Harman-Kardon AVR 3550HD owner manual Front Speaker Placement, Subwoofer Placement

SPEAKER PLACEMENT

Optimally, the speakers should be placed in a circle with the listening position at its center. The speakers should be angled so that they directly face the listening position.

Front Speaker Placement

The center speaker is placed either on top of, below or mounted on the wall above or below the video display screen.

The front left and right speakers are placed along the circle, about 30 degrees from the center speaker and angled toward the listener.

Place the front left/right and center speakers at the same height, prefer- ably at about the same height as the listener’s ears. The center speaker should be no more than two feet above or below the left/right speakers. If you’re using only two speakers with the AVR 3550HD, place them in the front left and right positions.

Placement of the surround speakers depends on the number of speakers in your system.

	SUB
	C
FL	FR
30°	30°

110°	110°
150°	150°

SL SR

Alternate placement	Alternate placement
for Side Surround	for Side Surround
Left Speaker	Right Speaker

Figure 15 – Speaker Placement (5.1-Channel System)

The surround back left and right speakers are placed 150 degrees from the center speaker, or directly facing the opposite-side front speaker. See Figure 16.

	SUB
	C
FL	FR
30°	30°

SL	90°	150°	90°	SR
	150°

SBL SBR

Figure 16 – Speaker Placement (7.1-Channel System)

NOTE: Some speaker manufacturers offer 6.1-channel speaker systems, for 6.1-channel surround sound formats, such as Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES Discrete and Matrix modes and DTS Neo:6 mode. We do not recommend using the AVR 3550HD in a 6.1-channel configuration. The 6.1-channel formats will sound better when played through a 7.1-channel system. The same surround back channel information is played through both surround back speakers, but with twice the power and clarity.

To use the AVR 3550HD with a 6.1-channel speaker system, place the single surround back speaker directly behind the listener, but do not connect it until after you have run the EzSet/EQ procedure for a 5.1-channel system. After the EzSet/EQ process finishes, connect the surround back speaker to the Surround Back Left Speaker Output. Then follow the directions in the Advanced Features section for manual setup of the surround back speaker.

Placement of Surround Speakers in a 5.1-Channel System

The side surround speakers should be placed 110 degrees from the center speaker, slightly behind and angled toward the listener. Alternatively, place them behind the listener, with each surround speaker facing the opposite-side front speaker. See Figure 15. The surround speakers may be placed a little higher than the listener’s ears.

Placement of Surround Speakers in a 7.1-Channel System

In a 7.1-channel system, the side surround speakers are placed 90 degrees from the center speaker, directly to either side of the listening position.

Subwoofer Placement

The subwoofer’s location is less critical, since low-frequency sounds are omnidirectional. Placing the subwoofer close to a wall or in a corner will reinforce the low frequencies, and may create a “boomy” sound. Temporarily place the subwoofer where the listener normally sits, then walk around the room until the low frequencies sound best. Place the subwoofer in that spot.

NOTE: Your receiver will sound its best when the same model or brand loudspeaker is used for all positions.

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