Home Theater Shack Forums
Home About Us Rules Register Gallery Glossary FAQ
Banggood.com Emotiva is your Home Theater Component Source for Audiophile Quality Home Theater Equipment at Factory Direct Prices Epik Subwoofers manufactures world-leading high performance subwoofers for die-hard home theater and music enthusiasts who won't settle for anything less than the best. Value Electronics: A trusted retailer and custom installer that specializes in whole-house audio, home theater, Plasma, LCD, LED, HDTVs, Blu-ray and more. RAM Electronics: Audio, Video, Home Theater and Computer Cables. Parts Express: Excellent Source for DIY Speaker and Subwoofer Projects! StereoList Shop Amazon! SVSound Creative Sound Solutions: Loudspeaker kits and components for subwoofers, midwoofers, woofers and full range speakers! Chase Home Theater: Ushering a new generation of super charged home theater equipment. GIK Acoustics: Home audio acoustics at its best... especially when you have help from the owners right here at the Shack!  Check out their very affordable acoustic panels! Visual Apex: The most competitive pricing for home theater projectors... and built on customer satisfaction! Reliable Hardware: A Reliable Source for Case, Cabinet and Acoustical Hardware! Discount Merchant:  If you need a replacement bulb for your video device... look no further... save big! Ultimate Home Entertainment: Providing home theater seating and accessories such as popcorn machines and signage... at very affordable prices! Genelec: Active Speakers and Speaker Systems SpectraCal: Specializes in the tools and training necessary to achieve images representative of the content creator’s intent for viewing environments.

Room EQ Wizard
Go Back   Home Theater Forum and Systems - HomeTheaterShack.com > Manufactured Speakers | Subwoofers > Home Audio Speakers
Forgot Password?


 Reply     Post New Thread
Views: 1767 - Replies: 30  
Thread Tools
Old 10-28-07, 09:39 AM   #1
Daddy Cool
Inactive

Posts: n/a
    
Question 7.1 Floorstander System - any specific tips/hints for best set-up???


Hi guys,

Have just received my last pair of Monitor Audio Bronze Reference BR5's, which I'm now using as a 7 channel (with the Monitor Audio BR-LCR Centre) system.

Thing is, I've never had a complete 'floor-standing' speaker set-up before, so been in 'virgin territory' so to speak, are there any hints/tips that I should be aware of that wouldn't normally apply to book-shelf/stand-mount speakers? Or are things more-or-less the same?

Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated

With my thanks in advance,

DC



Forum Rules Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-07, 09:38 AM   #2
HTS Senior Moderator

nova's Avatar
Mark
Since: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,984
Northern Utah
My Photos
My System
  nova is offline       
Re: 7.1 Floorstander System - any specific tips/hints for best set-up???


Hmmm,... not from me. I am jealous though. Wish I had 7 floor standers. Fact is I kinda wish I had seven speakers for my main HT system,... maybe one day i'll get the other two.

I'm sure someone will come along soon with some tips for you.


Mark

Forum Rules Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-07, 09:52 AM   #3
Daddy Cool
Inactive

Posts: n/a
    
Re: 7.1 Floorstander System - any specific tips/hints for best set-up???


Quote:
nova wrote: View Post
Hmmm,... not from me. I am jealous though. Wish I had 7 floor standers. Fact is I kinda wish I had seven speakers for my main HT system,... maybe one day i'll get the other two.
Hi Nova,



But no need to be too envious; I'd say my set-up is quite modest (I know of peeps with much higher-end stuff than me), but hey, IMHO it's always nice to have something to aim for; I've had 6.1 and 7.1 for around 6 years now, and I wouldn't be without my back 2 anymore. Really can add a worthwhile difference, more related to soundstaging etc. But yeah, having 6 floors with a dedicated centre is something I've been looking forward to for some time...

Quote:
nova wrote: View Post
I'm sure someone will come along soon with some tips for you.
Hope so; I'm just applying the basics of normal 'bookshelf' positioning, bass-management etc - it seems that there's probably not too many HT owners (at least on the forums) who have all floors as I've also asked this on a AV forum here in England and zero replies as well

Anyway, my thanks again mate

Best wishes,

DC


Forum Rules Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-07, 10:38 AM   #4
HTS Hillbilly
Owner


Sonnie's Avatar
Since: Apr 2006
Posts: 18,815
L.A. (Lower Alabama)
My Photos
My System
  Sonnie is offline       
Re: 7.1 Floorstander System - any specific tips/hints for best set-up???


I know SteveCallas just got towers all around... Towers All Over ... I'll see if he can chime in.


Forum Rules Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-07, 01:51 PM   #5
Elite Shackster

SteveCallas's Avatar
Steve
Since: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,284
My Photos
  SteveCallas is offline    
Re: 7.1 Floorstander System - any specific tips/hints for best set-up???


I can offer a few tips. To maintain solid center imaging and good soundstage from the mains, try to keep the center floorstander behind them depth wise. Try to keep it at least 1' behind the mains if you can manage. For the side surrounds, you'll probably want some way to elevate the floorstanders, as typical tweeter height on a tower is ~36-40", and it should be ~1-2' higher than ear level for side surrounds. For rears, though it may look silly, you'll want even more elevation, 2-3' above ear level. You do this because you don't want the source of surround information to be too locatable, you want more of a diffuse sound. Your preferences may very, but I also find I like my side surrounds to be parallel to my seat and aimed slightly behind me.

Oh, one more thing. If your towers are rear ported, give the surrounds a bit of breathing room behind the speaker - don't put it flush against a wall. Whatever the diameter of the port, give it at least that much clearance from the nearest wall.


Forum Rules Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-07, 02:24 PM   #6
Daddy Cool
Inactive

Posts: n/a
    
Re: 7.1 Floorstander System - any specific tips/hints for best set-up???


