book shelves used as SL and SR (kept at sides of sofa) at height of 7 feet above ground.

The horizontal line in between is just to show distance of 18 feet and the room is not bifurcated.

My question is that is this layout feasible ?
The front left and front right have been brought closer because these are book shelves and keeping them next to the center (18 ft) would be too far away (IMO). Hence I have kept them on small stands.
However I cant bring the center in front since it will occupy space in the middle of the room.

Can the experts please review and provide opinions. Should i keep the fronts where they are or move them back next to the center speaker ? If I move them back next to the center (in the wall unit), the horizontal distance between FR and center or FL and center will hardly be 2 feet.

Thanks in advance

 

[Amarendra]

Hi guys,

please help with your inputs

Thanks

 

[Thtpro]

Place your Sofa forward at a distance of 15 feet from the screen.

Place the Front Left and Right Speakers at the Screen- In the same line as the Center Channel Speaker

Do a audio calibration and you will be perfectly fine

 

[Amarendra]

Thanks. Will it help if I use floor standers instead of bookshelves as fronts. That way I can keep them far away in the room ?

 

[Thtpro]

You want your sound coming from the screen-- Placing your speakers anywhere other than close to the Screen will sound artificial-- It is like-- a person is talking from across the room- but is actually sitting next to you.

Suggestion-- Place all speakers in front of the screen

 

[Rupam]

if bookshelf is movable then remove it and make the rear sofa larger, and remove the small sofas.

 

[projectorguru99]

The speaker Lt / Rt and Centre must be near the screen. And if you feel that your sofa is a bit far then bring it to 15ft. Otherwise the set up is ok.And as suggested if you can increase the size of the sofa in length it will be good as more people will be accomodated

 

[Amarendra]

Thanks guys- the book shelf is a cabinet in fact not movable. The number of ppl on sofa is also not an issue since at most 2 ppl watch at a time. Problem is when I move all speakers close to screen and sit at a distance of 18 feet, the left front, center and right front don't sound distinct. They seem too close together.also if I am listening to only stereo mode, it becomes apparent - the sound stage is lost. On the contrary when I move the speakers closer, stereo sounds superb.
Please advice- I am in 2 minds- whether to switch to satellite system or replace bookshelves with floorstanders. Satellites I believe will offer greater flexibility and ease of installation- but the fear is that I will lose some punch.

 

[Rupam]

If you have space then use floorstanders, otherwise use bookshelves. Whatever the distance, the front 3 speakers should always be aligned with the screen/TV. If you have audyssey them the receiver will calibrate the sound automatically for you. You don't need to worry.

For stereo, you can use a separate bookshelf + amp.

 

[aakashr]

decrease the distance, place the fronts and centre in one line and then calibrate with audessey, that should improve the overall sound.