Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Speakers in family room

I'd like to have 5.1 or even 7.1, and hopefully 1/2/3/4 height speakers. I have added a plan to show the limitations/spacing




Speakers need to be on wall, e.g. 1-2 ft above ear height, or at ceiling level. I can't have speakers on the ceiling. Ceiling is 8ft tall.

Main front speakers are floor standers at position 1. I'm expecting to have dipoles for 5.1 at position 10 or 13 (or both for 7.1!). Wondering if/where to put atmos speakers.

Sofa is against back wall, could possibly move out 20cm.

Green squares show where I can put speakers anywhere up the wall, pink/red squares show where I can only place them at ceiling height.

Can the couch be moved out into the room centered with the screen or does it have to stay in that location?

In reality the left hand seat is pretty much centred with the screen, and that seat is mine, so the only one where SQ matters

Do you have any pictures of the room to give us context?

And I know it's heresy on a traditional audio forum, but you seem like a candidate for a 5.1.x wireless speaker sound bar setup.

Hi, sorry it's a no to soundbar and wireless! Plus the recent videos from Axiom on youtube said surround/atmos is fine in small room and when sofa against back wall.

Picture would help ... but assuming I have complete freedom to put things anywhere I want (which is never the case). My first thought would be to put the screen on the right wall and the couch centered facing it with its back a few feet from the window. This way you will start off with a symmetrical layout and I'd think that the surround experience would greatly improved. The window would be changed into an asset if cover with heavy curtains.

Although you can get away with a couch up against the wall it's alway better to have a few feet behind it. This is especially true if you ever want to go ATMOS as it's less forgiving than 5.1 and 7.1. Also. it's never good to be sitting next to or below any surround.

Yep.
+1

The couch/screen can't move (there is actually another couch in front of the window which I have not shown.)

The question is just where to place the speakers, and how many to have, bearing in mind the constraints.

I understand ... but the room does have potential if you ever change your mind

Here are my thoughts (others may have better ones)
First, IMO, a 5.1 system would be best ... I think 7.1 and ATMOS are out ...but that's not bad in that 5.1 can sound great and it's a lot more friendly on the budget

I would put QS10s (or any other non directional surround) in the #9/#10 area (on wall) about a 1/4 (at the highest) to 1/2 a meter below the ceiling. M5 on-walls on either side to the screen and optionally a VP150 (or VP160) center under screen. I say optionally because if it's only you watching you should be able to get an ok virtual center off the M5s. If others are watching then the center will be needed (try it without first and see what you think). If you can fit a sub then do it! I'd say its a requirement for any movie that goes boom. I'd recommend the EP500 if you can swing the cost/size (IMO, it's the sweet spot of the line up). If you use a sub you can move to less expensive mains if you need to save some cash (M3ow, M2ow). I have a 5.1 setup in the family room which came out way better than I expected (I'd say somewhere between excellent and awesome ) ... M2s, VP150ow, EP500 with Q10 surrounds. The room is 18'x18'x9' and is split in two ... one side for TV. The other for ping-pong.

I agree that without rearranging the room, 5.1 would be the way to go. QS10s will give you more dynamic range. Since you already have your towers you can tell what the dialogue sounds like without a center channel if you don't already have one.