Speaker Placement

Etelvina

About four years ago, I bought my first HT system consisting of the following:
-Sony STR1000 receiver
-Polk CS20 center
-Polk monitor 70 front
-Polk OMW3 side and back surrounds
Following are my uses of the system:
-Music 70%
-Sport on TV 20%
-Movies 10%
Due to my usage patterns, I am now looking to upgrade the music component of my system. I have recently bought a new Sony 4700ES receiver which has pre-amp out. My next step will be an amp and speakers:

Since the M70 are so big, I had to place them on top of the cabiners as shown below:

I realize that having the speakers so high above ear level is not optimal. Following are my questions:
1. Am I better off replacing the tower M 70s with a bookshelf speaker such as Polk LSIm 703 and put them at ear level on the bookshelves shown to the left and right of the photo or just put a pair of RTI A9 at the same elevated locations as the current M 70s?
2. What sort of amp do you suggest to pair with the speakers?

pitdogg2

that location is terrible for most all speakers unless you make drastic changes in the room. Where the 70's are now is 100% wrong but you acknowledge that bookshelves would be better but not a whole lot as they would most likely be way too far apart, unless you get rid of those seats to either side of your TV then sit the 703m's on stands. Even bookies need room to breathe so stuffing them in the shelves on each side would not be the best. I wouldn't waste any money on the A9's to put at the same location it just doesn't make sense...Floor speakers need to be on the ............ floor.

Etelvina

Thank you so much for your response. As a follow-up:
1. I agree with you that placement of new floor standing speakers up high is a waste.
2. With respect to placing bookshelf speakers on the bookshelves, those bookshelves are very wide and deep. As a result, they will have plenty of air.
3. As a result, I believe the only problem with placing the bookshelf speakers on those bookshelves would be the wide separation.
4. However, I listen to music perhaps 10 feet from that wall. As a result, that speaker placement would be less that a 45 degree angle from my ears.

In conclusion, would bookshelf speakers be that bad for listening to music in that room?

leftwinger57

I don't think I have ever seen towers laid horizontal before. They look way out of any sweet spot and will lose some sound by just being to damn high.The room it's self looks great w/ those window day beds and built-ins.

Joe08867

With your setup I would suggest in-ceiling speakers or In-wall if you can mount them under your windows. Pair them with a nice subwoofer and you will be better off. The problem I see with bookies is your gonna be to wide on the bookshelves and the towers up that high sideways is no good either. I doubt you are hearing much of anything right that way.

ravaneli

I don't see why too wide is a problem. First, if you have a center and watch TV, you want them wide. Creates better perception of direction. Second, they don't even have to be wide. You can easily move those pictures around and put them closer together.

Even if the shelves are deep, this looks like a bad location for any speaker. It is like putting the speaker in another cabinet. It will have some impact on the acoustics.

Also, the shelves are kind of high. Not ideal for music.

You are going to need some imagination about finding a good spot for bookshelves (seems like bookshelves is your only choice because i just can't see in wall or in ceiling or tower speakers getting there). If it were me, I would try to make my own little shelves suspended from current shelves or just attached to the wall somehow. The goal is to place the bookies a little lower and in more open space, not putting them in a box.

just curious, how do u listen to music currently - with all speakers or 2.0? Since you are listening to music mostly, the LSim bookies will be a better choice than RTi A speakers. I am not gona talk about amps, all good name amps will sound pretty much the same, get whatever best deal you can find.

Etelvina

Thank you very much for your replies. This is the sort of advice I need:

1. If I were to get bookshelf speakers, I would consider something like Lsi9.
2. I have thought that since my two front speakers would be very wide, I could buy a very good center speaker such as an LsiC. Then I could listen to music through the three front speakers.
3. With respect to the shelf being too high, I generally listen to music sitting at the bar reading. As a result, I am sitting in an elevated bar seat.
4. Ravaneli-When you say "little shelves suspended from current shelves", could you describe what you are thinking a little better?

Thanks for everyone's suggestions.

F1nut

You need inwalls, right above the window seating and below the windows, it's the perfect place. Polk's inwalls are excellent.

Etelvina

Would it be appropriate to mount an in-wall such as a Polk 265-LS horizontally, centered on each of the two windows, just below the window sills?

ravaneli

Geoff, can you post that picture where you made a shelf for your blue ray player or whatever that was? Can't find it now. Remember, you had it on top of the sub, and people told you to move it, so you made a little shelf suspended from the top. Did the job nicely.

Basically just go to home depot and buy a few sticks and a wood platform and some glue. You can reinforce them with some screws too. The folks there will help you with that. Then get a nice stain and when all is done stain the wood in a color you would like.

this is what I did to raise my A6 center a little because my TV stand was too low, and make space for the receiver at the same time



Something like this, but flipped upside down and taller enough for a bookshelf. Of course the bottom would be a platform. I didn't need anything more than this because I just put the A6 on top of this. It is now almost at ear level. Also matches the wood of my TV stand. Sort of. : ) I am not a good carpenter but it's good enough for me : )

Joe08867

Why do you want to lay them sideways? Do you just not like speakers set up correctly?

I would advise totally against it as the speakers were designed to be set in the wall upright not sideways.

Etelvina

Joe-Thanks for your questioning. I was thinking about doing them horizontally since I do not believe I can fit the height of the speakers (20 inches) between the top of the cushions and the bottom of the window sills. Perhaps I should just get a smaller speaker?

ravaneli

of course not sideways. my stand was designed to house my marantz receiver underneath. He should make his to house a vertical good size bookshelf.

F1nut

Etelvina, while mounting them horizontally is certainly not ideal, the location would be far better than what you have now. That said, I think you could mount the 65-LS vertically in that location without issue as they are under 15 inches. Pair them with the LSi center and a good sub.

tonyb

......and a good amp.

Personally, the inwalls below the windows puts a speaker at the back of someones head if just listening to music. I would do in ceiling instead, more room, less obtrusive, and won't be rockin' into someones eardrum.

Etelvina

Quick question-I want to get rid of those speakers up high because they are outside "the sweet spot". How are in-cieling speakers any better than what I have right now?

Joe08867

In-ceilings are designed to be up high and you can place them closer to your ears. and they will be aimed more at the listener than into the sky.

zingo

This is a change, but how about a pair of JBL L820? They are flat enough that you could wall mount them under the windows, and they have a great sound. Just another idea!