Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater QS8 Placement - Slightly Weird

Ok so basicaly I need help deciding where to hang my QS8's, I'll be using Full Metal Brackets, so hanging is not the problem.



This picture is a shot of my "space" at a angle, the blue trunk and end table are moving, but the bed has to stay there, I may be moving it to the other side of the couch (so the couch is more centered... As you can see it's off center to the "Tv hole".



Here's a shot of the back wall, as you can see my couch is right against the back wall and can't move up at all. I can move the posters if needed, but I'm curious where the best place to hang them is?

Thoughts or more questions?

- D

when sitting in what will be the 'prime' position looking at the TV, is there a wall or a down-hang to the left that you can mount a speaker to?? if there isnt, then your best option would probably be to put them on the back wall extended out proportionally from the listening position. that seems like the only other option..

now, if you do have a wall or hang-down on the left(of listening position), then i would mount them around 2ft from the back wall, and around 6-7ft high. i think not putting them on the back wall would be the best way if you can swing it.. you might want to look into the FMB(full metal brackets) so you could mount to the ceiling on the left if you have to.

bigjohn

I agree with John. If you have a wall to the left of your seating area, then the better placement would be on the side walls, slightly in front of the listening area.

From the Axiom FAQ:

"Ideally, surround speakers should be either wall-mounted or stand-mounted to either side of the couch or primary listening area, from one to six feet higher than seated listeners' ears, and slightly forward or rearwards of the listening area if you wish. Axiom's Quadpolar surrounds are especially versatile and can yield excellent performance with stand or wall-mounting to the rear as well as at side locations. (see our dedicated stands for the QS Surround speakers in the Store)."

If you don't have a wall on the left, then ceiling mounting them in roughly the same positions would be next. If that's not possible, I'd think placing them on the back wall to either side of the listening area would work OK.

There's no wall to the left unfortunatley, and the ceiling is a hganging ceiling, and I don't think my dad would like that, looks like the back wall it is. Dolby says 3 feet about listening position (so 6-7ft up from the floor), how far on either side of the couch would you say?

- D

If there is no wall to the left and you have those exposed beams, why not just install one on a beam to the right near the corner and one on the left on a beam an approximate equal distance from the seating area as the right? No holes in the walls...

My .02,

WhatFurrer

i agree with furrer.. take a look at the full metal bracket.

this bracket has 2 swivel points, so you can mount it to the ceiling, the wall, or the floor(if you wanted to).. then, with its swivel ability, you can tilt it up or down, left or right, or side to side. on the pics you provided, it appears you have an exposed beam ceiling, so that is perfect. you can screw the brackets directly into the cross members and the speakers will be up, and to the sides, which is the best placement. now granted, they will be what could be considered a little high, but, you can angle them down toward the listening position, and they should sound great.. and as i have mentioned bafore, the QS8's 4 way firing speakers, create a very enveloping sound that will make up for 'non-perfect' placement.

now, if you(or dad) is just totally against the side mount idea, then put the speakers on the back wall at 6-7ft high, and just an equal distance apart.. as a reference, i would put the right surround about 6 inches to a foot from the right wall, then measure its distance to directly above the listening position.. then just put the left surround that exact same distance from directly above listening position.

good luck, but i still think you could use the FMB and be happier. plus, you could easily tuck the wires up into the crossbeams,and hide them..

bigjohn

1. I was going to mount with the FMB all along
2. That ceiling is not staying the way you see it. A false ceiling is being hung, thus I can't mount to ceiling without much trouble from Dad :\

- D

well, if you end up mounting them to the back wall, the FMB will not be necessary.. the speaker comes with a T-bracket that will work perfectly fine for a flat wall mount.

now, if you just want the FMB for more versatility, and to bring the speaker off the wall, then more power to you.. that would work also. but not necessary.

bigjohn

Daphoid, my QS8s are currently flat against the back wall, but they were much better when they were on stands at the sides of the couch. Since you have a more or less ideal place to put your right surround (about where that green painting is?), you only need to worry about the left surround. I think you'll be happier with the sound if you figure out some way to mount that left QS to your left rather than behind you.

How about using a board about 12" high and 16-20" long to mount your QS on, then use a HEAVY duty door hinge (or two) to mount the board to the back wall, allowing the board to be swung out into position for movies and then folded back against the wall for neat storage.

Judging by the size of your bed, it doesn't look like WAF is an issue, eh?

OK guys.. i havent asked a stupid question in a long time, so i reckon its time i did..

what is WAF an acronym for?? i know it means something about your wife, and her displeasure with the speakers and all, but i dont know the EXACT meaning of each letter(WAF)??

so , please enlighten me!! and no ray, i aint selling mine!!

bigjohn

"wife acceptance/approval factor"

I think Ajax has a link to all of the acronyms meanings. HARHOFAW?

Wife Acceptance Factor. No links, whatsoever.

gracias.. now i know!!

but know i have no idea what "HARHOFAW" means??

bigjohn

Ok this is hte third time I've tried replying... They don't seem to be showing up for me, I hope this isn't just a bug on my side.

