Preparing for a 9.1 setup.. Worth it ? Your thoughts please...

[elangoas]

Nice. But I didn't understand why you had to sell same brand fs for bs?

Juz like anyone, i was initially hooked to FS, their sheer size and the atmosphere it brings to the room...I did enjoy itz presence & perforamnce very much thoroughly for more than 2 yrs time...

I had a 5.0 setup, so the FS was doubling the duty of fronts &Sub very well...When i tried 7.0 setup by borrowing my friends Sonus 1501 for 2 weeks time.. That time i replaced the Sonus 2605 with 1501 BS and convinced abt its stereo performance...

i then realised that it is better to go the BS way & more timbre matched fronts.. Having a FS & BS in a 9.1 config, 14 x 11 room will look like too many speakers hyeah:

Hence did away with FS...

 

[elangoas]

Was just checking your old posts where you mentioned you wanted to timber match the fronts and front heights and hence going for BS. OK. I am looking for decent BS to add my existing 5.1 to 7.1. It's a pioneer series for speakers I am using. Wondering to go for another BS-22 as surround back or move existing rear BS-22 to surround back and have new brand say sonodyne in rears. What's your view?

If you have longish room, space between surround and surround back speakers, then surround back is good.. If you are cramped for space behind you, then front heights makes it a good choice...

Yes.. I would consider moving your current pioneer BS 22 to front heights with a suitable stand (cheap wall mount will do) and look for any brand of speaker for surround duty with wall mount options... They give you immense flexibility...

 

[Murlidher]

Thanks Elango. It's useful. Will have a check.

 

[Nags]

Your journey has inspired me to move up to 9.2 setup. I have pioneer 924 AVR which is 7.2 ch with 2.2 pre outs(front L & R pre outs). I am using emotiva stereo amp to power my FS. Now my question is whether pioneer can be used to drive FHR, FHL,center, SL,SR,SBR,SBL (Total 7 speakers)? also want to know the best place for height speaker like over the front speakers or over surround speakers or in-between??

 

[elangoas]

Your journey has inspired me to move up to 9.2 setup. I have pioneer 924 AVR which is 7.2 ch with 2.2 pre outs(front L & R pre outs). I am using emotiva stereo amp to power my FS. Now my question is whether pioneer can be used to drive FHR, FHL,center, SL,SR,SBR,SBL (Total 7 speakers)? also want to know the best place for height speaker like over the front speakers or over surround speakers or in-between??

VoW.. Great move... Yes.. You are right... When the fronts are taken care by external stereo amp, the AVR can handle the rest of 7 channels of amplification..

Front heights are best placed above the front speakers, but near the ceiling, slightly angled towards the listening position if you can...

Below is a image for your surround layout...

 

[Nags]

Thanks elangoas , I am going to fix height speaker today. One of your previous post you were thinking about placing them near seating area(above side surround speaker)..did you try that? Any reason for placing directly above fronts? I am going to place at a height of 8 ft.. Can I place them facing each other or should they face listener? I am asking this because effects like helicopter hovering above should be better if speaker face each other, what's your observation?

 

[elangoas]

Thanks elangoas , I am going to fix height speaker today. One of your previous post you were thinking about placing them near seating area(above side surround speaker)..did you try that? Any reason for placing directly above fronts? I am going to place at a height of 8 ft.. Can I place them facing each other or should they face listener? I am asking this because effects like helicopter hovering above should be better if speaker face each other, what's your observation?

The ideal fit for front heights is above front's, near ceiling... 8 ft is fine.. May be even lil more if you have space...

But FM @sdurani suggested placing the front heights near the listening position on the ceiling rather than the usual place in the above pic... Actually that is an interesting place to fix the front heights, as it would almost be an Atmos kind of placement.. Nope.. Haven't tried placing it there due to placement issues as have ceiling fan there...Had it been a dedicated HT room with Air Con, would have tried it for sure...

Speakers should face listener even when on ceiling... Try them if you have that flexibility in your room & share your feedback....

