OTHER TECH

Q. I watched a special on Discovery Channel called "Home Theater Revolution," and the theater expert built a room for a family to watch movies. He put the surround speakers on the back wall, as opposed to on the side walls facing in. I've always seen surrounds in a 5.1-channel setup placed on the side walls, and my own home theater has the surrounds there as well. Where do real home theater experts like to put surround speakers, and why is there a difference in so many home theater design setups? Gary Masten Canton, OH

A. WAYNE TOMBLIN & JIM YOUNG, Owners, Audio Video Environments, Shelton, CT, say: You're right, Gary. Most people install their surrounds on the side walls, even with rear seating. In 5.1-channel systems, we've found this works well with all the speakers mounted at ear level when the listeners are seated. Sometimes, though, with small rooms, mounting them higher creates a better, more seamless sound field that still mates well with the front speakers while it minimizes "localizing" that can call attention to the precise location of the speaker.

Those are the goals with surround speakers generally, but you'll see different approaches and speakers used depending on the room. If a room has an unusual shape, dipoles can be an effective way to make sure you get the desired effect, and you'll sometimes see alternative placements, such as behind the listeners. Of course, it's not unusual these days for extra back surround speakers to be mounted on the rear wall in 6.1- and 7.1-channel systems, and a few receivers, like those from Yamaha, can accommodate front effects speakers as well. Just remember that for the best audio experience, your speakers need a clear path to your ears - one that isn't blocked by highback recliners or other furniture. This, combined with a mixture of soft and hard surfaces in the room, will yield a truly convincing sound field.

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