Connecting speakers, Ideal speaker configuration

Connecting speakers

Before connecting the speakers, place them correctly by consulting the instruction manuals that came with them.

For surround playback, the configuration and placement of your speakers are very important.

For THX surround EX playback, we recommend that you use a THX speaker system that is certified by Lucasfilm Ltd.

Ideal speaker configuration

•Front right and left speakers

•Center speaker

Produces a rich sound image by serving as a sound source for the front right and left speakers and enhancing the sonic movement.

•Surround right and left speakers

Adds three-dimensional sonic movement and produces environmental sound associated with the background and effect sound for each scene.

•Surround back right and left speakers

Required for enjoying THX Surround EX, DTS-ES Matrix 6.1, or DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 audio.

•Subwoofer

Produces powerful and heavy bass.

Minimum speaker configuration for surround sound playback

•Front right and left speakers

•Surround right and left speakers

The sound recorded for the center speaker and the subwoofer will be properly distributed to the front right and left speakers for optimized surround playback.

Speaker placement

Ideal speaker placement varies depending on the size of your room and the wall coverings. Here, only typical example of speaker placement and recommendations are shown.

In order to create the optimum conditions for the best sound quality, be sure to place all the speakers so that the greatest difference between the distances of each speaker to the listening position is less than 20 feet.

Important points regarding speaker placement

Front left and right speakers and center speaker

•Place these three speakers at the same height from the floor.

•Place each speaker so that sound is aimed at the location of the listener’s ears when at the listening position.

Surround left and right speakers

•Place these speakers so that their height is 1 meter higher than that of the listener’s ears.

Surround back speakers

•Place these speakers behind the listener so that the angle between each speaker and the listener is approximately 30 degrees.

•Place these speakers so that their height is 3 feet (1 meter) higher than that of the listener’s ears.

Subwoofer

A subwoofer is recommended for the highest bass effect.

Layout with dipolar				Layout with monopolar
speakers				speakers


		1				1

2	3	4	5	2	3	4	5
2			5	2			5

6	7	6	7
10			10

		8	9			8	9
1	TV or screen			6	Surround left speaker
2	Front left speaker			7	Surround right speaker
3	Subwoofer			8	Surround back left speaker
4	Center speaker			9	Surround back right speaker
5	Front right speaker			10	Listening position

Most dipoles have an arrow on them to indicate their orientation towards the screen. So for the side dipoles, the arrows point forward. For the back dipoles, the arrows should point towards each other to achieve the correct acoustical phasing in the room.