Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions New house... where to mount the center channel?

Just moved into our new house. Great house, however not a dedicate HT. That will be in our next house, :).

Anyway we do have a den with a fireplace. We've tested putting out 42" plasma on top of boxes right in front of the mantle and we like it up there. Works perfectly for the room. So the questions is where to mount the center? On top of the TV? or just set it on the mantle?

Also I have a projector which I plan on installing at one point. When the screen is down if I have the projector above or directly below the TV it will be blocked. Any suggestions? Without having to buy a screen made for speakers behind it...

Thanks guys!

I'm not sure if I am picturing this correctly, but when the screen is lowered is it's bottom roughly level with the bottom of the tv in front of the mantle? Perhaps a sketch would clarify the positioning?

If that is the case, I would suggest just a low center placement with an upward angle. I've tried the 150 both above and below my tv, and prefer below better (personal preference though).

I think I am totally imagining the room setup wrong though...

Pic link.

http://gallery.mac.com/jbsengineer/100345/IMG_2554/web.jpg?ver=12433862780001

I have a 92" screen right now btw. The screen was very cheap so if I could work something out I don't mind buying some more expensive if it works.

Speakers sitting around in boxes, I hate that .

What about mounting the center channel above the TV, just below the ceiling, and hanging your projector screen down from the ceiling? Quite possibly it wouldn't be the most aesthetically appealing option, but it's a suggestion.

I hate them in boxes as well, :(. They will be out soon enough. They aren't new. I've been an Axiom owner for a few years.

I was thinking the same thing. I'd have to get a different screen setup that would allow enough room on top for the Center to peak through. Pry my best bet.

What should I expect with have the center that high? it would essentially be at the corner of the ceiling/wall.

If you're seating is setup already, why wouldn't you put it opposite the couch on that other wall? I'm a stickler for eye height...above the fireplace is too high.

We want the TV to be viewable through the "great room". The den reaches into the kitchen and morning room. See pic below.

I was thinking about the left wall in the picture. Where the couch is. But we like it above the fp.

Oh and the seating is temporary. We just moved in last week and we are buying new furniture.

http://gallery.mac.com/jbsengineer/100345/IMG_2582/web.jpg?ver=12433862940001


About the height. We did test it for a week and didn't mind the height. If popular opinion is that putting the TV/Projector screen on the wall with the couch is ideal I'll entertain it again, :).

There are more guys around here with more expertise than I, but I don't know if you could run into problems with reflections off the ceiling. Other than that, there are plenty of guys that have their center channel mounted above their projector screens. As long as it's angled down to the listening position it's a nonissue AFAIK.

Edit-Beautiful place by the way, congratulations!

I had my VP150 mounted high with version 1.1 of my theater and it was decent aside from being off center. After awhile I found the voices did not seem anchored BUT my TV was much further from the speaker than yours would be.

Once I moved the speaker to below and in front of the TV I was much happier with the performance.


2nd reason for moving the center


I don't have an updated photo of the latest version so you can have 2.0 haha

Ah. Honestly, if it were me, I would set it up to optimize for couch viewing. Then add a tilt/swivel mount so you can point it to the kitchen area when needed.

Yeah, the mount will be pricey but you won't compromise for optimum 'couch' viewing. Just make sure that mount is on the studs...

oldskool, I was debating this approach as well. would the room then be to shallow for 5.1?

I don't think so. My room is similar shaped, granted it has a full 4 walls (though one side is a sliding door). The 5.1 is fine w/ my M22's, QS8's, VP150, and VTF2 sub. I used my Pio 45TX auto calibration and I have no issues.

I wouldn't worry about the shallow part. The open area will be more problematic. However, you'll need to set up the room first and play with it before deciding it won't work. I know this from personal experience. I have a 2 channel system that I set up in a very large room w/ cathedral ceilings and front/back walls of glass. The room is sparse and I was running only 2 monitors, no sub. I was afraid that my 25W tube amp would not be able to power the speakers enough to fill the room. I was also worried that the glass would cause too much reflections. Oddly enough, the sound is contained (and fantastic BTW) and I notice no ill effects from the room itself.

I like that idea. Monoprice has lots of mounts to choose from, and their prices can't be beat.

I'd go with dual in/on-wall speakers run in parallel to cover the center. Then get a an acoustic screen. Or go with a phantom center channel and skip this problem, if you can live with that option.