My Theater/ Gaming/ Surround sound system

[trickson69]

It is Finally done.
I had a hard time figuring out how to get full 7.1 Surround sound with my sectional and the layout of my living room But I have done it.

Now it is not just a living room it's a living theater room! Where games / Movies and Music come to full life.

Got my Front Left and Right set perfectly now. The Rear Surround are on the ceiling making it even better.

I am now fully immersed in the entertainment from movies to games it's amazing now.











The speakers on the ceiling are 4 and a half feet apart so it's just an optical illusion if you think they look too close.

 

[Janus67]

Where's the speaker to the right of the TV? Is the bar in the middle above the receiver a center channel or the smaller box infront?

Edit: nevermind, can see the right speaker after opening the picture entirely

 

[EarthDog]

Got my Front Left and Right set perfectly now. The Rear Surround are on the ceiling making it even better.

Neat!

But 7.1 surround is as follows..


Front L and R
Center
SIDE L and R
Rear L and R
(Subwoofer)

Whatever you have plugged in as you side channels (which speakers?) should be on the sides and the rears behind you (not in front of you and the side surrounds). The speakers up top are for atmos channels (I dont think your receiver supports it). That can bork your sound stage as it is setup. Does your receiver allow you to input locations for speakers and setup delays? That will help.

Since it is likely a room config thing, I would have mounted the side speakers a few/several feet forward of where the ceiling speakers are now and separated them a lot more than 4.5 feet (since they are side speakers - as wide as your front/rears). Even as they are, 4.5 feet seems too close, especially with them angled in.. makes the listening sweetspot smaller.

 

[trickson69]

The Mods have messed things up once again by the amalgamation of what they ASSUMED as the same thread!
One was to show the BEFORE the WHEN I JUST GOT THE NEW SPEAKERS! This one was to show the actual setup! NOW YOU have to RE read the OP post!
You can THANK the MODS for THINKing for us again.
Oh And I listen to music in 7.1 NOTHING else.
I also have moved one of the subs to the front still keeping one behind the sofa I like the feel LOL. But it sounds much better with the one in front and one in back it's weird but it sounds real.
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Also if you do research you will find that rear speakers can be put on the ceiling and the side speakers are on the SIDE!!!

 

[EarthDog]

I can easily put the threads back (and did so). But you've managed to put the same thing in both threads Next time, consider just posting a link to your new thread instead of what essentially amounts to duplicating the information in two threads. You also have this thread talking about your surround too...
https://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php/796035-My-Theater-Gaming-Surround-sound-system

If I do my research? lol...
I know that in 7.1 putting my side speakers behind me and the rears a bit in front of the side speakers, isn't optimal.
https://www.dolby.com/us/en/guide/surround-sound-speaker-setup/7-1-setup.html

I'd also be sure the Klipsch speakers are the rear L and R while those purple people eaters are for the side channels. The rears tend to get more signal and louder audio.


EDIT: Wow...I see now... so, you took your original thread (Got some Klipsch RP speakers) and changed the title to surround on my sectional sofa) and edited most of the contents of that thread. Please, do not do that. Leave your threads alone. There is nothing wrong with adding a single post about your surround setup as it all has to do with your Klipsch speakers and audio setup. Leave the title and contents of the thread alone man... let the staff do work. If you have an issue, say something but do not go and change things like thread titles and the body of an existing thread!!!! It made things worse and more difficult to change back as you wanted... so confusing...

 

[Witchdoctor]

Nice speakers man, are you setting up a Dolby Atmos system ? or straight Dolby Surround ?

Digging the retro cassette player and turn table

 

[trickson69]

LOL Okay.
Well that is just about how I have it now. It is about 10* off on the right with the fine tuning on the Denon I adjusted the levels of all the speakers and I think I have it as good or as close to full surround as I possibly can. I can not move the huge sectional sofa anymore it is almost in the center of the room leaving a really tight area to walk through. 4 feet aint much lol.
Bt wow what a mega change from where I was when I first got the speakers. I know I can try to improve more and will do so if I can. but I am just about out of Ideas on the right surround speaker
It's not optimal no but it is as close to optimal as I can get it for now and seems to be really working good.
The thing that sucks is well Youtbe and other sites don't seem to be able to transmit that 7.1 in dts EX or any other real surround sound mode or at least my system isn't detecting the digital or dts ex signal. It does when I play my Blu ray movies that I copied to my hard drive wonder why?

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Right now I have just straight surround sound I am looking at a new Denon system with Atmos soon it will be MINE! Yes I plan an Upgrade this year. so this is one reason I am adding ceiling speakers as well. Atmos should really kick this theater in gear! LOL. But for now like I said it is really way better than when I first started out. It is a work in progress.
Thank you I just love tapes and records I have about 200 tapes and always getting more. only a few records like 100. but it too is growing.

