So you have purchased a new surround sound speaker system and want to get it set up as soon as possible. Before you get started with the assembly process there are some steps to follow. For what it’s worth, if you are looking to purchase a wireless surround sound speaker system, the installation process will be much less painful. Wireless surround sound speaker systems are much easier to install, mainly because you don’t have to worry about how to hide excess wires and you are not limited to the lengths of the wire. Sure, you can buy extra long wires for your system, but is it really worth it? At this point in time, technology has advanced enough that you should feel confident enough to break free of the wires and invest in a wireless sound system.
If you are serious about your surround sound installation, there are two major steps to follow. First, make sure that you have a digital source that will support your surround sound speakers. Most modern stereo systems and DVD players will get the job done. If your digital source does not support surround sound installation, a surround sound adapter can be purchased at any electronics store. If you are installing outdoor speakers, you will want to be sure that your digital source is located close to the outside area. Second, if you want to capture a true surround sound experience, then you should get at least a 5.1 system. 5.1 systems are the benchmark in defining a true surround sound system and in general have two front speakers, two rear speakers, a center console and a subwoofer. Of course, a 7.1 speaker set provides even more of a surround sound experience, but depending on the price difference, may or may not be worth it.
After your sound system has arrived, you will need to create a setup that will optimize the area the speakers are being placed in. Regardless of where your system is going to be located, there are general rules to make your surround sound experience brilliant and your surround sound installation process as easy as possible.
Assuming you are working with a 5.1 speaker set, the front speakers and center speaker should be placed closest to the console. Since you want your audience to be completely captured in the surround sound experience and hear both front speakers, the wider the front speakers are apart, the better. Normally, 10-12 feet apart will do, but if you don’t have that much width to work with, not to worry. 6-8 feet will suffice as well. The rear speakers should be placed towards the back of the “sound area” and should be as parallel as possible to the front speaker set. As far as subwoofer placement is concerned, put it wherever you want. The bass in a subwoofer travels at a lower frequency and can easily be heard from any point in the room. If you are installing your sound system outdoors, I would recommend putting the subwoofer somewhere closer to the seating area, since the sound of the bass can be lost outdoors.