Setup Question

[DavidD]

What would be the ideal setup/mounting for the Ventriloquist? Specifically...I know they satellites can be hung onthe wall, but are their performance tradeoffs? Also, what about the center? If (like me), your tv doesn't really have a flat spot to hold a center, what do you recommend? Is it acceptable to put the center on a shelf above and slightly behind the tv? How much read clearance does it need?


(I really want to know, but I also just had to be the first to post in one of the new forums...)

[Sasha_G]

DavidD,

Thanks for being our first.

1) For the best sonic performance, the satellites should be on SPEAKER STANDS. I know that they can be mounted easily on the wall and on stands, and they will sound good and blend with the decor, but for pure performance speaker stands are best.

2) It is very important that the center channel be positioned ON TOP of the TV, if at all possible. If you have to put a shelf there, it is worth it for the purest sound. Try, at all costs, to avoid putting the center near the floor or close to the floor.

[DavidD]

Sasha,

Thanks for the response. I thought you might say something like that... Do you have some recommended speaker stands?

[Curatio]

Originally posted by Sasha_G
DavidD,

Thanks for being our first.

1) For the best sonic performance, the satellites should be on SPEAKER STANDS. I know that they can be mounted easily on the wall and on stands, and they will sound good and blend with the decor, but for pure performance speaker stands are best.

Is there any performance advantage to mounting the speakers on swivel-type brackets, such as the Soundgear SATP series recommended in the manual, on the wall versus mounting it directly on the wall?


2) It is very important that the center channel be positioned ON TOP of the TV, if at all possible. If you have to put a shelf there, it is worth it for the purest sound. Try, at all costs, to avoid putting the center near the floor or close to the floor.

I have a front projector setup with a 4.5 foot high screen on a 7 foot high wall. Would it be better to place the center channel speaker below the screen at around 2 foot high on a shelf/speaker stand, or would it be better to place it above the screen on a shelf at around 6.5 ft? Thanks.

[9mileskid]

I have about 20" below my screen to place the center and Sub. Would a shelf with rubber feet set on the Sub with the Center channel on top of that be okay?

Concerned whether the output of the sub will affect the center (not the Vent btw).

Thanks
DJ

[Dr_Hsu]

The Ventriloquist center is best placed 2.5 to 6 ft off the ground. It is designed NOT to be placed to close to the floor. It would sound too thick in the lower mids if placed too close to the floor. It comes with a base so the center channel can be tilted up or down a bit.

The front left and right satellites are best at about the same level as the center. This gives the best imaging. This is less critical than having to place the center at least 2.5 ft off the floor. We prefer to place the satellites on stands. That way, one gets a better sound stage depth. However, sometimes the spousal factor outweighs the imaging properties...

2 ft off the floor may be tolerable. Use a speaker stand and not something solid like a wooden chest.

As for the other question on center channel (not the Ventriloquist)placement on top of a sub, that should not affect it too much, especially when the sub is a down firing one. Any vibration from the sub would be perpendicular to the center channel's driver movement.

[9mileskid]

Thank you Dr. Hsu. One more question if I may.

My theater floor is padded carpet over the house foundation that runs into the garage (didn't buid a subfloor at the time) . My wife is complaining that the STF-2 is shaking the whole house (showed up on Friday - this is a GREAT, GREAT Sub!!! thank you). I am guess that since it is downfiring onto the foundation the vibration could travel throughout the house?!?

Can you suggest how I could still get that wonder rumble in the theater without actually firing onto the floor itself? What should I set the sub on?

btw - the center on the sub works fine, no distortion.

Thanks again for a great product, I've waited my whole life for bass like this.

DJ :D :D :D

Should this be moved to the STF setup forum - Sasha?

[Dr_Hsu]

I kind of like more shaking myself! More seriously, I am not sure that orienting the woofer to fire in the horizontal plane would make a huge difference. A lot of the flexing and shaking are due to the direct pressure waves and not mechanically transmitted vibration. The sub can be placed on its side quite safely if you really need to do that.

Glad you liked the sub.

[9mileskid]

I was actually think that I might need to place the Sub onto something sitting on the floor with Rubber feet to isolate it from the foundation. My concern was should this be a smooth "table" or carpet/fabric covered and how would that effect performance?

I don't want to turn it on its side, then I couldn't show off the HSU nameplate :D

The other concern is did I buy too big? Would the STF-1 make more sense for a 10x18x8.5 room, give me rumble, but be a bit more contained?

Thanks - DJ

[Dr_Hsu]

No. It would not help at all to try to 'isolate' the sub. That does not work. No, you did not buy too large a sub. You can always turn it down a bit when the wife is home...