2. home-theater
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Minimum Sound Bar Height

My wife and I just moved into a summer home and I want to set up a 5.1 system for watching movies.  A top-quality system is out of the question for this place; reasonably high-quality consumer-grade level (preferably, used) will have to do.  I plan to hang the TV over the fireplace using a MantelMount, which also hangs the center channel speaker.  Since the bottom of the speaker must clear the top of the mantle, I need its dimensions before I can mount the TV on the wall.

A low profile speaker would have some advantages but I question whether small drivers can produce even reasonably good quality.  I'd love to hear opinions re how tall a sound bar needs to be to produce decent sound, or if this line of reasoning is completely wrong.  (The mains will be a pair of old Magneplanar MG-I after I re-cement the tweeter voice coils, which occasionally rattle a bit.)  Does anyone have a specific suggestion for a center channel speaker that I might find used?
Bob Simon

b_simon

Showing 1 response by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
6,415 posts
 

I have a home theater in our living room… using a center speaker in the cabinet… which I angle up. It works well. So they can be placed high or low, just angle towards head level. The initial equalization routine will adjust volumes on each speaker to the appropriate sound level.

 

I assume you are not actually buying a sound bar. But 5.1 discrete channels. They are best the same brand… and centers are made for virtually all brands of speakers these days.

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