Mounting Speakers - What Height?

[mystify_YOU]

Hi,

I am currently mounting my Z-5500 speakers to the wall. I have rear speaker stands that are 25" high. As far as mounting the front three on the wall, I am unsure really what height to put them at. I could have all 5 of them at 25" high - is this good? Or I could have the left and right speakers slightly lower (like 20"), and have the center speaker above them all at about 28".

Basically my question is in a perfect world, what is a perfect height for these speakers. Does it matter if the center speaker is higher than the others, or is it better if all 5 are exactly the same height.

Any help apprecaited

Simon

 

[strid3r]

They should be at a height where the speakers are level with your ears in your sitting/listening position.

 

[spaceman]

They should be at a height where the speakers are level with your ears in your sitting/listening position.

yup or even above your ears. as much as three feet although I like one foot.

 

[mystify_YOU]

OK. I just read somewhere that it is better to have the rear speakers higher than the rest. I also wondered, even though they all will be above ear level, if it mattered if they was all at different heights, specifically the center speaker. So instead of been level, the front three would look something like __ --- __

Or is it better to just have all 5 at exactly the same height.

 

[spaceman]

It's all subjective to what you like best. Start with them all the same height and at ear level and see how that goes. Then mess with them if you don't like the sound.

 

[Sycraft]

You have to play with it a little. Start with everything on level, and try elevating the rear speakers. The reason for the elevation is that's how it is done in the theatres and 5.1 at home is made to mimic theatre sound. So the spec for homes has rear speakers about 6 feet off the ground. However that doesn't translate well to games always.

In my case the front tweeters are even with my ears, the rear speakers are just slightly elevated (but not like 6 feet up or anything). Good compromise that sounds good to me.

 

[Trepidati0n]

1. In general you want to keep all speakers on the same level

2. If possible keep the speakers at least at ear level

3. Better yet, keep the speakers at least a foot above your ears (if sitting, not so hard).

#3 is due to the hunter "skillz" we developed over a period few 1000 years in which we can hear with much more detail listening down than up (animals on ground lower than us). Therefore if you really want to enjoy the multi speaker approach, a better choice is to raise it slightly up so you can't directly localize the speaker but you can tell where the sound is coming from.

 

[peacetilence]

Tweeter should be just a bit over the level of your ears.

 

[mystify_YOU]

OK, well I did as you all suggested. All 5 speakers are at exactly the same height, aprox 1 foot above ear level. Lets just say - they sound INCREDIBLE. Compared to before when they were on my desk, the difference is amazing. Thanks very much guys - much appreciated.

 

[Sycraft]

Good deal. Once you've got a feel for how they sound and tested it with different stuff, try elevating the rear speakers, see how that goes. You may like it, may not. Movies are more designed with that in mind, games not as much. Try it and see. Get some books or something you can stick under the rear stands so you can vary it and see how you like it, then work out a permanent solution once you are the happiest.