How high up to place speakers?

abaca
abaca Posts: 5
edited December 2011 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
My house came with pre-wiring for a 5.1 home theater system. The boxes with the wires in them are about 80" up from the floor. I was going to use that height to place my RM95 speaker set up. Is that suitable? The thing is my fireplace and mantle, tv area is underneath the wiring boxes so i really don't have any space below those to place them. I do have about a foot if i wanted to go down a bit but don't think that would make a difference. Any thoughts?

My rear wiring boxes are at the same height and next to my big picture window. I could come down a bit but would like to keep things at the same height if possible.

Thanks.
Post edited by abaca on
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Comments

  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited December 2011
    Lower would be better, I think most people would want them at ear level or one foot above.
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  • Syndil
    Syndil Posts: 1,582
    edited December 2011
    Tweeters should be at ear level or as close as you can get to it. 80" is much too high.

    RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited December 2011
    FYI: Polk Audio and THX both say at least 2 foot above ear level for surrounds........http://www.polkaudio.com/education/article.php?id=15
    http://www.thx.com/consumer/home-entertainment/home-theater/surround-sound-speaker-set-up/

    Ear level for fronts/mains. 80" is just about perfect for your surrounds. I like to put them high enough that you don't knock them off with a shoulder or hit your head.

    Surround is about ambiance, not direct sound.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

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  • Syndil
    Syndil Posts: 1,582
    edited December 2011
    Yes, having the surrounds up high is OK, but as I understand it, all of the OP's speaker boxes are at 80". From the THX link you provided:
    Front Left & Right Speakers (L & R): Place the Front Left and Right speakers at ear height...
    ...
    Surround Left & Right Speakers (SL & SR): Place the SL & SR speakers between 90? to 110? to each side and 2 feet or higher above the listener.

    RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
    Adcom GFA-545II, GFA-6000, Outlaw Audio 990, Netgear NeoTV
    Denon DCM-460, DMD-1000, Sony BDP-360, Bravia KDL-40Z4100/S
    Monster AVL-300, HTS-2500 MKII
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited December 2011
    Yo, Dennis... How be you? I'm still working on that U-haul...
    Syndil wrote: »
    Yes, having the surrounds up high is OK...
    But not what you originally said... Good catch on the mains being high though...
    abaca wrote: »
    My house came with pre-wiring for a 5.1 home theater system. The boxes with the wires in them are about 80" up from the floor. I was going to use that height to place my RM95 speaker set up. Is that suitable? The thing is my fireplace and mantle, tv area is underneath the wiring boxes so i really don't have any space below those to place them. I do have about a foot if i wanted to go down a bit but don't think that would make a difference. Any thoughts?
    A pic of the front would help... Otherwise I'm picturing the front pre-wires as being above the fireplace, if mains and center are 80" up. Would indicate that a flatscreen should be above the mantel as well... a fairly common Living room set up...

    If the RM 95's mains and center end up that high, buying brackets you can angle down toward ear level will do the trick.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
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