Surround Sound system setup?

Question

Ok so i have a RCA, HTS 5000 and its in a small living room and in the menu of the surround sound system it says speaker size and gives me options to put the speakers to large or small and also it says speaker distance and also the channel level. Can you explain to me whats the best settings i should use?

Answer 1

Set your speakers on large if you have floorstanding speakers (for the front left and right) or if you are not using a powered subwoofer.  Regarding speaker distance, I recommend that you reference the THX website...

Answer 2

"Speaker Size" isn't necessarily about the size of the speaker, but rather if they can handle a lot of bass or not. If you're using a subwoofer in your setup and are using bookshelf speakers, set them to small. If you're using towers and want to save some strain on your sub, set them to large.

"Speaker Distance" is referring to the distance of each speaker to your set listening position. This is used for setting the delay time in your surround system. So pick a listening position and measure the distance from each speaker to your ear, then enter the info accordingly.

For "Channel Level", you need to sit in your set listening position and, run a test tone (a tone coming from each speaker one by one) at your normal listening volume level.  Adjust levels up or down until the tone from each speaker sound exactly the same to you in volume.

Answer 3

simple rule of thumb......place the speakers 5.1 where the two front speakers are equal space from the video source and positioned so that the main seating is in the middle.  The center channel is obvious, the rear surround speakers should be elevated so as to be able to pick up their signals above the high points of chairs or couch.  The sub woofer has non directional sound. This means it can be placed anywhere in the viewing room and the lows will be heard and felt.  Of course the .1 in the 5.1 system is the sub woofer.

Room size matters as much as what other furniture is in the room.  Sound travels and will vibrate off of any object so the best set up is to have un obstructed paths from each speaker to your ear.

The speaker setting on your unit allows you to program the tuner to the type of speaker you have.  Example: Small bose speakers or bookshelf type speakers that carry high and mid range sound levels should be set to the "S" selection - meaning small.  "L" indicates large speakers that carry there own woofer.  The tuners that have your programming abilities to set speakers types also have a woofer selection indicated with a "W" or "SW" selection mode.  Read your manuel as one will mean a passive woofer ( power provided by the tuner -or- active woofer which has its own power amplifier and does not need the tuners power to operate.

Good luck.

Answer 4

u want ur speakers as far as possible  because u have a small room. now as far as the channel u r on ur own because that selects how loud u want each speaker.  Its basically set to ur liking.  So possition the speakers where u like and adjust the sound to ur liking.  and as far as large or small.   Put it as small cuz it is a small room.