In my lounge the focal point is a fireplace with the TV mounted directly above. I haven’t decided whether to make the fireplace functional or just decorative yet, or whether to have a mantel. I am prioritising speaker placement for coherence above aesthetics at the moment but prefer a relatively inconspicuous setup as it is not a dedicated home cinema. Thinking of where to put my centre channel of my 5.1.2 setup or whether to even have one. As per usual, I was hoping to use this excellent forum as a sounding board as to which might be the best option:
1: Centre speaker (my current B&W HTM72 S3) on a dedicated stand that would match my other stands. This would mean I would pull the centre speaker forward level with the left & right stand-mounted speakers, possibly the best option acoustically:
2: Change my centre speaker for an in-wall one that is still matched to the B&W 700 series (will create a lot of mess but I still have to chase cables etc. anyway, might need to put a lintel in the chimney, be the least intrusive once done, probably would look the best but a lot of work).
3: Switch out the current centre speaker for an on-wall one. (No matching B&W version of this unfortunately, I don’t know how important this is for coherence but ideally all would match)
Sony used to offer the function of using their tv as a centre speaker via the centre speaker in terminals on some models. While not ideal, it would negate the need for an additional speaker if not too concerned about matching.
I run a 5.1.2 Atmos set up alongside the main Audio system.
Due to a desire to reduce boxes, a few years ago I took the centre speaker out of the system. Instead I used the centre speaker function built in to the screen of my Sony TV (KD65AG9).
At the time, I honestly thought it would be a temporary step, and that it wouldn’t be good enough, and I’d end up reinstating the centre speaker.
However, I’ve never gone back and can thoroughly recommend trying this set-up; it is surprisingly good and may work if your TV is above a fireplace. My TV is a few years old, so I’m not sure whether the current Sony TV’s still offer this option.
We use a KEF T301c centre (under the TV mounted on the same wall) with PMC 20.23’s in a 2nd system for AV use. With a cheap Marantz AVR with pre-outs for FL & FR into an SN3 AV bypass input to drive the PMC’s it works well and certainly better than the SN3 and PMC’s alone for TV use as we get better dialogue clarity and dynamic range compression - all with no impact on 2ch hifi use.
Remember, a centre channel can go above the TV also. This is what I do. If the centre of the screen is roughly aligned with eye height, then above or below makes to difference in terms of off axis response and can actually be better above due to reduction of early floor reflections.
After we moved in to our current house, I put together the “tick box” set up, with a ProAc centre that matched my Tablettes for front duties, the TV and centre speaker both on a Stands Unique glass and wood rack.
Then, Mrs W reckoned that the fireplace we had was a bit drab, so we had a new look created, with a false chimney breast and the TV in a recess above the fire. That presented me with some choices on centre channel duties. There was nowhere for the ProAc to go, as it was too high and too deep to go under the TV without completely altering the recess dimensions, and risking a poorer aesthetic. Nor could it go above, for the same reasons.
So I considered in wall speakers, either side of and below the TV. This was in 2020, so the world was still all over the place and I couldn’t find anything that would fit the space available. I also looked at a phantom centre, but my front speakers are too far apart and dialogue would be awful for anyone off the centre axis.
Ultimately, I went for the Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 Centre Speaker, sitting just below the TV within the recess. In doing so, I’m breaking cardinal rules of not having matching speakers, and having a speaker partially blocked by the TV. You can just see the speaker in the attached picture, if you can see past the Christmas accoutrements.
Truthfully, I’ve not once noticed a negative impact on sound. I’m running the audio through an Arcam AVR850, which handles the centre and rears. The fronts run from the Arcam into an Atom HE to a NAP100 to the Tablettes. It’s not especially high end but neither is it budget basement. The only comment I’ve ever had is that sound from our box of Blu Rays sounds better than Prime or equivalent through our BT box. But that doesn’t hugely surprise me.
Only you know what is going to work for you with your restrictions.
Certainly @feeling_zen is spot on imho, v close if not identical match for centre speaker with front l/h & r/h.
Whether centre is necessary will totally depend on film styles et al; you are using Arcam, which doesn’t have a great facility for room correction, which is why Anthem in use here after auditioning Arcam.
Unless you can create an ideal 5.1.1(or2) set up, only you know what compromise you will accept.
Best to think totally outside the box; matching stands should be a long way down your auditioning criteria!
Thanks for the replies all. Reading these responses I am leaning towards keeping a centre speaker.
I think I’ve narrowed it to two options, keep my Bowers & Wilkins HTM72 S3 Centre Speaker and placing it on the Atacama stand pictured at the start of this thread as then the centre would match the same height and distance from the all that the matching 700 series left & right channels are (plus matching aesthetics).
