Where to Place Home Theater Speakers

Regardless of the type of surround sound system you have, there is a correct placement for home theater speakers. Setting up or mounting your surround sound speakers haphazardly diminishes their ability to create the fullest, most realistic sound for movie watching. Follow these simple instructions for the 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 systems to enjoy maximal audio capability.

5.1 Surround Sound Speaker Placement

The most basic of surround sound systems, 5.1 surround sound features 5 speakers along with 1 low frequency effects or LFE subwoofer. The 5 speakers are left, right and center front and left and right surround. The ideal placement of these 5 speakers plus the subwoofer is as follows:

The center speaker should go directly underneath your television, while the left and right front speakers are positioned to either side of it at a slight angle towards the seating area. The left surround and right surround speakers are further out in the room, each flanking the main couch or seating area and pointed directly at the viewers’ ears. The subwoofer emits low frequencies or bass vibrations and can be out of sight or just to the side of the entertainment center.

6.1 Surround Sound Speaker Placement

With a 6.1 surround sound system you have an identical system to the 5.1 model, except that there is one additional speaker. Follow the same arrangement pattern as the 5.1 setup entailed, adding the sixth speaker–known as the rear center speaker–to a position directly behind the seating area and facing towards the television. Sound is now emanating from behind the audience as well.

7.1 Surround Sound Speaker Placement

Adding one more speaker to the system makes a 7.1 surround sound system. Just as the 6.1 adds one speaker to the 5.1 setup, so too does the 7.1 system add one more. Rather than a rear center speaker, there is a left rear and a right rear speaker. Position the front left, center and right speakers in the same manner. The left and right surround speakers should still flank the seating area. Instead of a rear center speaker, place the left and right rear speakers behind the seating area and to the left and right, respectively, angled towards the television screen. With a 7.1 system, the audience is completely surrounded by speakers making for the best possible audio experience in the home theater room.

The placement of surround sound speakers is instrumental in making your home theater’s audio system most effective. If speakers are placed at odd angles or in less than ideal locations, it could have a dramatic effect on the sound quality. The audio will still be heard, it’s just that it will not have the maximal effect on the audience. The idea of surround sound is implicit in the name: the audience is surrounded by audio on all sides. To achieve the right effect, the speakers must be in the proper locations. This is an easy process for all 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 surround sound systems.