How high surrond speakers

Andrew2112

I'm getting a new pair of FXI5's tomorrow and I'm really pumped because it will be my first experience at home with surround speakers. I have a vaulted ceiling and considering the location I'm planning on putting them (behind me) the wall runs from 14 feet to 16 feet. My question is should I go high 7' or 8' or should I go 'low' 5' to 6'?. They would be 12 feet behind me as my front speakers (RTI8, CS400i, PSW505) sit 12 feet in front.
With my new 61" 1080p DLP tv it will be a while until I step into a movie theater!
Thanks in advance guys.

Frank Z

Put them on the side walls with the tweeters 2-3' above the listeners ear level.

Don't forget to calibrate with an SPL meter.
http://www.audiophilia.com/hardware/spl.htm

Andrew2112

Frank Z wrote:

Put them on the side walls with the tweeters 2-3' above the listeners ear level.

Don't forget to calibrate with an SPL meter.
http://www.audiophilia.com/hardware/spl.htm

With the layout of my living room side placement is not an option but thanks for the quick response.

ohskigod

as long as they are at least ear level, it will fly. I have mine on 24" stands, and that is the lowest placement I would remotly consider. I would like them a little higher, but its no emergency.

but if your doing 5.1, you want them pretty much on the side even with your head, maybe a little further back, not on the back wall.

wingnut4772

I have mine a whopping 4' above ear level as I really have no choice due to my room layout and it sounds just fine. If you think about it, when you go to the movies the surrounds are what...10 feet or so above ear level? I believe for home HT though about 2 feet would be ideal.

Toxis

2-3' above ear level = ideal.

danger boy

they are recommended to be 2 to 3 feet above your head/ears for best placement. i think you can fudge that a little.. but don't go below that.

univera

My thoughts exactly in regards to movie theaters. Movie theater sounds pretty damn good way up there...Mounting down low, unless it is inwall, doesn't look to hot. If I may latch on to this thread, is there a general consensus on placement when the back wall is the one where your couch is positioned. I have one inner, half wall (that extends from the rear wall) pretty even with my left, front main and the other side wall of the house is a few feet wider than my right main. I am sitting against the back wall. What's the ideal spot to mount my surrounds?

Andrew2112

Thank you all for your input. I got the FXI5's today and ...damn they are big and extremely good looking.

Toxis

I prefer them lower than higher than the recommended. Mine are about a foot above ear level (more for SACD purposes though) and love it.

Schwingding

I'd say it depends on what you are listening to - movies or music. Movie effects are well suited towards moving the speakers a bit above head height. However, multichannel music seems to be best when the tweeters and mid ranges are all at ear height. You mentioned movie theater so I assume that is your pref. Put them a bit higher.

Skynut

MIne are mounted on my vaulted ceiling just behind the sweet spot. They fire down toward the back of my head and sound pretty good.
I also do not have the side option.

scottnbnj

i don't really do ht, but fwiw i stumbled across this article last night:

http://www.acousticsciences.com/articles/ht-4.htm

i didn't really read it closely, but noticed it touched on some concepts that don't talked about much.

)

Shizelbs

I agree with the 2 to 3 feet. This comes from experience. I did about 5 feet above listener level once and I hated the results.

MattN03

Great info, as I should be receiving my FXi5's next week

MattN03

Andrew2112 wrote:

Thank you all for your input. I got the FXI5's today and ...damn they are big and extremely good looking.

Any pics of your arrangement?

josh_parsons626

Ideally, in a perfect world if you're about a 6' tall man mount them eye-level about 2' from the side wall.