Planning the Install

The best installations are the result of careful planning. To get the best performance from your speakers, ensure that your installation meets the criteria we used in design.

Amplifier Power

For optimal performance, we recommend powering Episode Home Theater speakers with a high-current capable amplifier or AV receiver with a power rating greater than 100 Watts RMS per channel, all channels driven. For each speaker’s specific maximum power capacity, please refer to the Specifications page.

Speaker Wire

Based on the high performance and high current requirements for optimal performance, we recommend a minimum of 16-gauge stranded oxygen-free copper wire. Using 12- or 14-gauge is ideal.

Speaker Placement

Optimal performance results from following these guidelines.

All In-Wall LCR applications

Use ES-HTR-IWLCR speakers.

Place the speakers with the Coherent Source Module at ear level. This position provides the clearest sound and best dialog intelligibility.

In-Wall Center Channel Applications

Use ES-HTR-IWLCR speakers.

Place the speaker centered behind the screen in installations where a perforated screen is used. The speakers can also be used as a center channel speaker in vertical position behind a perforated screen.

If a perforated screen is not used, place the speaker directly above or below the screen.

In-Wall Left and Right Speaker Applications

Use ES-HTR-IWLCR speakers.

Place the speakers on either side of the screen at equal distances from the center of the screen. Ideally, the two speakers should be spaced 6 to 12 feet apart. Left and right speakers should also be equal distance (about 8 to 20 feet) away from the center of the primary listening position.

In-Room Left and Right Speaker Applications

Use ES-HTR-IRTWR speakers.

Surround systems: Place the speakers on either side of the screen at equal distances from the center of the screen. Ideally, the two speakers should be spaced 6 to 12 feet apart. Left and right speakers should also be equal distance (about 8 to 20 feet) away from the center of the primary listening position.

2-channel stereo: In a 2-channel stereo application, the distance between the left or right speakers should not be larger than the distance from the listening position to both speakers. You may wish to toe the speakers toward the listening position, testing different angles to work with the room acoustics.

In-Wall Surround or Surround Back Applications

Use ES-HTR-IWSURR-6

Place the speakers to the side or rear of the listening area respectively with the tweeter at ear level (about 40 to 50 inches from the floor).

The ES-HTR-IWSURR-6 is purpose-built for surround applications. You can use ES-HTR-IWLCR-M-6 or ES-HTR-IWLCR-L-6 for surround sound, but we do not recommend it.

In-Room Surround or Surround Back Applications

Use ES-HTR-IRLCR speakers.

Place the speaker about 65 to 75 inches from the floor, and as far from the listening area as the room dimensions allow; this provides a more enveloping surround effect.

In-Ceiling LCR or LR applications

Use ES-HTR-ICLCR-4.

Follow the in-wall spacing recommendations, but position the speakers so that the Coherent Source Module points to the listening position.

The ES-HTR-IWSURR-6 can also be mounted in the ceiling as a height channel.

Additional Resource

For specific object-based surround sound layout recommendation refer to the Dolby Atmos Speaker Setup Instructions found on Dolby.com.