One of the most predominant factors of any home theater is the sound system. But because it’s not as visible as the TV, chairs, carpet or wall paint, people tend to overlook the importance of choosing and installing a sound system. However, the sound system is one of the most important ingredients when it comes to the quality of your theater.

And, even with the right sound system, many people are unsure of how to install and place the speakers. Putting the right speakers in the right space in your theater can make all the difference between a dinky basement viewing room and a truly theatrical experience.

Check out these few simple speaker placement tips to learn how to make the most of your theater and sound system set up.

5.1 Recommendations

A 5.1 surround sound system is one of the most common types and is any set that comes with a subwoofer and five additional speakers. The receiver will have wiring for a sub, center, front left, front right, rear left and rear right speaker. The speakers themselves will have cords of varying lengths and the center speaker is sometimes larger and flatter.

For a 5.1 system, you should place the subwoofer near the TV, either behind or next to the system’s receiver. The center speaker should be placed front and center, with the front left and right speakers on either side. The size of your space will help dictate how far apart to set the speakers, but you’ll want to keep them relatively close to where you’ll be seated and angle them inward for full effect. Place the left and right rear speakers behind you, and be sure to angle them in as well.

7.1 Recommendations

A 7.1 system includes two additional speakers for a sound that is truly more surrounding. These systems typically feature the center and front left and right speakers as well as side left and right and rear left and right. With a 7.1 system, you have the luxury of having sound coming from all directions, instead of just behind and ahead. Angle the front and back speakers, but keep the middle and center speakers pointed directly at you.

Speaker Height

Depending on your theater setup and available space, you can mount your speakers on the wall or ceiling or use pedestals to give your speakers some height without having to mount them. The rule of thumb is that the sound is best when the speakers are at ear level when you’re seated. Most speaker stands and pedestals are designed to accommodate ear level while wall mounts can be placed at the appropriate height.

With these few tips, you’ll be in a good position to get the maximum out of your surround sound system. If you require hidden wiring, you might want to hire a trained specialist to do the installation in order to avoid any mix-ups or dangerous blunders. Just remember that your sound system is every bit as important as your TV; proper installation and placement will help you enjoy the system for years to come.

Many believe that wired speakers are the way to go when it comes to enjoying high quality sound. This is because each speaker is firmly connected to a power source, ensuring that they will never suddenly blip out. However, if you are sick of wrestling with wires and trying to figure out effective ways to hide them, trying wireless surround sound as an alternative is a good way to keep your entertainment system looking a bit more attractive, especially if it’s located in the middle of the room.

When it comes to purchasing wireless surround sound, you have a variety of options available, including 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1. The first number informs you how many speakers you will get, while the second indicates the subwoofer, which plays lower frequency sounds that might not necessarily be picked up by other speakers.

Unfortunately, there are no surround sound systems that are entirely wireless. This means that some of your speakers will still have to have wires connecting to the main source. Most systems only include the back speakers as wireless, as these are easier to plug into the wall, which results in the wires being easier to hide. These speakers are typically easier to plug in, depending on the location of the plug-ins in your room.

There are many benefits to using wireless surround sound. Along with keeping your entertainment system generally neater looking, it also makes the setup process a lot easier. It also allows you to tweak the exact settings of your speakers, allowing you to customize your listening experience.

This means that some wireless surround sound systems may not be ideal for some rooms. For example, if your plug-ins are too few or too widely spaced to accommodate your back speakers, you may want to stick with normal surround sound. If you still find yourself struggling with the issue of wires, there are still a variety of ways to hide your wires or keep them tucked away.

Why a wireless 5.1 surround sound? First off, don’t be mislead by its name. Many assume that a wireless surround sound system means that they’re also cordless. What this actually means is that some of the speakers—in most cases, the back ones—have the ability to plug into wall outlets rather than the receiver system. This is useful for keeping your wires from becoming too tangled, though some audiophiles insist that the only way to enjoy a surround sound stereo is to keep all of the wires plugged into the receiver.

There are other ways to keep your wires safely out of the way. If your entertainment room doesn’t have a lot of places to put speakers, a set of speaker stands may be necessary. This is an elegant, simple way to provide your speakers with a platform while keeping the wires discreetly hidden. You can do this by running them under the rug or along the gap between the wall and the carpet.

A wireless 5.1 surround sound system is also ideal for computers as well. Using speaker stands in this case is especially useful, as running five different speakers and one subwoofer from one computer may be difficult otherwise. If you’d like to experience your sound in a more private way, investing in a surround sound headphone set is also wise. However, keep in mind that wearing these for prolonged periods can result in fatigue and stress headaches. This is because surround sound headphones attempt the same audio illusions that a normal surround sound system does, but directly into your eardrums. As a result, your brain expects more distance between you and the sounds, which can create disorientation. To prevent this, simply use your wireless 5.1 surround sound system or take regular breaks to reorient yourself.

Regardless of where you use it, a wireless 5.1 surround sound system is a wonderful addition to any entertainment system. Not only does it broadcast flawless sound from all sides, but it also works with the room itself, creating subtle audio illusions using volume, tone, and slight lags to help create the illusion that certain sounds are coming from certain directions. Once you’ve experienced this, you’ll wonder how you ever settled with anything less.