 

[EarthDog]

The thing that sucks is well Youtbe and other sites don't seem to be able to transmit that 7.1 in dts EX or any other real surround sound mode or at least my system isn't detecting the digital or dts ex signal. It does when I play my Blu ray movies that I copied to my hard drive wonder why?

Not sure YT has the surround encoding(?). Afaik, it is 2 channel stereo.

looking at a new Denon system with Atmos soon it will be MINE!

Cool... though the irony isn't lost that you previously said you would never get Atmos and that it was a gimmick (sorry, you called it "snake oil" multiple times).

You also said you wouldn't be cutting into your ceiling and adding those speakers. My how things can change in just a few weeks. Knowledge is power!

 

[trickson69]

Yeah It's just when something new comes out it is hard to look at the price and say yeah let me just get that 3k out for that Atmos system. LOL. So yeah I am not looking forward to the cash spending but yeah the sound that is where it is at.
Hard to test whit Youtube BS stereo signal. So I have to use the blu ray! LOL better any way even netflix only transmits a stereo signal. Kind of sucks when yu see they put the Atmos trailers on because you aint getting any atmos or dts EX or even 7.1 it's just stereo. LOL. What a MIND f!
So testing is done on my computer using well the blu ray player and CyberLink Power DVD 19.
I can get full surround sound and dts ex and all the other good surround sound formats that they use in movies.
Got to say the right surround speaker is still NOT in the right spot but well it is as close to it as I can possible get it. I can tell it is interfering in the rear right surround kinda sucks but well that is and was expected. it's not that bad but I notice it.
Hope that Atmos might clear it u some or I just may have to move the sofa one more time and see.

 

[EarthDog]

Netflix transmits up to 5.1. My receiver lights up when it is playing movies which have it.

 

[trickson69]

Okay I did some more moving and tuning and well it is getting better now the left rear and side are working great! I need to get that one right speaker 2 feet forward but there just is no way to do that yet!

I moved the rear ceiling speakers back against the wall and off the ceiling kinda.



Also moved the left surround speaker to the side position RIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE lol.



Other than taking apart my sectional sofa and or removing it ( That will never happen thing cost 5 grand!) I just have no clue as to how to get it to the side of the seating area! AAARRRRRGGGGGG!

 

[EarthDog]

If it was me... if I couldn't do it right, I wouldn't do it at all. As I said when you initially started this over at TPU, just run 5 speakers. The four Klipsch, your center and sub(s). If you want audiophile like quality, set it up to produce it...but if you can't due to room restrictions, I'd forgo such a setup.

As it is now, it won't sound right (but what can you do) in 7.1 until you get that other side speaker actually on the side. But since your room doesn't allow it, I would simply ditch it.

 

[dejo]

speaker placement also plays a hand in sound signature. If one speaker is placed closer to a wall, or more into a corner low frequencies will be augmented by a fair amount. For best sound quality, I would expect one to want all speakers in a similar location to walls/corners. I would also guess that baffle step would change dramatically with those large floor standing speakers being placed with the baffled butted up to a 90' angle. I am sure it can sound great, but seems some compromises have been made that can affect the most realistic representation

 

[trickson69]

Such is life, Some times we have to make compromises. It's not a big deal one that so far is getting worked out.
It is a slow arduous process but if I never tried I would never know.
So Earthdog you say if you can not do it right you would not do it at all? That seems a bit well lazy to me.
You do know CAN'T NEVER did a thing right? I do not like the words "I can't" see because I DO!
You do not get any where in life by being a can't do it kind of person. A can DO person well gets it done.

I would not have even gotten this far if not for trying!
So I am just about there to I just need to put the speaker on the other side of the sofa and I am golden I still have to move this 500 pound beast and I am NOT going to do that today, My body is killing me from moving it around the other day.

Any way so far with a test of the system I am almost there the speakers over hear and in back are the REAR and they are now working great I can defiantly hear them working and individually as well.

As for all this talk about how far from a wall they should be? Well I talked to the techs at the Klipsch factory and asked them all about this very thing and the amount of "real-estate" real people have and if they take all this into account and what is the Optimal distance from the wall there speakers are designed to operate.
Want to know the answer to that question? You wont like it. you will in fact say BS and talk about waves and frequencies and snake oil crap!
The Optimal distance from the wall (Using my current reference premiere speakers is 4-6" INCHES! Yes that is correct! 4-6 Inches it the distance that they designed the speakers to run at. This is because most people 99.9999999% of us have limited space we have small rooms and live in tiny *** boxes. We do not have 50 feet to work with were every thing can be absolutely perfect THEY KNOW THIS folks!

