Speaker Placement/Setup/Calibration; Placement - Emotiva UMC-1 Operation Manual

8| SPEAKER PLACEMENT/SETUP/CALIBRATION

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PLACEMENT

TIPS BEFORE BEGINNING
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Read this section thoroughly. There are a number of ways it may seem aesthetically pleasing to place speakers in a
room but that will ultimately result in a sound quality compromise. The placement of speakers is equally as important
as the room itself. While there may be very little you can do about the room where your system is installed, you can
choose speaker placement within that room to maximize the sound quality of the system. Ultimately, this will give a
much better result when you are enjoying your system and your new Emotiva UMC-1.
Overall, the best placement for front speakers is where the sound is directed at ear level. This means that the speakers
themselves can be in positions lower (like small floor standing speakers) or higher (like in-wall or in-ceiling speakers) as
long as the sound is "pointed" toward the listeners and preferably around ear level. Ideally you will place the speakers
so they create an imaginary triangle with the listening position. This is known as the "Stereo Triangle" among
audiophiles. A little toe-in of the front speakers sometimes helps the perceived distance between the speakers as more
intimate and reinforces a phantom center image. If you are doing a "2.1" system, a subwoofer can also be a little
challenging to install depending on the room. In multiple subwoofer installations, the positioning of the woofers to the
listener as well as to each other is critical because there can be problems with cancellation if optimum placement is not
observed
THE FRONT SPEAKERS
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You should closely follow the placement recommendations of your speaker manufacturer, with the addition of the
following points:
The left and right front speakers should be positioned so that you are exactly centered between them. This will help
focus your attention towards the screen.
For the best overall imaging, the left speaker should be set exactly the same distance and angle away from your
listening position as the right speaker. It is recommended that you use a tape measure to set them up to be the same
distance away, within about half an inch tolerance.
If you have a smaller TV, the speakers should be no more than two feet away from the sides of the TV. If possible, have
the center, left and right speakers at the same height (within two feet). This will help give a smooth transition when
sound effects move from speaker to speaker.
Ideally, the speakers should be no closer than two feet from the rear and side walls in order to reduce any reflections
that might upset the imaging. If your speakers are closer than this, you can experiment by adding sound deadening
material such as drapes on the walls to reduces any unwanted reflections.
THE CENTER SPEAKER
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Most movie dialog will come from the center speaker, so careful positioning is an important part of a good home
theater system. Your eyes and ears should focus you attention towards the center of the screen.
The center speaker can sit on top or directly underneath the TV, as long as it is located on the centerline and not off to
one side. Ideally, you would try to maintain a deviation from the center line of the speakers of less than 12". This means
the center speaker will not be lower or higher than 12" to the center measurement of the LEFT and RIGHT MAIN
speaker center measurements.
Position the front face of the speaker close to the front edge of the TV cabinet. (The sound waves may otherwise reflect
off the top of the TV cabinet and distort the center imaging).
In some systems, two center speakers are used; one on either side of the TV. As they are in mono, the results is a sound
image that is positioned exactly at the screen center.
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