DIY Network

Surround-Sound System Find out how to maximize the sound in your new home theater. From "Home Theater" episode DHTW-102

(Continued from page 1)

	Figure D
	Figure E

Placing the Surround-Sound Speakers

Now it's time to figure out where to place the 5.1 surround-sound speakers, which include a center channel, front, left and right speakers, two surrounds and--in this project's case--two subwoofers (figure D).

The center-channel speaker is the most important speaker in the surround-sound system. Most of the dialogue and effects are coming from the center speaker. The best location for the center-channel speaker is the front of the room, preferably behind the speaker if you have a perforated screen. If you choose a non-perforated screen, the location will have to be either below or above the screen.

For the subwoofer placement there are differing opinions out there. Some manufacturers advise you to put the subwoofer in the corner for the smoothest response, but other manufacturers recommend bringing the subwoofer out into the room.

Note: For the DIY project a cabinet will be built across the entire front wall of the home-theater room, which will allow flexibility to do some listening tests, some computer measurements in order to see which position best suits the room.

If you're already using your left and right speakers (figure E) for the subwoofer, it's best to experiment to find the best placement within your room in the listening environment.

Note: Placing speakers far apart creates a wider sound stage, and placing them closer together works with limited wall space.

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There are two types of surround-sound speakers:

1. Direct Radiator (figure F)--The standard type of speaker that goes in front. The best locations for these speakers are the back corners of the room. The general rule is about 120-degrees spaced apart from behind the listener's head.

2. Dipole Surround (figure G)--Shoots the sound forward and backward for more enveloping effect. These speakers create a very diffuse sound field, and they are best located on the side walls directly beside the seating location.

People who listen to lots of music on their system tend to go for the "direct radiator" speakers, and those who watch lots of movies tend to go for the "dipole surround" speakers.

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

Updated Room Layout

So here's (figure H) how the layout of the room appears now:

• Two chairs are placed two-thirds of the way back from the non-perforated screen and one-third in from each side wall.

• All audio-visual components will be stored out of sight in an adjoining room.

• The front-left and front-right speakers will be hidden in the wall on each side of the screen.

• The center-channel speaker will be mounted above the big screen.

• The subwoofers will be hidden in a cabinet below the screen.

• The dipole-surround speakers will be mounted on the wall to the sides of the listening position.

In the final segment of this episode you'll see how to get great results transforming an existing room into a home theater--and how luxurious these results were for game-show host Alex Trebek.

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RESOURCES :

Don Fillers & Assoc.
Website: www.dfasolutions.com

McDougall Bros. Construction, Inc.
Website: www.mcdougallbros.com

Belden CDT Electronics Division
Website: www.belden.com

Kinetics Noise Control
Website: www.kineticsnoise.com

La-Z-Boy
Website: www.lazboy.com

Home Theater Builder Magazine
Website: www.hometheaterbuilder.com

GUESTS :

Mark Midyett
Engineer/Designer
Don Fillers & Assoc.
1003 North Broadway St.
Knoxville, TN 37917
Phone: 865-523-4470
Website: www.dfasolutions.com

Russ Herschelmann
Home Theater Designer
Phone: 707-257-0112