Yes speaker placement is a huge part of surround sound but you can get it as close to it as possible, I have looked at tons of speaker configurations and mine is not optimal but with one move of one speaker it will be. It is just a matter of moving things now.
I have the REAR left and right speakers I think perfectly placed for the amount of room I have the sound is coming from the back of my head and I can hear it on both sides so I am not sure why you think that it's NOT correct I'm confused as to why you would think this.
I would say I am at 90% complete surround sound. That one speaker has to be placed better is all. But that is going to also take it away from the seating area another 5 feet making it harder to hear so that is the other issue as well. it's just all about the area and the space I have to work with and I think I have a good enough grip on it better than before for sure!

You do know that 7.1 stereo is just stereo that comes through all the channels right? what I mean to say is yes I do have full operational 7.1 channel stereo and it will make your nose bleed!

Like I stated before I have moved one sub to the front and kept one behind me I like it LOVE it and will not change it ! it's awesome!

 

[EarthDog]

So Earthdog you say if you can not do it right you would not do it at all? That seems a bit well lazy to me.

It's not so much lazy (in fact, that isn't it at all)as it is, IMO, being an audiophile and getting the best out of what I have (speakers and space). I'd rather run 5.1 with my speakers in the right locations than to run 7.1 with the speakers not right and borking the sound stage. If you prefer otherwise, that is OK too... but I am letting you know the proper locations for 7.1 surround sound.

You do know that 7.1 stereo is just stereo that comes through all the channels right?

7.1 surround is not 7.1 stereo. You do understand that, right? Dolby 7.1 is using 7 DISCRETE channels (Front L and R, Side L and R, Rear L and R, Center), whereas stereo is just L and R going to all speakers (L signal goes to Front/Side/Rear L, R signal is sent to Front/Side/Rear R. We covered this already at TPU weeks ago, the difference. So, again, what are you trying to run???????????

 

[trickson69]

What do you mean what am I trying to run?
I can run any thing I want in any stage I want. Why is that so hard for you to understand?
From surround sound to 7 channel stereo to mono movie.
I do have an AVR system that has it's own on board sound converters or whatever they are.

See I do not get it, My system is audiophile quality, yet since ONE speaker isn't exactly 10000000000000000000000000000000000000% perfect then it's some how not? and I should just scrap using the full potential of my 7.1 channel AVR system? That is your opinion? How do you come to such a conclusion based on the placement of one speaker? I mean isn't that like tossing the baby out with the bath water?

I'm not wanting to argue this but I would like to understand your thinking.
In fact toeing the speaker in as much as it is makes it in fact a side speaker so where is the loss of sound stage? I have run all the tests the sound stage seems set fine to me. I just do not understand your thinking is all.
It's not like I have a SMALL room, I mean I have a HUGE sectional sofa with 3 electric recliners. it's average sized for any home. 24'x24'or about there. But still to think that one speaker would stop you from hooking up a sound stage is just well strange at best to me.
I am a lover of sound and music mostly I listen to music I setup this to get me more out of movies and games as well as music and so far it has brought me way more sound and a bigger sound stage at that.

It never hurts to try and another thing is you will never know unless you try. I am a believer in this.

So again this what are you trying to run statement is baffling to me. When I listen to music I like 7 ch. when I watch or play games the AVR system will detect if there is a digital signal or dts-ES or 6.1 or whatever and aromatically set it's self at that time the Computer and AVR have full control I only have full control when the signal is not locked.

 

[EarthDog]

What do you mean what am I trying to run?

Because you mention 7.1 and then suddenly say 7.1 stereo... so I am not sure what your goal is. I guess it is both.

I can run any thing I want in any stage I want. Why is that so hard for you to understand?

Of course! Nobody said otherwise. All I did here was clarify the proper locations for 7.1 surround sound. You can run whatever you want, but, you mentioned 7.1 surround first and then 7.1 stereo so I was confused.

See I do not get it, My system is audiophile quality, yet since ONE speaker isn't exactly 10000000000000000000000000000000000000% perfect then it's some how not? and I should just scrap using the full potential of my 7.1 channel AVR system? That is your opinion? How do you come to such a conclusion based on the placement of one speaker? I mean isn't that like tossing the baby out with the bath water?

IMO, a true audiophile wouldn't run a 'rigged' setup if they didn't have to. Maybe you think it's throwing out the baby with the bathwater, but I certainly don't. So in short, yes, I personally wouldn't run 7.1 surround like that, even if the speaker is only off by a few feet.

I'm not wanting to argue this but I would like to understand your thinking.
In fact toeing the speaker in as much as it is makes it in fact a side speaker so where is the loss of sound stage? I have run all the tests the sound stage seems set fine to me. I just do not understand your thinking is all.

