7.1.4 Atmos · 10 × 12 ft
The full experience: 7.1 plus four overhead speakers. Positions below assume the screen on the 10 ft wall, a main seat 8.4 ft from it, and an 8 ft ceiling.
Speakers
11
+ 2 subs
Main seat
8.4 ft
from the screen wall
Front spread
50°
between L and R
Front distance
8.2 ft
ears to each front
From the left wall (X), the front wall (Y), and floor to tweeter (Z). Mark these with painter's tape before mounting anything.
| Speaker | From left wall | From front wall | Height | Angle from seat | Dolby target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front Left | 1.5 ft | 1 ft | 3.3 ft | 25° | 22–30° |
| Front Right | 8.5 ft | 1 ft | 3.3 ft | 25° | 22–30° |
| CenterDirectly below or above the screen, angled toward ear height. | 5 ft | 1 ft | 2.8 ft | 0° | 0° |
| Surround Left | 1 ft | 8.7 ft | 4.8 ft | 95° | 90–110° |
| Surround Right | 9 ft | 8.7 ft | 4.8 ft | 95° | 90–110° |
| Rear Surround Left | 3.5 ft | 11 ft | 4.8 ft | 150° | 135–150° |
| Rear Surround Right | 6.5 ft | 11 ft | 4.8 ft | 150° | 135–150° |
| Top Front LeftTop Front: about 45° elevation ahead of the seats. | 2.3 ft | 3.6 ft | 8 ft | 30° / 41° up | 30–55° up |
| Top Front RightTop Front: about 45° elevation ahead of the seats. | 7.7 ft | 3.6 ft | 8 ft | 30° / 41° up | 30–55° up |
| Top Rear LeftTop Rear: about 45° elevation behind the seats. | 2.3 ft | 11 ft | 8 ft | 133° / 51° up | 30–55° up |
| Top Rear RightTop Rear: about 45° elevation behind the seats. | 7.7 ft | 11 ft | 8 ft | 133° / 51° up | 30–55° up |
| SubwooferDual subs at the front wall quarter points smooth the bass across the whole row. | 2.5 ft | 1 ft | 0.8 ft | n/a | n/a |
| Subwoofer 2Dual subs at the front wall quarter points smooth the bass across the whole row. | 7.5 ft | 1 ft | 0.8 ft | n/a | n/a |
How we got these numbers
Surround formats are mixed for speakers at specific angles around the listener, so placement starts from the seat, not the walls. In a 10 by 12 foot room we place the main seat 8.4 ft from the screen wall (70% of the length), which keeps it out of the worst bass null at the room's center and off the back wall.
From that seat, the front left and right are placed at 25° (Dolby's 22 to 30° range), side surrounds at 95° (90 to 110°), and rear surrounds at 150° (135 to 150°). Where the room is too narrow or shallow for the ideal angle, the speaker is pushed to the wall and the compromise is noted.
This room's first length mode is 47 Hz and its first width mode is 57 Hz. Two subwoofers at the front-wall quarter points cancel the width mode across the row of seats.
Common questions
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Surrounds or a small-room stereo pair on a budget
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Front left/right in medium to large rooms
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Center channel paired with Reserve R700 or R600 towers
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Small rooms and music-focused systems
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