Well this isn't quite a review but nonetheless, it is some advice i found on the AVS site which is a good example as to why i generally
avoid that forum.
Hometheatrespot.com has been far more practical in obtaining quality advice, much like the Axiom forums (no offense intended for avid AVS readers, this is just my personal view...sushi's recent post on the speaker break-in debate was an excellent exception).
The link to horrible advice is
here.
The reposted text is as follows (original topic is about placement of surround speakers in a HT):
John A [SEE THE LINK FOR THE USER INFO]
Yes, but if you'll note, they show the couch up against the back wall which is a real no-no, so sometimes companies just whip out BS because it's easy for people to understand rather than explain the right way to do something. So, listen up folks, here's how to do it right:
5.1 - Rear speakers ~45 degrees off rear axis which is a compromise position with the speakers 90 degrees apart.
6.1 - Center rear behind, "rear" speakers at 60 degrees off axis.
True 7.1 (doesn't exist, but will soon) - "Rear Back" speakers at about 20-30 degrees off axis, side speakers about 1 foot behind your head
In all cases, the speakers should be at or just above ear level, the speakers should be pointed at the person furthest away for "time-intensity trading" and should be directional designs, not "dipolar surrounds". Included in directional designs are bipole and dipole speakers where the the front wave is pointed at the listening position and the rear wave is pointed away for ambience creation, such as Mirage, Magnepan, Martin-Logan. All speakers, including the rears will sound better and more natural if they are away from the walls with the baffle 2.5' or more from the wall. I submit that most people who prefer dipoles have never actually heard a well-setup home theater. Most magazine writers don't know how to set up a home theater and simply slap the speakers up against or mounted to the walls, which is "normal", but not high-end. All speakers should be at least 5' away from you and the listening position should be at least 5', preferable 8-10' away from the back wall.
You can do this "to taste" and experiment at will, but if you do so, it will be less "right" and less faithful to the intended experience. Dipolar speakers are a MASSIVE diversion from the intended experience and are nothing like the sound of a good home theater nor are they anything like the sound of a movie theater or mixing stage. Even movie theaters are massive compromises in order to provide "decent" sound to hundreds of people and is seriously lower fidelity than what the sound engineer hears while mixing the movie. The sound engineer in a studio has his set up much more like I have described, generally with 5 or 6 identical speakers surrounding him, away from the walls on stands with himself towards the middle of the room.
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I specifically think the part about ppl who prefer dipoles as never having heard a "well setup" HT as being broadly sweeping and rather obnoxious. Apparently Alan, being a former magazine writer, does not know how to setup his home theatre.
Hey Alan, do you need a hand with that "normal but not high-end" wall mounting? (Just kidding).
