Help with speaker positions in circular room

[C Lee Farquar]

We'll shortly be doing the first fix on a round lounge, 5m diameter, 3.5m to wallplate, then exposed conical roof (so no ceiling to work with).

We will have a semi circular settee, set against the wall, the TV will be slightly offcentred on the oposite wall as we have an inglenook fireplace. The walls are exposed stone.

Is there a way to locate surround sound speakers or would I be better just going for a decent soundbar, should such a thing exist?

Thanks

[TTmonkey]

That 'Brightstore' shop sells settees with built in speakers. I'd recommend this.

[ladderino]

Hard to visualise, but would it be possible to run cables under the floor and into speaker plates like the following - https://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/product/3239/f...

or

http://www.cableorganizer.com/floor-access-grommet...

Then have speakers on stands on top of the floor plates so there's no visible cable.

[C Lee Farquar]

Ah, no problem running the wires, the walls are currently block awaiting stone facing.

I believe I'm over thinking this, for a 5.1 the speaker positions could be the same as a rectangular room. People at the end of the sofa would be close to the speakers but I guess this is common in a small room?

[VEX]

You're right to think of it as a ordinary rectangular room.

Also, you could think of mounting them up high at the transition from wall to ceiling. This would allow you to get them a little further from the rear seating whilst still maintaining a 5.1 effect.

Not ideal, but practically possibly the best solution. Sound Bars are good now as well if you go for a more premium solution. For your application, look at the Monitor Audio Radius range, the ONE is a Left, Centre, Right speaker bar, that you wire to an aurround sound amp. Or you could use little 45's or 90's up high all around.

My personal preference is 225's and 200's on the front wall and 45/90's as the rears. Or even 270's as front left & right floor standers.

Hope that helps.

v.

[rdjohn]

I have a Bose 5.1 setup in a 70sqm lounge that includes a semi circular section, high ceilings and generally complex shape.

I had been told that the auto setup would resolve all issues the room created, but in truth, it is not very good. The surround sound is very poor and there are clearly huge problems with the general acoustics of the room.

The same setup in a normal rectangular room sounded great. I have no useful suggestions, but I would advise great caution. I would now be inclined to buy Sonos units that can easily be moved arround.

[C Lee Farquar]

Thanks for the opinions.

I'm trying to nail down wiring locations and would ideally like alcoves in the stonework for the rear speakers.

Edited by C Lee Farquar on Friday 16th October 18:05

[VEX]

Send me something via my profile and I'll try to mark it up for you.

Depending on where you are in Oxon I am local to so might be able to visit one evening to give you a clearer idea.

V.

[eldavo]

On a positive note, you'll get a huge picture when you use the top of your lighthouse as the projector.

[JustinP1]

VEX said:

Send me something via my profile and I'll try to mark it up for you.

Depending on where you are in Oxon I am local to so might be able to visit one evening to give you a clearer idea.

V.

What a great offer OP!

The only thing I would add with some experience in setting up speakers, and a lot more experience in recording audio on location is that a circular room will bring you some unique issues.

All rooms have reflection off the walls, and all rooms have 'sweet spots' where it sounds better, however, in your case this will push those issues off the scale.

I would add that this is all relative to volume, and if you listen at a low to moderate volume, you'll get less audible reflection, however, if you are looking to use 5.1 as you want to have a sub and play loud then you might have to carefully consider the directions that the speakers point, and if you could treat the room to reduce reflection.

[C Lee Farquar]

As always these things take longer than planned!

It's all built bar a strip of stonework 12' up the wall. I ran ducts down to nooks where I was thinking I could put the rear speakers.

However, reading up on Atmos I wondered if I could fit the rear/side speakers at the 12' (ish) level and direct downwards, working as ceiling speakers would? I have a conical roof so fitting ceiling speakers isn't practical.

I plan to have the seating up against this curved wall.



I have plenty of room for two floorstanders, a centre speaker and sub. I'm looking more at AV rather than music. We will have a more dedicated TV room elsewhere but I do like surround sound.

VEX, haven't sent anything through as I thought The ducts would be solve the issue, I now think speakers in the nooks would be too close to our ears.

So concisely, should I wire to put 3/4/5 downward speakers at ceiling height rather than rears in the nooks? Thanks

[VEX]

All processor / amps will allow you to adjust the level of individual speakers when you set them up, so I would not be over worried about sitting on top of them, our rears at home an directly to the side of us and a dialed back to complensate.

The use of atmos would be an interesting one, give that you neither have a ceiling to mount them to or a ideal positioning.

Yes you could easily mount up high on the side walls and fire down and inwards, I would push them forward of the seating position as well so that they can play towards you a little, rather than just down. It seems to make for a better audio experience as well.

Hope that helps.

V.

[C Lee Farquar]

VEX said:

Hope that helps.

V.

It does, thanks, as have many of your other posts.

From what you've said it will make more sense to fit the speakers to the wall behind the settees.

Could I ask whether you think I should use the middle nooks or outer nooks?



Looking at speakers, the Monitor Audio radius 45 would fit in the nooks or I could build something in. I don't mind changing the nooks to suit. Budget for rear speakers would ideally be @£300, but flexible on this

[VEX]

From the photo I would go with the outer ones.

The little 45’s are great a simple surrounds, but there are a couple of other brands you could look at.

Where abouts in Oxfordshire are you as I have to pass through to get to Letchlade soon, so could engineer a visit.

V.

[C Lee Farquar]

That would be good, I'll send a PM