Right now I've got a decent set of Polk R15 satellites on some stands for my surround speakers, but lately I've been disappointed in the surround field they create.

Hence I'm suddenly looking at rear dipole speakers. Looks like this is going to set me back at least $250 if not more -- so I question if it's really worth it. I've never had the chance to hear dipole surround speakers, but everything I read says they will really fill in the rear nicely since the sound is not as directional.

Can anyone comment if this is going to be a smart route to take? I have tried various settings and configs with my R15s but I'm still not satisfied.

The rest of the setup:
Onkyo TX-SR606 receiver
Polk R50 (f)
Polk CSi 25 (c)
Polk R15 (r)
Acoustech VK12 (LFE)

The room is about 15x15x10, but I do have a unique problem in that there's a bay window-like opening in one of the rear corners, making mounting of a speaker to the wall tricky (curved wall).

Surround speakers have more of a effect when placed on the sides. Direct radiating speakers are of for the rears.

Right now my R15s are to the side on stands -- I'm wondering if they need to be turned 90 degrees and placed on the back wall instead.

It could also be that they're simply too close to ear level on the stands and the sound is too direct. I think it's time to take another look at the setup FAQs in this sub-forum and fiddle this weekend.

Follow-up question -- do dipoles need extra wires and/or bi-amp, or will my existing wiring work?

Follow-up question -- do dipoles need extra wires and/or bi-amp, or will my existing wiring work?

I have the Polk f/x500i's http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/recent/fx500i/

Regular speaker cable gets the job done. Nothing fancy at all involved. Wire them like any other speaker.

And in regards to being directional, not these babies! At least mine that is, very cool, and hard to explain. You hear sounds like they are elsewhere in the room, the best way I can describe it.

Mike

GSRGuy, I'm in the same situation as you. From what I've been reading, dipoles are best on side walls, and bipoles on rear walls. My problem is my ears are only about 2' from rear wall when seated. I don't know what to use for surrounds or where to mount them.

GSRGuy, I'm in the same situation as you. From what I've been reading, dipoles are best on side walls, and bipoles on rear walls. My problem is my ears are only about 2' from rear wall when seated. I don't know what to use for surrounds or where to mount them.

Yep, that's what Polk Audio even says on their website.

Now the trouble is finding some reasonably priced bipole speakers.

TheGSRGuy,

See my 2D layout (http://gallery.avsforum.com/showphoto.php/photo/16339/ppuser/6725) for reference if needed. I current have 7.1: Adaptive Dipoles (tweeters fire out-of-phase, woofers fire in-phase) to the sides, and directs on the rear wall. Tweeters for the 4 surrounds are 6'-8' above the floor, and ceilings are 10'.

I did some prototyping when I bought directs for channels 6/7. I tried the ADPs on the rear wall, and the directs on the side walls. Directs to the sides were too "in your face" for the person sitting on recliners closest to the side walls. The back surrounds (ADPs) were too dispersed, meaning there was no way to tell if the right back or left back ADP was firing (I have Rocket RSS300 ADPs).

I may have missed it, but are the R15 surrounds directly to the sides of the seating area, or slightly behind the seating area? With 5.1, they should be slightly behind the seating area (try 1' to 2'), and firing at each other. It's a trade-off between side and rear sound effects.

-T

Yes.

If you don't like 'em, send them back.

Yep, that's what Polk Audio even says on their website.

Now the trouble is finding some reasonably priced bipole speakers.

Newegg and polkdirect (on ebay, but direct from Polk) have some really good prices on FXi3's.