Surround sound can transform an everyday television room into a deluxe home theater. However, the location of all the speakers is crucial to the sound quality you experience from your seat. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when setting up your system.   

How to Set up Surround Sound Speakers

1. Subwoofer

The subwoofer is responsible for your bass. Since bass frequencies are omnidirectional, you’ll get the most bass if you place your subwoofer in the corner of a room or back up against a wall. Most people tend to put it in the front of a room so it can connect to the theater receiver by wire. If you’d like more bass, add a second subwoofer. Try placing them both in the front corners of the room, or one in the front and one in the back, to see which sounds better. Your room layout, furniture, and room size will impact which placement sounds best. 

2. Front & Center Speakers

The two front speakers should be placed off to the sides (around 25 to 30 degrees off axis) of the primary seat. They should be angled slightly toward the seat, and the tweeters — or treble speakers — should be at ear level when someone is seated there. The center channel speaker should be placed directly in front of the primary seat, above or below your television. Tilt it so that the sound is directed toward seated ear level.

3. Surround Speakers

Surround speakers should be placed one or two feet above ear level for the best results, since this reduces sound bouncing off the ceiling. For 5-channel systems, the side speakers should be 90 to 100 degrees off axis. For 7.1-channel systems, they should be 135 to 150 degrees off axis.

Because each room is unique, setting up a surround sound system takes a specialized approach. That’s why residents of Charlotte and Cornelius, NC, rely on Premiere Home Theater for their custom home theater needs. They sell and install state-of-the-art systems and can put the finishing touches on your room with home theater projectors, TV installations, and more. Contact them online or at (704) 449-9448 to get started today.