Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Surround speakers in-line or wider than fronts?

OK. I have my wires in the approximate location that they will end up in, but when I was measuring out the center of the projector screen area, and mapping our front speakers, I thought that I would figure out where the surrounds should go.

Just a simple 5.1 setup of M60 fronts, VP150 center, and QS8 surrounds.

My question is: Should I line up the surround speakers with the M60 fronts (higher, of course) or have them further out from the center of what will be the seating area?

Another way to think of it is that right now, I have the M60s estimated at about 128" from each other, so should the surrounds be 128" as well, or something greater, like 140", etc..

Does it even make a difference? I have to construction preference, and it will be the exact same amount of work to do either way.

Thanks...

Nick, your QS8s will be on the back wall, but in 5.1 they're still side surrounds, not back surrounds. So, they should be separated widely to give a side surround effect, almost to where they would be if they were on side walls. It's likely that this would mean separating them more widely than the front speakers.

Good point. I have the wires already run for them to be "wider" than the fronts, and making them in-line was just a matter of pulling them back through a couple of joists in the ceiling, but I was thinking that a wider sound field was what I wanted, and you helped to confirm that.

Thanks!

I have the exact equipment (except for that incredible sub!) I suggest you wire 2 sides if possible also. I have 4 QS8's and they are great. Before I added the backs I just had 5.1 going with 2 on the sides and they still projected sound as if from behind! Amazing. Anyway the 54 will sound tremendous adding the other 2 QS8's (or for that matter a direct radiating speaker in back and the QS8's on the side).

I would love to add more speakers, even if it is just for WOW factor (and if someone wanted to give me money to buy them....) but I don't have a dedicated room, and the couch will be on the back wall of the area which in only 12' deep, so there is no room for more speakers. We keep talking about a house addition in a couple of years, so maybe then I can have a dedicated theater again (like I did in our last house where I have 7.1 before 7.1 was really even available). Although my oldest daughter (10 yrs old now) says that she wants a room in the basement when she is older. Who knows what we'll do then, but just no room for more speakers now. Thanks for the idea though...

when I get my dedicated basement HT room done, very soon , I have it prewired so the L and R surrounds will fall inbetween my first row and my elevated platform second row of seating. The rears will be behind the second row about 4-5 feet and in close alignment with the mains....

Randy