I know that mixing the front end of your systems with different brands is not good. I was wondering if this same is true for using a different brand for mixing sides / rears with fronts?

I have Thiel CS6's for the L and R and Thiel MCS-1 for the center. My sides and surrounds are Thiel as well but nothing special. I was wondering if I changed either the sides or surrounds with say B&W if this would be an issue tonally with the Thiel front end? B&W have some nice sounding speakers for sides and surrounds and I was debating it.

Thanks in advance.
Ken

IMO if you like the sound of B&W why not try to change the mains first ? I feel that the sides and surrounds could be of a different brand, but it seems odd to change out the ones you have that already match the mains and I certainly do not think movies will sound any better with the new sides and rears. Which I assume is why you would want to change in the first place.


Joey

I don't want to change out the fronts. They sound great. I wanted to get more enveloping sides/rears. Absolutely there is a difference between different brands/models when it comes to sides and surrounds for sure.
Ken

Ken

Have you tried to calibrate the levels of your speakers... Some components do a creditable job balancing the levels "automatically". I have however much better results with a SPL meter (corrected Radio Shack) and a calibration DVD such as the AVIA or equivalent...

Every speaker is properly calibrated with a Radio Shack SPL "C" weight and slow. You guys are missing my point. All speakers are not the same. My sides are in wall speakers that are not doing the job I want.
Ken

Why don't you just take a pair on loan from a dealer, put up a temporary shelf and decide for yourself. I am not sure this is the exact forum for this question although you might get some takers on helping you out.

Eventually no matter what anyone says you will have listen to it yourself.

change speaker cables for the sides

You can mix any speakers you like. As long as it sounds okay to you. My system currently consist of Von Schweikert Mains, an Aerial Accoustics Center, and B&W Surrounds. You can't get much more mixed than that!

I think this is one of those 'ideal' versus 'practical' debates. Most would say that ideally, you should use the same brand and model speaker at all positions. This is not always practical, however, particulary if your LR pair is either expensive or does not work well as center or surrounds.

I have massive LR speakers in my HT (Genesis 201) and have neither the bank account nor the space to replicate them around the room. So, I went with companion speakers that use similar drivers, and while the voicing is not identical, it is close enough such that I only rarely notice.

I am going to borrow a pair of speakers as mentioned and see how they sound in my system.

With regards to cables, I already have Transparent Ultra cables on the sides. Changing cables anyway is not the answer.
Ken

It may still be your cables. Why dont you try using this

http://www.audioexcellenceaz.com/audiodharmacablecooker.htm

You and I are talking about two entirely different things. Maybe I should use Radio Shack speakers and then get $10,000.00 MIT cables and then use a wire cooker. Man, would than be world class sound.
Ken

You and I are talking about two entirely different things. Maybe I should use Radio Shack speakers and then get $10,000.00 MIT cables and then use a wire cooker. Man, would than be world class sound.
Ken

LOL! The MIT's would still be a positive effect on the Rad Shack speakers. But in the end... they would still be Rad Shack speakers.;)

Obviously Ken, Daniel's pulling your leg.

i thought about putting a smiley face at the end of the sentence but then I didn't want to make it so obvious. There is another thread going on right now where they are making fun of the cable cooker. I just thought it would be funny since someone had previously mentioned changing cables.

LOL. Now I got you.
Ken