OR
Part-exchanging the current centre speaker for a single B&W CWM7.5 S2 In Wall Speaker which also matches the 700 series stand-mounted speakers. Only problem is unless I get super creative (set a speaker into the mantle?), the centre speakers I’ve looked at require a depth of 110mm to install flush and the bricks measure 102mm deep so will mean knocking a couple of bricks out of the chimney which although no longer functional and deconstruced down to the loft/attic does still support a couple of roof purlins. A 100 x 65 x 600mm pre-stressed concrete lintel is only few quid if needed but quite rapidly reaching the limit of what I would be competent doing DIY. Almost tempting to switch over to ATC family for on-wall + stand-mounts.
The LCR+Atmos speakers will run off an an Arcam AVR850 which will getting on a bit does have Dirac room correction like @w33logic mentioned but I have heard before, as @feeling_zen said, it might be best if I can match the LCR speakers before calibration.
Using TV as centre speaker is an interesting option, I didn’t know this was possible, unfortunately it’s not with my LG Oled.
IIUC the fireplace is not currently active. Why not block it up (with small vent if needed), and just have the TV, positioned at a comfortable viewing height without tge compromise of a fireplace? As well as the room looking better*, it would then be easy to accomodate a centre speaker immediately beneath (or above without being too high), Personally I dislike TVs above fireplaces, usually far too high on the wall unless you recline considerably whenever watching TV.
*An even better looking looking option may be to dispose of TV, having nice fire and music system, when centre speaker may not be necessary at all…!
I agree with you, I know it’s personal taste but I find 40-60" from the floor about right (from experimenting with it on the old height adjustable stand). Apparently average eye level is 42" if not reclined. I think if it’s slightly above the fireplace though it looks fine, depends how far back and how reclined the seating is too I think.
The fireplace is actually boarded over at present, no vent needed as it is open to the loft upstairs, I could even dangle the ceiling speaker wires down it rather than chase up walls:
I have thought about your idea of simply hiding the centre (and maybe even a subwoofer) in there, there is a redundant pipe which will leave a convenient hole for cables once removed too.
Finally yes I have been tempted at times to sell the entire lot, make the fireplace look nice and get nice floor-standers but the lounge is also used for TV based entertainment a lot of the time and we enjoy watching films with ‘proper sound’ as well as music.
Yes, and how tall the fireplace - I’ve seen many TVs above the mantlepiece of tall Victorian fireplaces, bottom of screen maybe 60" from floor!
My son has a house which when he bought it had the chimney blocked off and a hideous electric fire in the fireplace. He removed the fire and lowered the top of the opening to mount a TV above at a good height, then used the remaining opening to recess the electronics, with just enough spare space for airflow. However drilling the two side walls to get cables through to the alcoves took a diamond core drill with two extension pieces!
Same here. I just don’t get it, especially when there are still cables showing or evidence of chasing. Maybe if the TV was positioned at that perfect height I’d be a bit more accepting - but they’re generally above a fireplace and too high, IMHO.
Our TV sits on a low stand made out of long sleepers, with just enough room left below for a shelf (in between the uprights) for the BD player etc. Speakers either side.
Our bedroom TV sits in a shallow-ish white box that could just about pass for a footboard on a good day - it’s just above mattress level. An electric lifting mechanism brings the 24 inch TV up to eye level, when required. A T-Amp (remember those ?) and an upward firing pair of small Teac speakers inside the box provide a fair sound. The box (and matching headboard, in “timeless” white melamine) were custom built for me 9 years ago.
My ultimate dream though is a lounge with a void underneath. A decent sized TV sits on a larger lift, hidden in the void. A quick click of the remote and the TV rises as if by magic, moving aside the secretly hinged floorboard. Voila !
My ultimate dream though is a lounge with a void underneath. A decent sized TV sits on a larger lift, hidden in the void. A quick click of the remote and the TV rises as if by magic, moving aside the secretly hinged floorboard. Voila !
I actually thought about doing this as I am on a hill there is a large wedge-shaped void under the house and suspended floor; when I really thought about it though it would need a lot of work to insulate it from the elements and the mechanism would be quite elaborate, unfortunately the floor joists run perpendicular to the ‘TV wall’ too so that would mean rebuilding part of the floor etc.
Ideally the centre of the screen is at eye height when seated. Which basically puts the centre of the screen on a level with the tweeters too.
As to the void, I’m not sure what is meant. My lounge is over the garage so no one is getting upset by sound. And I have a wall to wall curtain 35cm from front wall with the TV mounted on that. When I want to reclaim the living room, I just close the curtain and the TV, subs and wall mounted speakers are all gone. All for the cost of fitting a very long curtain rail and some curtains which bright colour doubles as the room’s accent wall.
We’re not talking about sound leakage. This is about completely hiding your TV beneath the floor. When you activate the lift, the TV rises up from beneath a hinged floorboard.
This would require a skilled installer and a wad of cash. But it would be a superbly elegant solution.
