Height Guidelines for Your Surround Sound Speaker Stands

Whether you have a 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 or 8.1 channel surround sound speakers, the rules are similar when it comes to how you should place the surround sound speaker stands around the room. For optimal results, speakers should be placed strategically around the room focusing on the seating area. While experimenting with placement is encouraged, there are general guidelines to follow in getting you started. We will discuss these guidelines in this article.

Identification of Speaker Pieces

In all types of surround sound systems, there are generally five staple pieces included in all the systems. These speakers are the center channel speaker, left front speaker, right front speaker, the surround left speaker and the surround right speaker. The subwoofer is added for the 6.1 channel speaker system. The surround back speaker and the subwoofer is added for the 7.1 channel speaker system. Two surround back speakers, left and right, and the subwoofer is added to the 8.1 channel speaker system. Each type of speaker has a different role it plays in the surround sound system. For example, the center channel speaker sends out dialogues in sync with on-screen images. Front left and right speakers emit movie soundtracks and all sounds related to stereo music. Surround speakers work to surround the listener with special effects and other sounds to include the listener in the action. Subwoofers produce the bass sounds.

Placement of 5.1 Channel Speaker Pieces

Center speaker is place directly above or under the TV. Front left and right speakers are placed between 22 to 30 degrees angle from the TV. All pieces should be the same distance away from the listener. If the front left and right speakers are on stands, make sure that the tweeters are at the listener’s ear level. The surround right and left speakers should be at 90 to 110 degrees to the TV. They should be at ear level when standing up so that the sound over-stimulates your ears sitting down. If you stop here, the picture would be a semi-circle. The sofa would become the center of the circle. The TV and sofa would make a radius of that circle. The speakers would be sitting at the perimeters of that semi-circle.  Angle center, sofa, front right speaker would be 30 degrees. Angle center, sofa, surround right speaker would be 90 degrees.

Placement of Additional Pieces

In the 6.1 channel surround sound system, the additional back surround sound speaker should be placed directly behind the listener at 180 degrees from the TV. If, instead of just one back piece, you have two back surround sound speakers, they should be placed at 135 to 150 degrees angle from the TV. The back surround sound speakers can be closer to the listener than the front pieces. Sit down and experiment so that the back speakers do not overpower the sounds coming from the front speakers. The subwoofer can be placed anywhere in the room. Experiment with this as well. Listen for where in the room the bass sounds are sweetest. Placing the subwoofer there will be optimal.