Proceed PDSD - Manual (Page 56)

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locating the components well away from the field of vision can be effective (if
mechanical noise from transports, etc. is not a problem).
Attention should be paid to the accessibility of the infrared control signal to the
components. Most people instinctively aim remote controls at the screen, without
thinking about the location of the equipment. It is a good idea to locate a small
infrared “repeater” in the vicinity of the screen, set up to relay the signal into the
equipment area and/or the Digital Surround Decoder’s
remote IR input . This is
especially true if the equipment has been isolated from plain view, inside cabinetry.
the “correct” size for
your television screen
Video images will often be displayed on some sort of projection system, since
the increased size will give you a more film-like experience. There may be situa-
tions where a 31"–35" direct-view television is appropriate (in smaller rooms, for
example). But do not give in to this temptation too easily—part of the theater
experience is the visual impact of having your field of vision dominated by the
size of the image on the screen. A good rule of thumb is to use a
diagonal screen size of approximately
1 ⁄
2
to 1 ⁄
4
the planned viewing distance. Thus,
if your seating is 12 feet from the screen, you would like to use a television with
a 3 to 6 foot (36"-72") diagonal screen measurement. In this case, a 35" direct-
view television might be just adequate. A larger screen would be preferable, espe-
cially if you plan to watch many letterboxed movies. If your video system in-
cludes a line doubler for enhanced resolution, take advantage of the improved
picture clarity by using a larger screen (closer to the one-half-the-distance figure).
the power amplifiers Given the dynamic range of modern soundtracks and people’s expectations of
their home theater systems, at least 100 w/ch is recommended for all six chan-
nels, with few exceptions. Still more power may be required in unusually large
rooms.
A common misconception is that the center and surround speakers have lower
power requirements than do the rest. This is not true. The center channel is often
the hardest-working speaker in a movie soundtrack’s mix. You should also be
forewarned that the surrounds are working harder than your first impression
might indicate. While they may require less power on average, there are moments
during which they are the loudest speakers in the room (as when an aircraft
seems to fly overhead, for example). Prudent system design requires that the sur-
round channels have enough power to reproduce their signals without amplifier
clipping, even under such a worst-case scenario.
the left, center and right (LCR)
front speakers
The goal of the front speakers is to accurately recreate the sounds that would be
coming directly at you in real life situations. It is important that they be accurate
in terms of tonal balance, dynamic capabilities, and imaging precision if they are
to recreate a convincing soundstage (whether of music or film soundtracks). They
also need to be well-matched to one another—do not skimp on the center chan-
nel speaker, as it is the most important loudspeaker in the entire system when it
comes to movie reproduction.
Ideally, all three Front speakers would be at the height of the screen. Of course,
the center channel speaker would then obscure the screen, so placement above
or below the screen is usually required. All three speakers should be close to the
same height, however, to avoid distracting changes in apparent altitude as sound
is panned across the screen.