Ideal Setup For Surround Speakers Behind Bed [Explained]
In this blog post, I’ll explain the Ideal Setup For Surround Speakers Behind Bed and provide tips for getting excellent, immersive audio without compromising style or space utilization. The ideal setup for a home theater often depends on optimal speaker placement, particularly in small areas where a bed would be placed close behind the rear speakers.
By placing surround speakers behind the bed, cinematic-quality sound can be enjoyed right in your bedroom while maintaining comfort and order. However, certain placement recommendations are necessary to prevent muffled or deformed sounds.
Ideal Setup For Surround Speakers Behind Bed
For a better surround effect, let the speakers be set around 135-150 degrees from your seating position, roughly 2-3 feet away from the headboard, to avoid loss of sound through the headboard. Place stereo speakers behind the bed and it can improve your home theater experience by achieving an immersion audio experience in less space.
Ideally, start by putting the speakers at a slightly elevated position over the ear and pointing them towards the floor of the bed so that sound travels in an unrestricted way. By taking these steps, you can enjoy full, authentic audio from a background surround speaker environment behind your bed and take full advantage of the spatial and acoustic design of your system.
Can You Put Surround Sound Next To A Bed?
Yes, speakers for surround sound can be placed beside a bed by mounting them slightly above ear height and pointing them toward the listening space. Best to aim them at a 135–150-degree angle from your main seating position for an immersive listening effect.
In addition, the choice of dipole or bipole radiating speakers has the potential to achieve improved audio diffusion and hence deliver a crisp and balanced experience even when the speaker is positioned at or close to the bed.
Is It Possible For Me To Have 5.1 Surround In My Bedroom?
Yes, it is possible to have a 5.1 surround sound home setup in your bedroom. To do so, position the front left, center, and right speakers ahead of the bed and place the center speaker at ear level.
Positioning the subwoofer in a corner enhances the bass. By very careful placement, a 5.1 system can provide engrossing effects audio, in a bedroom environment, and at minimal footprint size.
Rear Surround Speakers Placement Advice
For the best placement of rear surround speakers in a home theater installation, take the following cues to achieve an immersive sonic experience:
Positioning
- Distance from Listening Area: Place rear surround speakers approximately 2–3 feet from the main seating area to provide maximum impact for sound separation.
- Height: If speakers are far enough away, they should be kept just above ear level about 1–2 ft above the floor. This contributes to the localization of sound in the area of hearing, thereby leading to a more natural sensation.
- Angle: Aim each speaker toward the seating area at around a 135–150-degree angle relative to the front-center speaker. The sound field generated by this angle enables an optimal combination of directional and ambient sounds.
Room Layout Considerations
- One needs to consider the lack of space behind seating when selecting wall-mounted speakers or speaker stands so that the best possible sound quality is obtained while using as much effective space as possible.
- Do not fix speakers flush against a wall to avoid sound reflection that confuses the audio. Try to keep them at least a few inches away from walls or any corners.
- Wherever feasible, acoustic treatments in the form of diffusers or absorbers will be thought of to help overcome echo and improve clarity.
Speaker Type and Calibration
- Bipole/Dipole Speakers: When the room is small, bipole or dipole speakers can provide an expanded, diffuse sound field, which is suitable for the rear surround.
- Calibrate for Optimal Sound: Leveraging your receiver’s calibration (e.g., Audyssey, YPAO, Dirac) to specifically adjust the speaker levels and distances to your room for room-matched sound.
How To Place Your Speakers For The Best Sound?
For optimal sound, in positioning your speaker:
- Begin by placing the front left and right speakers at ear level.
- Angled inwards to the central seating zone to maintain a symmetrical stereo image.
Place the center speaker centered under or above your TV, directly at the focal point of the front speakers to center the dialogue in the center of the TV screen. Subwoofers are most effective when they are placed in the front corners or against a wall, where they can deliver the full effect of the low frequencies without causing undesirable room resonances.
Speaker Placement For 9.1 And 11.1 Systems
9.1 System Placement
In a 9.1 configuration, you have the typical surround arrangement as well as two extra front-height loudspeakers.
- Front Left, Center, and Right Speakers: Position these at ear level in front of the major listening location. The left and right speakers should form an equilateral triangle with the listening area, angled slightly inward for a balanced stereo image.
- Surround Speakers (Left and Right): Place these at ear level to the left and right of the listening field, at an angle ranging from 90–110 degrees to the center speaker, for a wraparound effect.
- Rear Surround Speakers: Set these speakers behind the area of main seating around 135–150 degrees from the center speaker, angled out toward the listener’s position so there is a presence coming from behind.
- Front Height Speakers (Left and Right): Mount these above the front left and right speakers, up high on the wall or ceiling to add a vertical sound dimension–and add effects that require height.
- Subwoofer: Position the subwoofer at the front of the room, in a corner, or along a wall, to maximize bass response and prevent muddy low frequencies.
11.1 System Placement
An 11.1 configuration includes two rear-height speakers to complete the surround experience.
- Front, Surround, and Rear Surround Speakers: Place these speakers as you would in a 9.1 setup for a balanced base layer of sound.
- Front Height Speakers: Place these above the left and right front speakers on the wall/ceiling in the elevated position to get a large, immersive, front soundstage.
- Rear Height Speakers: Mount these above the rear surround speakers, high on the wall or ceiling, to provide a back wall of space behind the listening space, which results in an all-encompassing 3D sound space.
