9 questions that might help how to choose speakers for your home theater
What kind of speaker is right for me?
This is probably the hardest question of all to answer. There are as many different speaker technologies, types and sizes as you could possibly imagine. The fundamental differences are :
Where should I position my stereo speakers?
Floor standing models should usually be positioned at least 200-mm from the rear walls and 700-mm from the side walls, facing slightly inwards. Smaller models should ideally be stand or wall mounted though they may be placed on a rigid shelf. The bass extension will improve if these speakers are operated closer to the rear walls. A useful rule of thumb is that the listener should be as far from the loudspeakers as they are from each other.
If the loudspeakers are placed too close to the walls the bass will increase but may be boomy and indistinct. If the loudspeakers are placed further away from the walls, the inward angle may be increased by up to 40%, although this may restrict the width of the optimum listening position. The speakers should ideally be positioned so that the treble units are roughly at ear level to a seated listener. As personal taste plays a large role, experiment with different configurations and play a wide range of programs before finalizing the position of your speakers.
If you wish to place the speakers next to a conventional CRT television, please ensure your speakers use screened drive units and may be placed close to a TV screen without ill-effects. Conventional loudspeakers should not be operated within 50-cm of a TV screen as the drive unit magnets may interfere with the picture and cause color distortion.
Should I use a loudspeaker stand?
A good pair of loudspeaker stands will improve the bass performance of all bookshelf and stand mount speakers. They should elevate the speaker to the approximate height of the listener’s ears, and will provide better mechanical isolation if they are spiked at both ends – alternatively, blue-tack can be used on the top of the stands if you don’t wish to mark your loudspeakers.
A good stand is one which provides good isolation from vibration. It should be heavy and robust, with the strongest possible joints between the strut and the top and bottom plates. If it is mass-fillable, then filling the stand with either sand or lead shot will significantly improve its performance.
Where should I position my home cinema speakers?
Home cinema systems present a number of issues in terms of placement. Firstly the ideal configuration should be considered, then the practicality of the situation needs to be addressed. It should be stated though that only the most basic guidance can be given here. This is a complex subject and there is much debate as to the ideal configuration for optimum performance.
Front left and right loudspeakers
Floor standing models should usually be positioned at least 200-mm from the rear walls and 700-mm from the side walls, facing slightly inwards. Smaller models should ideally be stand or wall mounted though they may be placed on a rigid shelf. The bass extension will improve if these speakers are operated closer to the rear walls. A useful rule of thumb is that the listener should be as far from the loudspeakers as they are from each other. If the loudspeakers are placed too close to the walls the bass will increase but may be boomy and indistinct. If the loudspeakers are placed further away from the walls, the inward angle maybe increased by up to 40%, although this may restrict the width of the optimum listening position. The speakers should ideally be positioned so that the treble units are roughly at ear level to a seated listener. As personal taste plays a large role, experiment with different configurations and play a wide range of programs before finalizing the position of your speakers.
Many speakers are magnetically shielded, so they can be used in close proximity to a television. Other conventional loudspeakers should not be operated within 50-cm of a TV screen as the drive unit magnets may interfere with the picture and cause color distortion. Please check individual product specifications for further guidance.
Centre channel loudspeakers
The loudspeaker should be positioned centrally between the loudspeakers close to the television and mounted either above or below the screen. The loudspeaker should be located on a stable flat surface to avoid any danger of the cabinet moving when it is vibrated by high sound levels. If you mount the unit on top of the television, move it forward so that the front grilles are level with or slightly in front of the screen. This will reduce reflections from the screen and the top of the cabinet. Although you can place the centre channel loudspeaker under the TV monitor, this should always be regarded as second best. The preferred position is always above the monitor, as shown.
Rear speakers (for a 5.1 system)
The basic home cinema configuration today is a 5.1 system. This is front left, front right, a centre channel and two speakers as rear channels. This system will provide a good basic level of performance and is more than adequate for most needs. The vast majority of DVD software on the market is mastered in ‘5.1’, and even on discs that contain 6.1 or 7.1 mix, they will most likely have a 5.1 option as well.