Setting Up Multiple Surround Speakers in the Same Channel

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Q How would I go about setting up multiple surround speakers in the same channel—two side left and two side right speakers, for example—as in a commercial movie theater? One more question: If I used a Y splitter and additional amplifiers to power the speakers, could I still employ Audyssey processing to calibrate the speakers? I am planning to build a home theater with two to three rows of seating. —William Lee / via e-mail

A When asked a similar question on the Ask Audyssey forum, Audyssey founder and CTO Chris Kyriakakis confirmed that Y-cording surround channels to duplicate surround signals was perfectly acceptable since movie theaters use the same method to distribute uniform ambient sound throughout a large space. His only concern regarding Audyssey calibration in such scenarios was that the surround speakers be in line with each separate seating row. He additionally suggested that the microphone should be placed at ear level for each row during calibration, particularly if your theater uses tiered seating.

Since you’re planning on building out a new theater, however, I’d be remiss if I didn’t recommend considering a Dolby Atmos installation with in-ceiling or on-ceiling top speakers. Object-based surround seems to be the future of multichannel audio, and with Atmos-compatible gear now rolling out, your timing is good to get in on the action.

COMMENTS
FirstReflect's picture

On the off chance you have over $20,000 to spend on an Immersive Audio Processor, a unit such as the Trinnov Altitude32 is capable of identifying several Surround speakers individually according to the Dolby Atmos Home Theater Installation Guidelines: http://is.gd/wwjMeZ

In such a setup, the Surround speakers go at 90 degrees directly to the left and right of the primary seating position. Then the Surround 1 and Surround 2 speakers go 15 degrees in front of and behind the Surround speakers, respectively. In other words, the Surround 1 speakers would be at +/- 75 degrees, and the Surround 2 speakers would be at +/- 105 degrees.

You can expand even further by adding Rear Surround, Rear Surround 1, and Rear Surround 2 speakers. Rear Surround 1 go at 120 degrees, Rear Surrounds at 135 degrees, and Rear Surround 2 at 150 degrees.

But outside of a crazy expensive unit like the Trinnov, you're "stuck" with just the regular Surround and Surround Back (aka Rear Surround) positions. As was stated in the article, you could use a Y-splitter from the Surround channel pre-out to feed a separate amplifier channel for each physical speaker. Those speakers would then play in unison - just like the traditional Surround arrays in a movie theater.

- Rob H. - AV Rant Podcast Co-host

prm1177's picture

In multiple surround speaker environments (particularly if you are a fair distance from the screen speakers, you may want to taper your surround calibration with separate amp channels and level adjustment for the sides. To do this, calibrate the LCR and first pair of side speakers to your processor's recommended level (usually 75 dBc with internal test signal). Make sure you disconnect the 2nd pair by switching their amp off. Once done, move to the row adjacent to the 2nd pair. Switch the 2nd amp on and the first one off. Run calibration again, this time noting the level measured for the LCRs (it will typically be lower (say 72-73 dBc). Calibrate the second pair of surrounds using the amp input level controls to match the level of the LCRs. This way the Surround/LCR balance will be maintained. You may have to trim the level one more time when both surround pairs are on as there will be a power summation for the 2 pairs, but you can do this globally from the controller calibration adjustment.

robbi1121's picture

Where can you get the Y-cord necessary for this?
Thank you

William Lee's picture

Thanks Al, and other folks for answering my question.
Atmos and DTS X will be incorporated into the planning.
I am planning to use Pro Amp QSC DCA 1644 or 1824 to power the surround speakers. It allows me to "connect parallel" with 2 speakers per channel without using the Y splitter/cording. Therefore I could connect total 8 speakers rated 8 ohms with only one amp. That means 2SL, 2SR, 2SBL and 2SBR. However, I would most likely just have 2SL and 2SR as the room is not wide enough.

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