RCA RTD317 Better surround placement, Alternative Surround Placement, Test tone/Channel balance

Better surround placement

Location

If possible, place surround speakers to either side of the listening area, not behind it.

EN Height

If space permits, install surround speakers 2-3 feet above viewers. This helps to minimize localization effects.

Aiming

Aim surround speakers straight across the room, not down at viewers, to help create a more open, spacious surround sound field.

No adjacent walls

Surround speakers can go on stands facing each other to approximate sidewall mounting (A), or to the sides or rear of the viewing area, aimed upwards; they can go right on the floor, or preferably, a few feet off the floor such as on end tables (B).

Alternative Surround Placement

Rear wall

If rear wall mounting is the only choice, aim the speakers at each other (A), towards the front (B) or towards the sidewalls (C, D). Experiment with placement until sounds seem to surround you, rather than come from behind you.

Test tone/Channel balance

Channel balance

Your receiver is equipped with a test signal generator for balancing the channels. As the signal "travels" from channel to channel, adjust the level controls until each channel plays at the same lodness level (see page 20).

Level adjustment and surround channel level expectation

Even though you adjust the surround channel to be as loud as the others on the test signal, on actual program material the surround channel is adjust the surround level; program producers use surround for subtle atmospherics and ambience, and only rarely for special effects.

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