Polk Audio 2 Speaker Placement, Center Channel Speaker, Front Speakers, Surround Speakers, Sound

SPEAKER PLACEMENT

IMPORTANT NOTE:

When this manual refers to “Front Left.” we mean the speaker on your left side as you face the front (TV) side of the room. When we refer to “Surround Left” we mean the speaker that is behind you and to your left as you face the front (TV) side of the room.

Center Channel Speaker

Place the center speaker as close to the TV as possible. The most popular placement is right on top of your TV set. It is also fine to place it below the TV.

Front Speakers

To get the most realistic stereo image and lifelike sound, place the RT800i speakers equidistant from the center of your television so that an equilateral triangle is created between them and your favorite viewing or listening position (Fig. 4). If your room arrangement forces you to place the speakers farther apart than you are sitting from them, you may need to angle the speakers toward the middle in order to support a more solid center image.

Surround Speakers

Here are some recommendations to review before you determine the permanent installation: (Fig. 5)

Location	Sound	Recommendation
Dipole Mode
Directly to either side	diffuse rear soundfield,	Highly Recommended
or slightly behind	lean timbral balance,
listener, on-wall	convincing front to
	rear image flow
As above but placed	slightly leaner balance	Recommended
on a stand or cabinet
3 ft. or more in height
As above but on a	richer midrange bal-	Recommended
bookshelf with at least	ance with some addi-
8" clearance front	tional sonic coloration
and back	depending on shelf

(Fig. 4)

OR

(Fig. 5)

Subwoofer

Behind and to the sides of the listener, on-wall

Bipole Mode Directly to either side or slightly behind listener, on-wall

Behind and to the sides of the listener, on-wall

more diffuse rear	Recommended
soundfield, lean
timbral balance, less
specific rear images
very specific rear and	Okay
side images, can limit
surround-soundstage
more specific rear and	Recommended
side images, richer
midrange balance,
good front to rear
image flow

The magnetically shielded subwoofer may be placed in an entertainment center, behind furniture, or next to a sofa or chair. For best performance place it on the same side of the room as the front satellites and near a wall. It should only be seated on the plinth as illustrated. NEVER LAY THE SUBWOOFER ON THE AMPLIFIER END—THIS WILL DAMAGE THE AMPLIFIER.

If the 25-pin cable is not long enough, you may add a 4 meter Monster Cable brand DB25HT Audio Interconnect cable (or equivalent) to increase the length to 8 meters. Contact your Polk dealer or call Polk Audio (800) 638-7276, ext. 324, Monday through Friday, 9AM - 6PM Eastern Standard Time to order an extension cable direct from us.

As above but placed	slightly leaner balance	Recommended
on a stand or cabinet
3 ft. or more in height
As above but on a	richer midrange bal-	Recommended
bookshelf with at	ance with some addi-
least 8" clearance	tional sonic coloration
front and back	depending on shelf

14 Polk Customer Service (800) 377-7655