SURROUNDS
Surround speakersextend sound around you and create a sense of space. Surrounds should complement the front sound field, never overwhelm it.
In a 5.1.x configuration, surround speakers should be placed just behind or to the side of your listening position; Dolby recommends angling surrounds 110 to 120 degrees from the listener. If that’s not practical (for example, if your couch is against a wall), place them closer to the 90-degree angle on each side. You may have to get creative to work around doors, windows, and furniture; make your best effort to align speakers as accurately as possible.
Ideally, all speakers should be at the same height; Dolby recommends 3.9 feet, which is about ear level for the seated listener. If it’s impractical to place rear speakers at the same height as the front speakers, rear speakers may be placed higher, up to 1.25 times the front-speaker height.
(For recommendations for 7.1.4 systems and other configurations, consult theDolby Atmos Home Theater Installation Guidelines.)
CEILING SPEAKERS
Overhead speakers should be installed at a height about two or three times the height of listener-level speakers, for the ideal blend of sonic separation and immersiveness.
Dolby recommends centering the overhead arrangement, front to back, over the listening area, even if the front speakers and screen are at a greater distance than the surrounds. Horizontal spacing should be about the same as the horizontal separation of the left and right speakers.
If overhead speakers offer a wide (45 degrees or more) dispersion pattern, they should point directly downward; speakers with narrower focus should be angled toward the primary listening position.
Horizontal spacing should be about the same as the horizontal separation of left and right speakers placed at ±30 degrees. (For recommendations for specific speaker configurations, consult Dolbyguidelines.)
HEIGHT SPEAKERS
Atmos-enabled height speakers can be forward-facing speakers with built-in height drivers ormodulesthat sit on top of standalone speakers.
Atmos upfiring speakers work best at ceiling heights between 7.5 and 12 feet. For best results, the ceiling should be flat and constructed from rigid, acoustically reflective material. Avoid ceiling acoustic tiles, which absorb the overhead sound. That said, Atmos is somewhat forgiving; popcorn ceilings, vents, and can lights don’t compromise the effect.
To experience the most precise, realistic overhead sound, Dolby recommends installing a minimum of four height speakers. Whether height speakers are integrated or add-on modules, if they are serving as main height modules they should be placed in the left front and right front speaker location. The other two should be positioned in the rear surround locations.
Place Atmos height speakers at or slightly above your ear height when seated, and avoid placing them higher than one-half the height of your wall. Polk's Reserve and Monitor XT Series height speakers can be conveniently wall mounted or seamlessly placed atop tower speakers in the series.
