How to install surround sound

Connect a Coaxial Digital Cable, Optical Digital Cable, or Audio cable to the Audio Output jack on your TV. Connect the other end of the cable to the corresponding jacks on the A/V receiver or home theater system. Depending on your device, the audio input may be labeled TV INPUT or VIDEO INPUT.

Surround Sound Installation Cost

Installing a surround sound system in your home costs $654 on average. It’ll typically run between $243 and $1,100, but some reports put it at $3,000 or more. A set of two in-wall speakers, including wiring, runs from $200 to $500.

What You Need to Access Surround Sound. You need a compatible home theater receiver supporting a minimum 5.1 channel speaker system, an AV preamp/processor paired with multi-channel amplifier and speakers, a home-theater-in-a-box system, or a soundbar to experience surround sound.

So do you need a receiver for surround sound? For traditional speakers, a receiver is highly recommended, almost always required. For active Soundbars with wireless or satellite speakers, a receiver is not needed. Passive Soundbars will require the use of a receiver.

Ideally, the surround speakers in a 5.1 surround sound configuration should be placed just behind, or to the side of, your listening position. Dolby recommends an angle of 110° to 120° from your listening position, as in the image below. The surrounds should be slightly higher than the front speakers in the room.

You can place a subwoofer behind you or in the back of the room but this is likely not going to be the most optimal location. Ideally, the subwoofer should be placed at the front of the room pulled at least 6-inches away from the wall for the best low-frequency audio signal performance.

5.1 surround sound

In a 5.1 system, your surround speakers are best placed to the left and right of your listening position. Aim them directly towards you for the best sound. If side placement isn’t practical, place your surround speakers a few feet behind your listening position and face them forward.

Surround Speakers and Rear Speakers

If you are unable to put them to the sides, you can place them a few feet behind the listening position, just make sure to face them towards the front. You should also put them 1 to 2 feet (0.30-0.61 m) above ear level so that they are above you when seated.

Whether you have your speakers stand-mounted, on a shelf or wall-mounted, remember that speakers are generally designed so that they sound best when they are level with your ears when you are listening to them. Try to leave space between the wall and the speaker.

Speakers should be at least 2-3 feet away from the nearest wall (especially if your speaker is in a corner). Many speakers have rear-facing bass ports. Positioning a rear bass port too close to the wall will reflect sound waves, resulting in time smearing.

The height speaker channels should be placed in the upper left/right corners of the front stage. Typically, this will be 40-45 degrees off-axis and about 8 feet in height. A downward tilt of the speaker will improve mid/high frequency response and reduce ceiling bounce reflections.

The general rule is to put bookshelf speakers at 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock positions, angling them towards your preferred listening position. The tweeters should be at ear-level for optimal performance.

This is usually around 30” to 50” off the ground. If your theater set up doesn’t allow you to place the center speaker this high, you can improve the sound of a low positioned speaker by tilting it up so that the sound fires at your ear level.

For best results when mounting surround speakers on a rear wall, position them so that they flank the main listening area and point toward the front of the room. They should be raised to a height of approximately six feet and should ideally have a minimum space of six feet between them, as well.

Can surround speakers be placed in the ceiling? Yes they can and most times it is a very good thing if you want to really experience the depth of the music you are playing. While this is a generally good practice to carry out, there are a couple of things that you need to be aware of when doing this.

2 – this is a “standard” 5.1-channel surround sound system, with the addition of two height channel or speakers that generate sound from above the listener. 5.1. 4 – as above but with 4 height channels or speakers to generate sound above the listener.

Speaker angles

Positioning the speakers at a 60-degree angle gives you the best ‘stereo image’ of these sounds. Dust off your old protractor and position the speakers 60 degrees apart. It can help to place a small marker at your listening position and work it out from there.

Are There Speakers That Can Be Laid Onto Their Sides? In that case, it’s recommended you place them on their sides because not doing so could cause the same issues that horizontal placement of vertical speakers causes. The majority of bookshelf speakers are designed to be placed vertically.

Wall mounting is often the easiest option. It’s important that the speakers be placed at ear height and that they be placed equidistant on either side of the TV. In addition, there should be at least one meter of space between the speakers and any side walls. This makes them ideal wall mount speakers.

DON’T ever put your speakers directly on the floor. Every room surface near a speaker will reinforce bass tones. If they’re going to be near the floor, keep them away from other surfaces like walls and the sides of hard furniture to avoid an echo-effect.