- Subwoofer: Position the subwoofer on the front wall or in a front corner to litter the highest bass energy and consistent low-frequency response.
Speaker Placement For 5.1 And 7.1 Surround Sound Systems
5.1 System Placement
- Front Left and Right Speakers: Place these at ear level in front of the listening space, with inward angling toward the center seat to produce an even stereo image. Ideally, they should shape an equilateral triangle with the listener.
- Center Speaker: Place the center speaker in the front/rear center of your screen, in both the left/right directions, to fix the center dialog/sounds with the center of the screen.
- Surround Left and Right Speakers: Place these slightly above ear level to the left and right of the seating area, at approximately 90–110 angle to the center speaker. With this, sound can be “wrapped” around the listener in an immersive surround sound experience.
- Subwoofer: Position the subwoofer in the center of the room, preferably in a corner or against a wall, to improve bass and reduce nulls.
7.1 System Placement
- Front, Center, and Surround Speakers: Please position these speakers in a 5.1 configuration for a homogenous foundation of sound.
- Rear Surround Left and Right Speakers: Set these back from the seating area, at approximately 135–150 degrees from the center speaker, tilted slightly to the direction of the listening position. This makes an impact on the rear soundstage depth as well as on the feeling of immersion.
- Subwoofer: Place the subwoofer lengthwise on a front wall or in a corner, as in a 5.1 system, to provide uniform bass extension over the entire room.
Where To Place Rear Speakers In Bedroom?
Position the rear speakers slightly to the sides of and behind your main listening position. To get the best sound, place them just above ear height at a slight angle toward the listener’s location (bed or chair). This will produce a balanced surround effect and require very little space.
Where Should I Put My Surround Speakers In My Bedroom?
The surround speakers in a bedroom are placed to the left and right of the bedding, heating, and main seating areas at somewhat ear height. When space is at a premium, opt for wall mounting to free up floor space and provide an immersive audio experience without clutter.
Can Surround Speakers Go Be Behind Instead Of Beside You In 5.1?
Yes, with a 5.1 configuration, surround speakers can be set up slightly behind the viewer if there is no need for the speakers on each side. Ideally, they should be positioned at an angle of 110– 120 degrees from the center, which would retain a wraparound experience even if they are behind the system.
How Far Back Should Rear Surround Speakers Be?
Rear surround speakers would ideally be positioned 2–3 feet behind the main seating location for optimum sound. With this placement, it is easy to distinguish the front and rear audio channels allowing greater three dimensions and immersion in a 7.1 or greater surround sound setup.
In less-than-ideal room sizes or small rooms, this distance can be modified adaptively, but the speakers should run backward behind the listening area, for a good surround effect.
What Is The Proper Height For Rear Surround Speakers?
Rear surround speakers should be set to about 1–2 feet above the ear level when sitting. This height aids reverberation around the room to a more immersive effect without being too localized. In the bedroom, this may involve hanging them on the wall at a skew to the bed.
Conclusion
To conclude, what is Ideal Setup For Surround Speakers Behind Bed? Users can enjoy an excellent home theater experience from the intimacy of the bedroom. If positioning the speakers about 135–150 degrees from the main listening position and a 2–3 feet distance from the headboard you get an immersive and high fidelity 360-degree surround sound without losing space or comfort.
Raising the speakers slightly above ear height and pointing them toward the bed not only prevents sound loss or distortion but also provides a clear and enveloping sound. When thoughtfully designed, you can build a cinephile ship setting that turns movie nights, or music nights, into a reality right there in the living room.
Top FAQ’s
What is the best height for surround speakers?
The best height for surround speakers is typically 1–2 feet above ear level when seated. Because of this elevated placement, the sound effects can be dispersed naturally, thereby providing a more realistic surround experience when sound effects are not too localized. For small rooms, wall-mount the speakers to ensure this height, while not adding clutter.
At what height should in-wall speakers be mounted?
Wall-mounted speakers should in principle be installed at ear level or slightly higher to achieve good sound dispersal, particularly in the case of the front and the surround channels. For rooms that have high ceilings, having in-wall speakers 5-6 feet above the floor generally creates an even sound field. Please adjust the angle if it is possible to focus the sound on the primary area of listening.
What is the 1-5 rule for speaker placement?
Generating the 1-5 rule recommendation suggestion requires getting about one unit with each side wall and a five-unit separation from the back wall for the front speakers. This surround spacing mitigates direct sound distortion and enhances clarity by balancing reflected sound. The rule is commonly employed in rooms with a rectangular shape in order to optimize sound quality by avoiding visiting sound waves over each other.
What is the best layout for speakers?
The best speaker layout varies by room size and setup, but generally follows these guidelines:
Front Speakers: Orient the listening area to form an equilateral triangle and angle it toward the ear.
Center Speaker: Place it directly above or below the TV, at the center with the listener’s position.
Surround Speakers: Place them off to the side, or behind the listener, perched higher than ear level.
Subwoofer: Find near the wall or in the front corner to get the best bass. Due to this configuration, there is balanced sound from all directions, which gives rise to an immersive auditory experience.
What is the golden rule for speaker placement?
The golden rule to follow when deciding on speaker placement is the maintenance of symmetry in the positioning and orientation of the speakers. Position the left and right speakers equally distant from the central listening position with the same height. This symmetry is maintained in the audio output, resulting in a symmetrical soundstage with no audio imbalances or sound localization problems.