Quote:
Sonnie wrote: View Post
I know SteveCallas just got towers all around... Towers All Over ... I'll see if he can chime in.
Sonnie,

Really appreciated....

DC


Forum Rules Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-07, 02:37 PM   #7
Daddy Cool
Inactive

Posts: n/a
    
Re: 7.1 Floorstander System - any specific tips/hints for best set-up???


Quote:
SteveCallas wrote: View Post
I can offer a few tips.......For the side surrounds, you'll probably want some way to elevate the floorstanders, as typical tweeter height on a tower is ~36-40", and it should be ~1-2' higher than ear level for side surrounds.
Hi Steve,

Very grateful for the tips. I had thought about the likelihood that raising the side and rears might be useful, but wondered how the I'd do it. What do you use for 'elevation' for the sides/rears? Would you recommend something such as a small(ish) wooden plinth, or would something much more solid (small paving slabs) be better?

Quote:
SteveCallas wrote: View Post
.....your preferences may very, but I also find I like my side surrounds to be parallel to my seat and aimed slightly behind me
Will try this, sounds interesting. I have mine slightly behind me just aimed a little toward the 'sweet spot' at the mo...

Quote:
SteveCallas wrote: View Post
Oh, one more thing. If your towers are rear ported, give the surrounds a bit of breathing room behind the speaker - don't put it flush against a wall. Whatever the diameter of the port, give it at least that much clearance from the nearest wall.
Great stuff; really appreciate the advice

All the very best,

DC


Forum Rules Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-07, 02:57 PM   #8
Elite Shackster

SteveCallas's Avatar
Steve
Since: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,284
My Photos
  SteveCallas is offline    
Re: 7.1 Floorstander System - any specific tips/hints for best set-up???


Quote:
I had thought about the likelihood that raising the side and rears might be useful, but wondered how the I'd do it. What do you use for 'elevation' for the sides/rears? Would you recommend something such as a small(ish) wooden plinth, or would something much more solid (small paving slabs) be better?
In that thread of mine, you'll see that I put one on top of an end table and another mounted on a DIY speaker stand. Had I known I'd be using that stand for a tower inseatd of a bookshelf at the time I made it, I would have made it thicker for aesthetics, but it's plenty sturdy enough as is. I don't know what the height of your towers is, but I doubt a few paving slabs would be enough to raise the tweeter height sufficiently.


Forum Rules Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-07, 08:22 AM   #9
Daddy Cool
Inactive

Posts: n/a
    
Re: 7.1 Floorstander System - any specific tips/hints for best set-up???


Quote:
SteveCallas wrote: View Post
In that thread of mine, you'll see that I put one on top of an end table and another mounted on a DIY speaker stand. Had I known I'd be using that stand for a tower inseatd of a bookshelf at the time I made it, I would have made it thicker for aesthetics, but it's plenty sturdy enough as is.
Cheers Steve

Sounds like wooden pedestal(s)/plinth(s) would be more than suitable - as a bit of a DIY enthusiast myself, that suits me ; fortunately I have a good bit of pine lying around

Quote:
SteveCallas wrote: View Post
I don't know what the height of your towers is, but I doubt a few paving slabs would be enough to raise the tweeter height sufficiently.
I s'pose I'm in the (again) fortunate position that my Monitor-Audio BR5's have the tweeter only - approx - an inch from the very top of the cabinet; so I assume that they won't need raising too much (my ear height is more-or-less 3' and the tweeter a couple of inch short of 3')

Thanks again Steve for the input,

Regards,

DC


Forum Rules Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-07, 11:57 AM   #10
Elite Shackster
Platinum Supporter

tonyvdb's Avatar
Tony
Since: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,159
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
My Photos
My System
  tonyvdb is offline    
Re: 7.1 Floorstander System - any specific tips/hints for best set-up???


For the front speakers your placement is good the way you have them now but for the surrounds you do not want the speakers to be directly firing at your main listening position. the whole point of surround sound is that the rear speakers "fill" the space with sound not direct the sound to your ears. Most people get this wrong and loose some of the surround imaging that is sent to the rears. This is why most HT installations use "bookshelf" sized speakers mounted just above head hight when standing and angled slightly down.


Home theater:
Onkyo TXSR805, Yamaha YDP2006 EQ, Samson Servo 600 amp
EV Sentry 500 monitors, 4 Mission 762i's Surrounds, Klipsch RC-52 Centre, SVS PB13 Ultra sub,
Toshiba A30, Panasonic BD60, Harmony 1000, Nintendo Wii
Panasonic PT-AE4000 on a 120" 2,35:1 fixed screen

Two Channel system:
Sherwood/Newcastle R972, Mission 765's, A/D/S MS3u sub, Yamaha YDG2030EQ
Yamaha KX-393 Tape deck, CDC 805 CD changer, Samsung BDP1400, Sony turntable PS-T20
Sony KDL40EX500 LCD, HD-PVR


Forum Rules Reply With Quote
 Reply     Post New Thread     Back to Top of Page


« Home Theater Shack > Manufactured Speakers | Subwoofers > Home Audio Speakers »

« Previous Thread   Next Thread »

Bookmarks

Tags
71, floorstander, setup, specific, system, tips or hints
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads... You may not post replies... You may not post attachments... You may not edit your posts

BB code is On... Smilies are On... [IMG] code is On... HTML is not allowed!
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off







Bookmark and Share


Parts Express: The #1 Internet source for all your DIY and electronics needs!

Ultimate Home Entertainment

This site is best viewed with a screen resolution width of 1280 or higher!




Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2006 - 2012, Home Theater Shack, LLC.
John Mulcahy and Sonnie Parker - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED!






Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO