Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Center speaker placement (vp150)

Ok, so I finally joined the ranks of Axiom owners. I have just finished off the basement and am now in the process of setting up my new system. However, I am having issues trying to figure out the best way to install my center channel (vp150)...

Basically, I will be getting a rear projection 60" TV, but most of the affordable stands for these tv's don't have enough room for my center speaker and my components. I know I could get a salamander (or other similar type of stand), but I am already way over my original budget and would rather not spend more if I can help it.

So, after weighing all the options in my head, I am now leaning towards mounting a nice wood shelf on the wall behind my tv, and placing the vp150 up there (leaving plenty of room for my components in regular stand). If I do go that route, what potential issues might I face, seeing as how the speaker will be above and at least 15"-20" behind the front of the tv? Do I need to install the shelf even higher so that the tv does not block the sound coming from the speaker, and then angle the speaker downwards toward the listening area? Or, is there enough dispersion in the vp150 that I can expect it to perform well in that type of placement?

I'd love to get any feedback I can on this (as well as other suggestions if you have them). The tv will not arrive for at least another week, but I'd like to have everything ready to go when it does come in, if possible. Thanks in advance!


- Brendan

Something like this would be better. Keeps your speaker forward.

Thanks, I thought about those as well, but I was worried it might look a bit off with the extra width of the vp150. Of course, if the shelf on the wall ends up being a no-go, I might try that tv shelf since the cost on it isn't too bad.

I'd try an Axiom Full Metal Bracket rather than a shelf. I think it is suboptimal to have it significantly behind the plane of the TV, but if you can't avoid it, I would definitely put it high enough up to avoid nasty early reflections. The FMB would facilitate that nicely.

Yes, I agree, full metal bracket works well. If you can get the center in line with the front of the screen that is best, but remember that your front speakers should form a slight arc with the right and left speaker slightly closer to the listening area than the center.

another vote for the FMB. If you have to put the speaker on a shelf, remember you can flip the speaker upside down so that it's angled towards your seating position better. Just remember to take the grill off and flip it rightside up as well.

Thanks for the help guys. I hadn't really thought about the FMB, since I figured I could get it farther from the wall on a custom shelf. However, since the speaker is 7.5" deep, it makes sense that the FMB would get me close to the same distance from the wall, with an easier method for redirecting the angles.

Or you can do like I did, put the center on a stand in front of the TV. I leave the grill on the center so it is less obvious against the black TV grilles. I have rubber feet placed under the center and the center angled up slightly.

I did not want to put the VP150 directly on top of my RPTV and with the stand it is closer to the same height of the M60s than if I had used a shelf.