Speaker placement

Suroundscape speakers can be installed in a variety of scenarios depending on the desired listening experience and environmental factors. Speaker placement ranges from wide coverage for background music to full surround sound theater applications.

We have provided guidelines for the following scenarios:

Stereo listening areas

This configuration is idea for informal listening areas such as outdoor dining areas, pools, and gardens.

Speaker placement & spacing

Stereo listening areas are composed of a left and right satellite speaker and, for best performance, a subwoofer.

Wide coverage areas

Wide coverage areas are typically used for background music and are spread out over large spaces within landscapes, back yards, parks, or other areas where consistent volume is required but where stereo or surround imaging is not required. In most cases, wide coverage areas should be mono. Stereo imaging and separation are usually not possible, so mono is a better option, acoustically.

Speaker placement & spacing

The size of the area will determine the number of speakers that are required. Carefully measure the space and create a scale drawing to plan for speaker locations. Typically, twelve feet between speakers is ideal. In any case, do not place speakers more than 25-30 feet apart. There should be ten to twelve feet of space between each speaker, with approximately twelve feet from the speaker to the center of the listening area. Subwoofers should be located 30 to 60 feet apart, depending on their size.

Pro Tip: Space the speakers apart evenly to fill the entire area. Having too few speakers creates a situation where the volume must be turned up to fill the space – making it very loud for those near the speakers and not loud enough for those further away. Even spacing allows for lower volume settings and substantially more distributed sound throughout the space.

Multi-zone audio

An audio zone is an area that can have a separate source playing that is different from other areas of the system. Examples include a pool area that can play a separate source from a wide coverage area located in another part of the property or an outdoor theater that can play audio from a movie while the wide coverage area and/or pool area play different audio content independently.

Typically, a multi-zone controller or multi-zone A/V receiver is required in such a system. Use of a multi-zone controller/A/V receiver allows audio sources to be shared between all zones, eliminating the need for duplicate audio source components. The zones can be controlled from touch panels, keypads, hand-held remotes, and/or phone/tablet apps and make for a truly customized, seamless experience.

  • Capable of playing different sources in different area simultaneously

  • Can be Wide-Coverage zones or Outdoor Theater zones

  • Utilizes multi-zone controller or A/V Receiver

Speaker placement & spacing

Use the guidelines previously discussed for outdoor theaters and wide coverage areas to determine speaker placement and spacing.

Group speakers by zone/area that make sense for the way the space will be used. In the example below, Zone 1 includes a pool area that utilizes a group of four speakers each placed approximately twelve feet from the center of the pool with a subwoofer installed in between two of the speakers. Zone 2 is an outdoor theater with a 5.1 speaker configuration, while Zone 3 is a wide coverage area with speakers placed evenly throughout the space. Each zone can play different audio simultaneously.

Pro Tip: Be careful to avoid audio overlap when planning outdoor zones.

Outdoor theater

Outdoor theaters have gained popularity as technologies have improved for outdoor video projectors, outdoor screens, Wi-Fi components and, yes, speakers. Proper selection and placement of speakers allows for exciting video screening sessions, parties and movie marathons. Choose the speaker configuration that matches the surround sound capabilities of the home theater receiver or amplifier chosen for the outdoor area. Examples range from a basic 2.1 channel system (Left, Right, and Subwoofer), traditional 5.1 surround system (Left, Center, Right, Rear Left, Rear Right, and single subwoofer), 5.2 surround system (5.1 plus an additional subwoofer), 7.1 and 7.2 surround systems (additional side rear speakers) and beyond. These surround configurations create an engrossing movie watching experience and can perform similarly to in-home theater systems when designed and installed correctly.

Speaker placement & spacing

5.1 Outdoor Theater

This system type is comprised of a left, right, and center satellite speaker, two rear satellite speakers, and a single subwoofer. Use this configuration for immersive video viewing and high-quality music listening.

Pro Tip: Consult the documentation supplied with the AV receiver or amplifier being used for compatible advanced surround configurations such as 7.2 and 9.2. Typically, these systems involve additional subwoofers, rear side speakers and/or additional front left and right speakers.