Page 1 of FAO Westy...

Westy. How is it mate? I hope all is well.

Right, I have had some conflicting evidence regarding the set up of my speakers.

One person has told me to program the centre speaker distance the same as the front L & R speaker distance centre. ie, both 3 meters.

however,

The other person has told me to reduce the centre distance by 1/2 of the L & R distance approx. So, if the fronts are set a 3 meters, the centre should be 1.5 meters. This should then create a decent soundstage.

However, I have tried both variations and I cannot detect any difference. But, for the record, what is your opinion please. To be honest I am happy with both set ups but would prefer to select one and be done with it.

Cheers mate. advice gleefully accepted.

Pete T.

Copy and paste the whole link below for Dolby`s guide:

http://www.dolby.com/ht/Guide.HomeTheater.0110.html#s3.1

This item was edited on Monday, 8th April 2002, 18:40

Cheers Clayts - but despite reading all of that stuff, I still can`t really find the answer. My front speakers are in a line I am three meters away. Therefore, I pressume, after reading the DD web site that they should all be set equal - ie 3 metres away ?? Rather than my current 3 for the L/R and 1.5 for the centre.

Is that how it reads to you ??

Pete.

Yes equidistant as in :

"If you plan mostly solo viewing, arrange the speakers as shown so that your seating position is equidistant from the left, center, and right speakers. If your system is used mostly for group viewing, arrange the speakers in a straight line. In any case, avoid placing the center speaker closer to the viewers than the left and right speakers."

The diagram stating L=C=R pretty much sums it up really :-)

I have to say this is how mine is, and it sounds fine as you get really good movement from left to right (eg cars) - what do others do ?

I`ll second clayts here,

However, its important to remember that when your centre channel resides on top of the tv, the tv chassis becomes a passive radiator of sorts, and can give a slight decibel lift that otherwise goes unnoticed! With this in mind, a shelf around 6 inches to 1ftabove the tv securely fixed to the wall gives the best sound response. Then go into the amps set up menu and set the levels ALL EQUAL from your seating position. What your friends are telling you is all about channel delay in the centre channel. Some people have their speakers miles apart, so the passing of sounds through the front three speakers sometimes ends up with a gaping hole in it as it travels across the screen. Simply `toe in` the speakers so they face at an angle, then slightly decrease the distance to around 1ft away from the front speakers. Like Clayts says, this will give far better pans of information, plus the soundstage is a lot `deeper` beyond the screen. Perhaps the only thing you`ll need to adjust if you have alarge centre speaker is back off on the db level by around 1-2db in the centre speaker level menu, the cohesion of sound from the centre will now be spot on, and voices will actually sound like they`re coming from inside the screen, not from above or below.

Oh, and blu tac under the centre cabinet does wonders for sound quality.

Westy

Cheers guys.