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Author Topic: Optimal speaker arrangement Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-08-2009 12:51 PM                     This is the arrangement of the speakers behind our movie screen. (This picture has been posted before in another thread.) Notice that the center horn is different than the other two. My question is whether this is a sub-optimal set up or not. It is my belief that all three speakers behind the screen should be identical (or nearly identical) so that the sound field is even as it goes out to the audience. The person who I am consulting with on sound system upgrades seems to think that the center speaker cluster needs a longer horn so it will project dialog out to the back of the theater. I think that is counterproductive. Who is right?  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 05-08-2009 12:56 PM                     Would it be possible/feasible to test out both and see which works best in your room?  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 05-08-2009 01:48 PM                        Easy to test. Push left and center together and run dialog through one at a time. If dialog is suitable, then I agree with you that all three should be the same. As a practical matter, however, there should be little in the center channel but dialog and left-over subwoofer information. You already knew this from listening to the monitor. Louis  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-08-2009 02:02 PM                        Wow, it must be nice to have that kind of space behind the screen. I'm jealous.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 05-08-2009 02:43 PM                     Your adviser is exactly wrong. If anything, the Center speaker should have a shorter horn (90-degree or greater)...depending on the room, the Left/Right speakers can be longer (60-degree or so). What you have is a 40x20 horn. I can just about guarantee that your don't have good coverage near the front of the theatre. Steve  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 05-08-2009 05:52 PM                     A bit off-topic, but is there something that can be done about the possiblity of echos behind the screen? Maybe you can 'fly' a whole baffle wall ...  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-08-2009 07:54 PM                     I have also been having discussions about a baffle wall. There's already a thread about that. There are probably some updates that I should post on that subject in the other thread. Aren't the three speakers behind the screen typically identical? That's what I've been pushing for. The center speaker has seen some damage. Somebody was setting up the stage while I wasn't there. They pushed the center speaker a couple of feet too far down stage then they lowered the screen down on top of it. They busted the horn right off the top of the cabinet. I had to make a new top out of plywood. It works okay now but, needless to say, the thing needs to be replaced. When it is finally replaced, I want it to be the same as the other two.  |  IP: Logged

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