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Can I Use Back Surround Speakers If My Couch Is Against the Wall?

Al Griffin  |  May 2, 2019

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Q I’ve got a smallish 10 x 12-foot viewing room. The room’s size isn’t necessarily a problem, but the seating is a modular couch set all the way against the back wall. Can I get any value out of in-wall surrounds right behind or beside the seating? I’m worried without any distance these will appear as obvious point sources and worse will not work well across the width of the couch. Any advice before I start cutting into walls? —Robert Greenwalt, via email

A I’d recommend against installing in-wall back surround speakers in your room since the sound coming from them would be easily localizable. A better suggestion would be to use side surround speakers mounted above ear-level or in-ceiling ones firing down at the seating area. Either option would create a more spacious surround effect than having drivers emit sound just a few inches from the back or side of a listener’s head.

COMMENTS
villerblender's picture
Submitted by villerblender on February 25, 2025 - 11:48pm

Yes, you can use back surround speakers even if your couch is against the wall, but placement is key for optimal sound quality. Instead of placing them directly behind you, consider mounting them slightly above ear level and angling them downward or positioning them on the side walls to create a more immersive surround sound experience. Wall-mounted or dipole/bipole speakers are great options for dispersing sound evenly. Just like how KFC South Africa's menu (https://kfcmenusa.co.za/) offers a variety of meal choices to suit different tastes, surround speaker placement has flexible solutions to enhance your home theater setup.

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