System Configuration; Speaker Selection And Placement - Harman Kardon AVR 240 Owner's Manual

When all audio, video and system connections have
been made, the final steps before listening to your new
AVR are to make the configuration adjustments that
tailor the unit to the other components in your system
as well as to accommodate your personal listening
preferences. A few minutes spent to correctly calibrate
and configure your system will greatly add to your lis-
tening pleasure.

Speaker Selection and Placement

While the most seamless surround sound reproduction
comes from the use of speakers with identical or care-
fully matched driver elements at each position, no
matter which brand or type of speakers you prefer, it
is always best to use the same model or series for
the left front, center and right front speakers. Similarly,
it is also desirable to use the same model or series
for the surround speakers. This ensures that the sound-
stage will be relatively seamless and it eliminates the
possibility of sonic discordance when a sound moves
from one side of the room to the other.
Speaker Placement
Once you have selected your speakers, it is important
that they be placed in positions that enable them to do
the best job of reproducing the sound as it was meant
to be heard, regardless of the program content.
Particularly in multichannel 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 systems,
the placement of speakers can have a noticeable
impact on the accuracy of the surround process.
When placing your speakers in a listening room, pic-
ture an imaginary circle starting at the center of your
video screen that arcs around the room with the prime
listening position, or "sweet spot," at the center of the
circle. Depending on the number of speakers in your
system, there is a recommended placement along the
circle for each speaker, though the specific construc-
tion of your room, taking into account the available
walls, bookcases, or floor space at which the speakers
may be placed will obviously have some impact on
where the speakers are ultimately located. As a gener-
al rule, try to place all speakers so that they are posi-
tioned at the same height as your ears when you are
seated at the prime listening position.
Use the following suggestions as a guide, and make
the changes needed to fit the speakers to your room.
Don't be afraid to experiment a bit until you find the
right combination of locations that works for you. At
the end of the day, there is no real "right" or "wrong"
place to put the speakers; work to optimize their loca-
tions so that audio moves across the front of the room
smoothly, without seeming to jump from one speaker
to another.
Center Channel Speaker
The ideal location for the center channel speaker is at
"0 degrees" in our circle, directly in front of the prime
listening position. Place the center channel speaker as
close to the top (or bottom) of the video screen as
possible so that when you position the front left/right
speakers the tweeters of all three front channel speak-
ers are within 24" of one another.
Front Left/Right Speakers
The recommended placement for front left/right
speakers is at the 30-degree position with reference
to the center channel speaker. The distance between
them should be about the same as the distance from
the center channel speaker to the prime listening
position.
Although the natural tendency is to place the speakers
so they are parallel to the wall behind them, and thus
in line with the video screen, the preferred placement
is to angle the speakers slightly ("toe in") so that they
point at the prime listening position.
Surround Speakers for 5.1 Systems
In a 5.1 surround system, an additional pair of
left/right speakers is added. Although many believe
that these speakers should be placed at the rear of
the room, the preferred position for them is at the
sides of the room, with rear placement a second
Front Left
Speaker
110°
150°
Side Surround
Left Speaker
Alternate placement
for Side Surround
Left Speaker

SYSTEM CONFIGURATION

option when room conditions prevent the use of side-
mounted surround speakers.
When side-wall placement is possible, place the
left/right surround speakers at a point that is 110
degrees along our circle from the center of the video
screen. This translates to placing them to the side and
slightly behind your preferred listening position. If pos-
sible, angle the speakers in slightly so that they are
pointing towards the listener's ears.
If it is not possible to place the surround speakers at
the sides of the room, the alternate position is at the
back of the room, at a spot that is about 150 degrees
around our circle from the center of the video screen.
Another way to spot the optimal, alternate rear wall
mounting position is to place the left surround speaker
on the back wall so that it points directly at the front
right speaker, and to have the right surround speaker
point directly at the front left speaker. If possible,
aim the surround speakers so that they point "in"
toward the listening area, rather than perpendicular
to the walls.
Video Screen
Center Speaker
Front Right
Speaker
30° 30°
150°
Alternate placement
for Side Surround
Right Speaker
SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
5.1 Placement Diagram
110°
Side Surround
Right Speaker
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