so I know of course this topic is way off cars but I figured there may be some home audio enthusiasts in here so I'll ask.... I just moved into a new place and I need to setup my home theater system.... I was running 6.1 but I can drop to 5.1 if I HAVE to... *L* my surround speakers are fairly small and can be ceiling or wall mounted with ease... I've attached a basic layout pic for my room any suggestions on a setup and if you could include why I would appreciate the help! thanks!

Keep in mind the room is fairly small.... I'm going to say REALLY small the "living room" or non kitchen area is about 12'x15' and hanging a speaker in the middle of the ceiling (not a along a wall...) is possible but it's difficult....

 

outstanding...so i would recommend running 6.1 it just sounds good. so you have three in the front......three in the back. the back ones sound more spacious if they are higher up, but you want them pointing down at the listening area. now there are many many adjustments on yoru amp for all the speakers. you will want to change the setting for your room. usually you can input how far away the speaker is from the listener and the amp will adjust the sound accordingly. you want your sub in a corner and i would recommend having TWO. one active one passive, and when you are listening to your system, change the polarity of the subs to see what sounds the best. the LFE are also adjustable on your amp. i would also recommend ONLY using optical cables from your cd/dvd player and s video to the TV if its not high definition. if it is spend the money and get a read HDMI cable because the picture is just incredible and the people wont look really fat anymore when you watch regular cable if you have a high def cable box.

there are two center channels out of those 6 full range speakers one goes in the back one goes in the front. when you run an optical cable.. the pcm digital indicator should light right up when you turn the amp on that input.

 

I have digital coax for my DVD player and since my TV is hi def ready but not hi def persay I just run S-video cables and component inputs for my x-box... I'm in the midst of a plethra of things so I'm kinda stuck with what I have for now but I'm running 12 gauge oxygen free cable to all my speakers and my reciever does allow for individual adjustment.... what I'm thinking is I'll put my two front speakers at ear level just off to either side of center on the TV and ceiling mount my surrounds (by the way just because I have to spout my opinion here I don't think bose are anywhere near the top teir of speakers for home audio...) As it stands now I have Klipsch quintet surrouds and a 3 way Cerwin Vega Center Front, my center rear is a cheap kenwood POS and I think I have a Cerwin Vega (can't remember off hand) 12" floor firing sub with LFE and Phase adjustments... My biggest issue is coming with where in the room to place the speakers, keeping in mind it's a small room... Should I do one to either side of the TV and then one in the bottom right corner of the diagram and one in the upper left side where the dotted line (edge of my carpet) meets the wall? I'm not sure if I should go with OK sound around the room or just set it up for one sweet spot and say screw it... Main viewing seat will probably be the far left side of the couch towards the bottom of your screen in the diagram.... (that I forgot to attach to begin with! *LOL*)

[IMG]local://upfiles/3079/82F47A5C396A47E5BDA1931579CB9A08.jpg[/IMG]

 

In that size of room I don't know that 6.1 will have much advantage over 5.1. Either way place the front three speakers so that the tweeters will be at ear level when you sit down to listen. The rears won't be as crucial, again due to room size but higher is better. With 5.1 if you can't get the rears behind you then they should go on the outside walls pointed inward towards the listener (like earphones would be).

 

any suggestions as to where in that diagram to place the rears? (on the ceiling...)

 

You have to keep in mind.... if you have a good reciever and good speakers anything beyond 5.1 doesnt change things all that much

 

The only thing that 6.1 has ever added for me was just some extra depth to the sound... I ended up wiring it up last night on 5.1 but it sounds good... The front/rear speakers are all about the same height at just above ear level when you're standing up... The center is lower but I can adjust each speaker individually so the now the sound is hidden.... it's nice... you can hear/feel direction but you don't get that visual image of the speaker being off to exactly the right front of you.... if that makes sense... and I hid the sub in a corner...