See what I said above... that is my thinking. As far as toeing it in or whatever, you are getting the sounds intended for the side behind you. This borks the soundstage that 7.1 is supposed to achieve. Please see the diagram for 7.1 and where the side speakrs are supposed to go.

But still to think that one speaker would stop you from hooking up a sound stage is just well strange at best to me.

And this, to me, is the difference between an audiophile and someone simply setting up speakers. I used to have your mentality, in college... but after learning some of the finer points about audio, I went with proper setups where possible forgoing improper setups. Perhaps my pinkie is fully extended in snob fashion, but hey... it is what it is. I prefer to hear it as it should be heard and calibrated as it should be calibrated. If someone else doesn't want to for whatever reason, that is up to them, of course.

It never hurts to try and another thing is you will never know unless you try. I am a believer in this.

As am I. Nobody is saying NOT to try. All I did was suggest proper placement and support that assertion with a link showing how they should be setup.

So again this what are you trying to run statement is baffling to me. When I listen to music I like 7 ch. when I watch or play games the AVR system will detect if there is a digital signal or dts-ES or 6.1 or whatever and aromatically set it's self at that time the Computer and AVR have full control I only have full control when the signal is not locked.

When I listen to music, it is generally in 2.1. I do not run 5.1 stereo. My system automatically switches as well. For music and your 7.2 stereo, the setup is ok. For true 7.1 surround, the side speakers should be on the side for best results.

Please stop taking suggestions and info drops as a personal affront.

 

[trickson69]

All I know is that my audiophile sound stage has improved by a factor of 10 and I know that one speaker is off a bit I do not hear any issues at all.
In this case I think that the snob issue starts to kick in really. My sound stage is still full and in place IMHO. You can show all the diagrams you like I have studied them all as well. it's still just a diagram in real life you do have the ability to adjust the volume levels on each speaker (or at least I have this ability) and even the room size and speaker size. tuning the speakers not just leaving them out.
I hear you loud and clear, You you not have the rear speakers on top you would have 5.1 surround sound effectively cutting the performance of the system and the sound stage as well?
Yeah I am not into that. lol. I like to try new things and setup things different I guess. I guess that makes me a college student? LOL Well thank you for the compliment (if only I were that young again).
I have taken in every bit of advice from all over. Now I have an even better lager more separate sound stage. where as before it was nothing more than loud with no sound stage, Now I have a sound stage that is way more effective and isn't that the whole goal here? Or at least it is for me.
I am working on the solution to that one speaker and so far one thing has come to mind but I need to build it till then it is a lot better than it has ever been. Way more like a true theater. getting there.

 

[EarthDog]

All I know is that my audiophile sound stage has improved by a factor of 10 and I know that one speaker is off a bit I do not hear any issues at all.
In this case I think that the snob issue starts to kick in really.

I agree, there is some snobbery in my choice to run what I can for the best sound. It is also part of a critical ear too.

You can show all the diagrams you like I have studied them all as well. it's still just a diagram in real life you do have the ability to adjust the volume levels on each speaker (or at least I have this ability) and even the room size and speaker size. tuning the speakers not just leaving them out.

I do the same thing in my living room as well...setting the location of the speakers, distance away from the user/sweet spot, levels, etc.

I hear you loud and clear, You you not have the rear speakers on top you would have 5.1 surround sound effectively cutting the performance of the system and the sound stage as well?

I guess I do not see it as cutting the performance so much as working within my means and what sounds best in my room. I try new things and new setups too. Nothing wrong with that at all! You and I simply work in different ways. I have some OCD tendencies and one of them is with sound and balance. I can pick out when my side speakers are not in the right locations... it irks me to hear it so I do without, yes. Back in college, when I wanted different things out of my system, I didn't put as much worth into 'textbook' speaker locations. It wasn't until I could and tried it that I saw the value of it and reaped the audio benefits. When I built legos as a kid, if there was something on one side (like lasers/missles on wings) there was a matching set... not off one slot.

You've come a long way since your initial post at TPU man, no doubt! Just don't be so twitchy and on the defensive!! We are all here to learn!

 

[trickson69]

Well if it is any consolation I do also have 5.1 and 6.1 to. with a flick of the remote off goes the REAR surround and walla! 5.1!
It's all working for me and I have to say correctly too. I do not have the most sensitive ears I'm not bionic I am OLD and with the history my ears have behind them it's a wonder I can fing hear at all!
I used to drive a mixer truck 100dB! 12 hours a day!
thanks for your input though I have used it as much as possible in my current situation and have managed to well get it close to perfect for my weak old *** ears. I hear more ringing in my ears then the right and left channels side and rear to me are the same even in a theater so to me it's fine as wine. you know what I mean?



It's working good!