Home Theater Speaker Layout Options

In today’s world of immersive home theater, you may have seen number sequences like 7.1.4 or 5.2 or 3.0. It helps to understand these abbreviations as you are going to see them pop up when you start researching home theater receivers. Decoding this sequence is very easy once you know the key! The first digit is the number of speakers in the room that are not Dolby Atmos speakers. Dolby Atmos speakers either go in the ceiling or on top of your main speakers to fire up and bounce off of the ceiling. So for example, if the first digit is a 5, this means there is a left, center, right, and a pair of surround speakers. The next digit is the number of subwoofers. You will normally see most configurations call for one subwoofer, but we highly recommend at least 2 for a serious home theater room. The third digit is the number of Dolby Atmos speakers. So for example, if you have a home theater setup that is 5.2.4, this means you have 5 main speakers, 2 subwoofers, and 4 dolby atmos speakers.

Most home theater receivers max out at 11 channels, which enables a 7.1.4 setup with 11 powered and non-powered sub channel. There are a few on the very top end of the price scale that allow you to do 9.1.4 and even 11.1.6. For the purposes of this help guide, we will stop at 7.1.4 as for most rooms that is more than enough for an amazing experience!
As you go through these different configurations, bear in mind you’ll have choices on what type of speaker to use. For the main speakers, surround speakers, and rear speakers you can use an in-room tower or bookshelf speaker, an on-wall speaker or an in-wall speaker. The Dolby Atmos speakers can be either an in-ceiling speaker or an elevation speaker that would sit on top of your tower or bookshelf speaker. We are even starting to see some tower speakers with the elevation speaker built into the top which is pretty cool.

#HomeTheater #SpeakerLayout #HomeTheaterDesign

[revlucin]

Thanks, clear and concise and straight to the point, will be very helpful for me moving from 5.1 to 5.1.2

[richradtke]

We have a huge home entertainment FB group. The subject of home theaters is becoming more popular and we have started sharing posts and articles about speaker placement. This is by far the best explanation. You don't condemn an old setup but simply encourage a new way to use it... and plenty of mentions of entry level setups. Thank you so much.

We filled out your website contact form, hoping to make contact.

[RonaldRol]

The .1 for subwoofer means there is one dedicated LFE channel. It does not matter how many subs you connect to it. If the receiver is capable of processing 2 separate subwoofer channels, it gets to the .2 . Most of the time you'll only find receivers capable of 1 LFE processing because that is most common.

[hellerjon]

I used a random 3d modeling tool a few years ago to design my home theater, but I wish I had your software available at the time. This is great stuff!

[hunterlogan]

Best info with strong professional presentation! Had to be on my toe/ears to catch the numbers even tho I have a 7.1 setup.

[Frankr]

This video was OUTSTANDING! It is exactly what I was looking for…thank you and I will be viewing your special design configuration app to get more details.

[grandviewlodge]

The design thing you guys did is really cool

[hansiangng]

For 7.1.n, pull back the surround/side speakers a little towards the rear would give a better effect in scenes where object flies past you.

[jeffro]

Could really use a little advice here, please.
@8:25 they show a small room and mine is. But I have to have the sofa against the wall, which would be the bottom of the screen.
Can't really place anything behind or beside the I can do a ceiling mount. Can I do this for my rear speakers?

[arandaj]

Thank you for the concise and informative video. I noticed the front speakers point towards the listener. What happens if I can only use on/in-wall speakers? How do you aim them? Does it matter?

[rogerbelcher]

You talked about 2 subwoofers are good where do you recommend placing them two in the front or one in the front and the other in rear?

[PotaTW]

You are mentioning 45degree from MLP to Atmos speakers (or 90degree separation). But alot of people are recommending 55degree. What is you thoughts on that?

[BernardVideo]

Thanks for this video. I will need some information, what is the microphone (brand) at 8:46 ?

[alexcandar]

So I guess the key takeaway is to consider atmos speakers in ceiling, but would; 1) this also be a good solution for sloped/vaulted ceilings?
2) Would the atmos speakers bennefit from having an angle pointing towards the center of the room?
3) Would it work with the couch/listnening position close to the backwall? (I'm worried that the angle of the atmos speaker at the back will "send the sound over" if you get what I'm saying?

[sykal]

can you use ceiling speakers for rear/surrounded?

[mvvishnu]

If we have 7.1 AVR and 2 rows of seats, we will enjoy a 7.1 configuration. We will set up 5.1.2 effect olny front row?? 2nd row will suffer ?? Can you advice..

[blaketankersley]

If you're talking about moving speakers to fit them around studs, which I think you mean joists, then you don't get to decide left or right or forward or back. The joists run in one direction. You don't get to pick

[NoProblemo]

I've brought Samsung HW-Q950A 11.1.4 but I don't have any wall behind in my living room and I don't want to use Towers as Toddlers are always running around.
I am inclined to install rear Satellite speakers to Front Wall - Left and Right of SoundBar/using Vogle's Wall Mount VLB500. I would like to know how bad idea is this ?

[truthhunter]

I have an open loft with 3 exterior walls and a vaulted ceiling. The wall is 7’ and the ceiling at the peak is 12’. The room is 15.6’ wide and 25’ long. I’m turning it into a theater room with two rows of seating. The problem I have is with the vaulted ceiling and the open side of the loft. I can hang a big black curtain that I can close when it’s movie time but what will I need to do for sound saturation? Also I want a 5.2.4 atmos or a 7.2.4. Any advice is greatly appreciated 🙏

[Samzep]

I have 7.1 system at the moment just sold my old amp so have to buy new one which will have atmos my room about 7.5 meters long do you recommend i move the rear 2 speakers high for atmos ?