SS-150THX satellite speaker
page 7
6. PLACEMENT OF THE SS-150
THX
AS A
SURROUND CHANNEL SPEAKER
This speaker is designed to be oriented with the front tweeter closest to the listeners. When the speaker
is mounted above the listeners' heads, make certain that the tweeter on the front baffle is at the bottom. If
the speaker is mounted below listeners' heads, the tweeter should be at the top.
Your SS-150
THX
speakers are designed to be used as surround channel speakers, especially in a Home THX
system, playing Dolby Digital, other discrete digital, or Pro-Logic sources. The SS-150
THX
will achieve excellent results
in non-THX systems as well. While not specifically designed to be used as front channel or as stand-alone stereo
speakers, feel free to experiment with them. The instructions given here apply to surround channel applications
(including use for multi-channel music modes such as ambience recovery or acoustical environment synthesis).
The surround channels can be installed in a wide variety of locations, but in some environments, they are a
challenge to install. If you have questions, please call the M&K factory. We will be happy to discuss them with you.
PLACEMENT WHEN USED IN THX DIPOLE MODE
In general, the SS-150
THX
s should be located relatively high on the side walls of the room, to the sides of the
listening position. In fact, the key to placement of the SS-150
THX
s in THX mode is that they radiate sound to the front
and the rear of the room, as opposed to directly at the listeners. Therefore the speakers should be directly to the left
and to the right of the listeners, which places the listeners in the NULL of the speaker radiation pattern.
This configuration prevents listeners from localizing the surround speakers as a direct source of sound. Instead,
they are enveloped by a diffuse ambient soundfield, hearing only indirect sound reflected from various room surfaces.
a. POSITION RELATIVE TO SEATING
In THX Dipole mode, the SS-150
THX
speakers should be located on the side walls adjacent to the seating
position. If there is one row of seats, the SS-150
THX
s should be located directly to the left and to the right of this row
of seats. If there are multiple rows of seats, then the SS-150
THX
s should be located directly to the left and right of
the geometric center of the listening area.
If the SS-150
THX
s cannot be located directly to the sides of the seating area, it is better for them to be towards
the back of the room, behind the listening position, rather than in the front of the room. You want to avoid having the
surrounds producing sound in front of the listeners, which would be between the listening position and the screen.
b. HEIGHT
The SS-150
THX
should be located above the listeners' heads. Preferably the cabinet's bottom will be at least two
feet above a seated listener's head. In fact, if at all possible, the speakers should be located above standing listeners'
heads, so that people walking around the room will also hear an enveloping sound and will be unable to localize the
speakers. Remember that this speaker should produce an enveloping, non-directional sound, so there is no
requirement that it be located particularly close to the listeners.
For additional information regarding speaker placement, see your dealer and the THX Installation Manual.
PLACEMENT WHEN USED IN TRIPOLE MODE
In Tripole mode, the SS-150
THX
s are less critical of placement. They still should be located high on the wall, to
the sides or behind the listening position. They can be mounted on the back wall of the room. The Tripole mode radiates
sound to the front and the rear of the room in addition to directly at the listeners. The usual installation will be mounted
flush on the side or back wall of the room, but improved results may be obtained by angling them either towards or
away from the main listening position. If you want a more directional sound quality, point the front baffle more directly
towards the listeners. If you want a more diffuse sound quality, point the front baffle towards the back wall.
a. POSITION RELATIVE TO SEATING
In Tripole mode, the SS-150
THX
speakers can be located either adjacent to or behind the seating position. For
maximum enveloping quality, with one row of seats, the SS-150
THX
s should be located directly to the left and to the
right of this row of seats. If there are multiple rows of seats, then the SS-150
THX
s would then be located directly to
the left and right of the geometric center of the listening area.
If they cannot be located exactly adjacent to the seating area, it is better for them to be located slightly towards
the back of the room, behind the listening positions, rather than in the front of the room, between the listening position
and the screen.
b. HEIGHT
The SS-150
THX
should be located relatively close to the ceiling. Placement above the listeners' heads is very
