Angle the speakers, move the couch a bit, lay down a rug. If your home surround system isn't performing as expected, the issue is likely not your equipment but outdated setup and room acoustics. Hard surfaces like bare walls and tile floors reflect sound, creating muddiness and echo.

Anthony Grimani, President of Performance Media Industries and former Dolby Laboratories and Lucasfilm THX engineer, notes over half of what you hear is sound bouncing off hard surfaces. Fix this with rugs, curtains, or artwork—not foam panels. Position front left and right speakers about a foot from walls, equidistant from each other and your seat, angled toward ear level.

Place the center channel above or below the TV, aligned with the screen's midpoint. For 5.1 systems, side speakers should aim at the main seat; for 7.1, rear speakers go behind seating. Subwoofer placement greatly affects bass—avoid boxing in ported subs and test multiple spots.

Finally, run your system's built-in calibration tool. These small, zero-cost tweaks often yield major improvements before considering new hardware or professional help.