I checked with dad and I can mount them on the ceiling, they just have to be screwed into the rafters with a board. So bearing that in mind, where should I put them? There's a rafter on either side of the couch (you can see the left one in the picture, go straight up from the arm of the couch, then to the left abit). Should I use those rafters? or go out further one more?.

Also should I put the right speaker all thee way in the corner? In case someone sits on my bed? This will be farther over then my right front main (as I don't wan to put that right in the corner, because it'll be blocked by my bed...

Or is it better to mount it on the wall and put the other one on the 36" stand on the left? I got the impression that putting those speakers that close to ear level may be realy loud?

What do you guys think?

- D

thoughts?

I just looked into it some more, and doing the "one speaker on the wall, other on a stand" method does not work, because to put them both at 3 feet off the ground, It'd definetley smack it when I'm sleeping in the bed

If you guys say that having them to the side is better then on the back wall, then I think ceiling mount is going to be our best option.

Now, where on the ceiling should they go?

- D

Sean, put them on the back wall about 6' up and separated as widely as possible, maybe 6" from the side wall or where a side wall would be.

I certainly wouldn't question your advice, John, but why have him put 'em on the back wall? Sorry if I just questioned your advice.

Who is JohnK? All we know about him is that he usually right only 99.99% of the time.Its always good to question advice.

Mark, sitting right up against the back wall, putting the surrounds on that wall and spread almost all the way to the side walls is at least as good as using the side walls almost all the way to the back wall. Also, note that Sean doesn't have a side wall on the left.

Hell, we don't even know if he's a HE. For all we know, JohnK could be a computer program.

Here's another shot, I'm trying to show the you where the drywall ends on the left... See my keyboard leaning against hte wall? basically to the right of that is my closet door, so that's about as far to the left as I can go. should I go 6" in from that? and then 6" in from the right wall?

ANy more suggestions? Also I'll take some more pictures tomorrow when I get home from work.

- D

Sean, if that's as far as you can go on that side that's the way it is. Computation complete.

I reckon John knows his stuff, Daphoid. Maybe because the dimensions of your room are not huge and you have QS8s rather than 4s...
My 8s are on the back wall about 25' apart and 8' up - it is not ideal. I was watching the latest Matrix flick a couple weeks ago, stood up to get a beer and the sonic violence 3' above the LP was tremendous - sat back down quickly and it was gone. Maybe I just need to bring them down a couple feet and use FMBs to get a little "toe in" (or sit on a stack of phone books).
Good luck. You can always move them around later.

You got it, Mark. Either bring the QS8s down 2-3' or remain standing.

Alright I've done even more thinking, and it's come down to two Options:

Option A: Hang them from the ceiling, pointing slightly down and hanging "on the side" of the couch. Put one as far right as possible, and put the left one right before my closet door.

Option B: Hang them on the back wall, about 7 feet up, hang one 6" from the right wall, and the other 6" from the closet door.

thoughts? I can take more pictures if you need..

- D

Sounds good. Flip a coin if you can't decide. The back wall installation definitely sounds easier to do. Try to have them symmetrically placed in relationship to your couch, though your receiver most likely has the ability to adjust surround speaker distances and levels.

i still like the idea of mounting them to the side(not back), but i agree with bigwill, we have dilly-dallied to much with this. flip a coin, grab a drill, and start puting them somewhere.

honestly, you seem to be over-concerned about this. dont obsess, you have plenty of time for that when it comes to getting a new receiver. the QS8's are gonna rock where ever you put them. so just git'er done and enjoy!!

bigjohn

Oh but I have a new receiver, a Denon AVR-3805 I'm picking it up Saturday!

- D

WOW, the 3805.. that is a rockin unit. that was one of my final choices(or the 3803), but it was still a little out of my price range.

tell your dad their aint no use in installing a ceiling, cause you are just gonna be tearing it down once you get all that equip hooked up.

bigjohn

Yeah, silver 3805, Charcoal Smoke custom Axiom's, it's going to be good

Now one thing, if I do put them on the ceiling, I'm assuming I should line them up with the middle of the couch arms (distance form back wall)?

- D

i believe recommended placement is either a foot in front, to a foot behind the listening position.. so either way should work.

bigjohn

How far apart did you decide on, Daph?

Well I defintley decided on ceiling mounting, as my dad says we won't see any wires that way, and they'll be on the side, angled downwards.

As for how far apart, I have to do a bit of re-arranging, I want to see if I can stick my bed somewhere else, so that my couch is closer to the center of the TV spot...

Basic plan is, wherever I do put the couch: "How far can I go before hitting closet door?" then do same distance on either side, I'll definetley take pictures when I'm done.

- D

I think this is all in your dad's best interest... See, when you are gone, that will be his theater, wiring in place and ready to go.

True but when I'm gone, the speakers, TV, and all cables will be gone too . We're wiring it so I can take it all with me

- D