Hi,

Was hoping to get some suggestions on speaker placement for a 5.2.2 overhead system. As you can see I have a bulkhead directly above my first row seating. I will actually be getting rid of my second row altogether (riser and seats).

[img]https://oi328.photobucket.com/album...~original[/img]

Am was planning to move my current surrounds (QS8) to the back wall and make them the left/right surround speakers (getting rid of the qs4's currently there). But after a bit of reading, it seems monopole is what your want for Atmos. I have a pair of M3s I can use for rear surround.

[img]https://oi328.photobucket.com/album...~original[/img]

Cutting a hole in ceiling and running wire for in-ceiling speakers is not really an option. So, for the overhead speakers, I am thinking of using some axiom audio M2's angled downward. Or perhaps I would be better off with M3's?

Would put them the speakers here:

[img]https://oi328.photobucket.com/album...~original[/img]

[img]https://oi328.photobucket.com/album...~original[/img]


Some specific questions I have:
1. For the rear surrounds that will be moved to the back wall, should they be lower than the speakers currently there?

2. Do you think this is enough height for the overheads? It is 7 feet to the bottom of the bulkhead (top of the overhead speaker). I could put them higher up on the wall if I move them in front of the bulkhead, but not sure if the bulkhead would impede some of the sound?

3. Thoughts on the location of the overhead speakers? I could also ceiling mount the speakers, but this would have to be done in front of the bulkhead as the would hang too low mounted to the bulkhead. Or again, I could put them on ceiling in front of bulkhead.

4. If mounted on the wall (pointing down) Is there any concern that the left overhead will be about 2 feet further from the main listening position than the right one? I imagine audyssey will take care of this?

5. Thoughts on using a M2 vs M3 for the overheads?

6. Thoughts on the overhead setup I am thinking of vs. an atmos enabled speaker placed on top of my front left and right speakers?

I can move the seating forward or back if need be - but would rather not move it back too much.

As an aside, I am likely going to move to M60s for the front and also upgrade the center channel. But that is for another post.

Open to thoughts and/or suggestions.

Thanks!

Both should be great for overheads though the M3 would have more body if you go towers.

Many say more space is necessary for overheads, you can angle them to compensate. Or wall mount similar to elevations. 30 degree is common recommendations.

What do you mean by 'more space'? That ideally the overheads would be mounted higher than 7 feet?

Yes most recommendations are 8 foot or more.
With proper angles I think you can make up for having lee height.

Ya. The more reading I am doing, I am starting to wonder if I might be better off with an atmos enabled speaker which would fire up to the ceiling.

But, since axiom does not make one of these, not sure how things would sound with things not being timbre matched.

Just lie a wall mount M3 on the M22 or M60. Stick a Wunderbar under it to angle it up.

That is actually a decent idea. I had thought because they are called 'atmos enabled' speakers, there was some sort of witchcraft going on to make them 'atmos enabled'. Probably just the angle that makes them so.

You're fortunate you live in Canada and can get Wunderbars otherwise this idea wouldn't work.

Lol

Ha. You know, I'm not sure if I've ever actually had one. But you can definitely get them on amazon.ca, so I am set.

For God's sake don't eat the Wunderbar! It's only meant to prop up speakers.

Wunderbar may not come into play. Have been doing more reading. There is more to the atmos enabled speakers than just the angle - witchcraft is no doubt involved.

I don't know if just propping some m3's is going to cut it. They might. Thought they might seems you have people on both sides when it comes to 'atmos enabled'.

I've found I don't need ATMOS with the v4 and the QS10s. I get lots of height, depth and width from the front soundstage and the QS10s do virtual ATMOS very well.

A well implemented 5.1 surround can offer a fantastic experience ... but it really comes down to what you are trying to recreate. The promise of ATMOS (and other like formats) is to place objects in 3d space independent from the system and room that it is being recreated in.

Now that said, I can't tell you if it can live up to this promise as I've never really heard well implemented ATMOS content on a well implemented ATMOS system. Rich

Well said, Rich.