 

[Nags]

My worry is whether front heights will share some signal from front left and right speaker, especially when up mixes from 5.1 or 2.1 sources? If so then sound will get distorted or cancelled reach other? I fear something like hearing front speaker sound through heights speaker above and surround sound from sides below at seating position...

 

[elangoas]

My worry is whether front heights will share some signal from front left and right speaker, especially when up mixes from 5.1 or 2.1 sources? If so then sound will get distorted or cancelled reach other? I fear something like hearing front speaker sound through heights speaker above and surround sound from sides below at seating position...

From my Actual experience, nope it doesn't duplicate the sound, but it enhances the whole movie watching experience... Whatever sounds faint on front speaker is clearly heard on the front height speakers when you use Dolby PL IIz...

I think your AVR supports both Dolby Prologic IIz & DTS Neo X... Try both and see what you like..

Not sure if you room is wide enough, if it is, then try front wides using DTS Neo X...

Here is an on other image for your understanding..

 

[Nags]

Sorry elangoas, my room is small & not wide..its 14*12ft.. I did try front sides but it will be crowded without big impact..same overcrowding happening with surrounds also, hence interested in height speaker. I want to explore proper place for them, after fixing its difficult to change the position. I will experiment today and see...anyone advice with similar setup might help...

 

[elangoas]

Sorry elangoas, my room is small & not wide..its 14*12ft.. I did try front sides but it will be crowded without big impact..same overcrowding happening with surrounds also, hence interested in height speaker. I want to explore proper place for them, after fixing its difficult to change the position. I will experiment today and see...anyone advice with similar setup might help...

Understand your room limitations... Front height is good choice.. You can place as you said earlier around 8 ft height... Share your experience if you can, after you try them...

 

[Nags]

Yesterday I did play little regarding speaker placement, did not like the sound when placed over the listening area or nearer to it, so finally placed at 8ft level over front speakers facing the listener. I did little miscalculation and placed right speaker 2 inch higher level(bit of obstruction by beam also) :sad::sad:

Re run MCACC set up and watched few movies. Definitely I can notice improvement in sound, Watched Burfi hindi movie and could easily notice all the observations noted by elangoas in his review:clapping::clapping:

I am happy now, i could get use all the features of my AVR mainly various surround sound modes many thanks to elangoas thread.

Nagaraj

 

[elangoas]

2 inch difference between the front height speakers will not make an impact...

Hope you used Dolby PL IIz.. Happy re-living the movies hyeah:

 

[Murlidher]

Interesting discussion I am also on verge of adding height speakers. It looks like I may have to drill the bookshelf speakers to make them inclined towards listening position and place it on available wall mounts from amazon

 

[elangoas]

Interesting discussion I am also on verge of adding height speakers. It looks like I may have to drill the bookshelf speakers to make them inclined towards listening position and place it on available wall mounts from amazon

Instead of drilling holes in the speakers, try something without making any damages.. Try this if you find it worthy suggestion...

Try to get wall speaker stands from Amazon, wall mount it @ required height, place your bookshelf speaker on it, try to pad-up the only rear of the speaker with some stiff cardboard material (Flipkart, amazon cartons), try to tie the speakers from top to bottom using packing wire twist. (black colour)... Refer image below..

 

[Murlidher]

Good suggestion. Will think on this line as well. Frankly I could never convince myself drilling BS back...

 

[Nags]

watched ajab prem ki ghazab kahani and tomb raider over airtel hd in dolby PL IIz,.height speakers have truely made difference..[emoji2] [emoji2] [emoji126] [emoji126] ..

 

[Hari Iyer]

I previously used a 6.0 Spkrs a couple of years ago, but now enjoy movies much much better than earlier. The current setup is more dynamic and involving than what I had earlier.

 

[elangoas]

I previously used a 6.0 Spkrs a couple of years ago, but now enjoy movies much much better than earlier. The current setup is more dynamic and involving than what I had earlier.

What is your current setup?

 

[Hari Iyer]

What is your current setup?

2 Channel stereo using advance TL speakers played with my tube amp for movies too. This gives me more imaging, sound transparency. I have kept my Denon AVR in the loft and now am not using them for almost 2 years. It now has only antique value for me.