[95 Silver TA]

Guys,


I have a bit of an odd type set-up (wierd shape living room). Basically, I can NOT mount Dipolar speaker on my side walls by the listen because the wall dont go back far enough to mount them on the side.


I use my system primarily for HT and had the following questions


Can Dipolar speakers be efficient (on a 5.1 NOT 7.1 system) when placed behind the listener (on the back) the speaker it self would be facing towards the front and is NOT mounted on a wall in the back. They would be mounted on some stands about about a foot and half above ear level?


Would Dipolar be efficient like this or where they not made to be used like this?


I was not sure if Dipolar speakers on a 5.1 setup should always be placed on the SIDE walls. Is this the case?


Or should I just get Bookshelf type for my rears on mount them on stands behind the listening postion mentioned above? (please explain)


Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thx,

Claude

 

[Scott Tucker]

It would be better than having no speakers, but not the recommended placement. You will have better success with bipolar or the bookshelf's.


Scott

 

[sdurani]

Claude,


If you're going to use dipoles, one set of drivers should not be pointing at the listeners. Instead, listeners should be sitting in the null.


Personally, if I were in your situation, I would use direct firing monopoles. In fact, something similar sounding to your front speakers (made by the same manufacturer). Mount them on the back wall, about 2-3 feet above ear level, spread as wide apart as possible and pointed approximately towards the listening area.


Having them well away from the listeners should give you a little more ambience and envelopment, with the speakers themselves being less noticeable. Despite this diffuse surround field, you'll still maintain strong left vs right directionality because of the wide separation of the speakers.


Good Luck,

Sanjay

 

[95 Silver TA]

Guys,

Thanks for the responses. It looks like I will probably go with the Bookshelves (same brand that belongs with this set up). But I had a couple of quick questions for you….


1. Are Dipolar (on a 5.1 system) mainly for the Sides?

2. Are they less effective when NOT placed on a wall?


Please explain if possible.


Thx,

Claude

 

[sdurani]

Claude,
Quote:

Are Dipolar (on a 5.1 system) mainly for the Sides?

Yes, that's where they are usually placed. The idea is to immitate the array of speakers you see on either side of you at movie theatres. Dipoles attempt to mimic that effect by minimizing the direct sound and maximizing reflected sound that the listeners hear.
Quote:

Are they less effective when NOT placed on a wall?

Since dipole surrounds use the walls to reflect their sound, they're not as effective when moved away from the walls or when the walls are highly absortive.


Best,

Sanjay

 

[95 Silver TA]

OK thanks guys...I will go with a matching pair of bookshelves then...I cant get bi or omnipolar because my speaker brands dont make those.


Thx,

Claude

 

[95 Silver TA]

Guys,

Just came back from the store...and all the bookshelves for my setup can not be mounted on any stands I have or the stores have (bolted down)....So I dont want them sitting on the speaker stands to be knocked down by my nieces when they come over to visit. And I dont want to drill thru any new bookshelves speakers to damage anything either.


I wanted to ask one last question....Can Dipolar be mounted on the Side WALL butl (Slighty in front of the listening postion)?

I know the Side Walls but behind the listener is IDEAL but wanted to know if this would also yield good results.....


I already have a set of dipolar speakers to match my speakers.....I got them at a great price last week and they do match my HT set-up (Sapphire speakers) and I got them at a great deal so I want to use them since I cant seem to use the bookselves becaue they will not sit securely on the stands own or anyone I seen at my local tweeter store.


I still have a 60 day return policy to return the Dipole but wanted to know if they should only be used be behind the listener on a Side WAll or can they be used Slighty next to or in front of the Listener On the Sidewall. This in on a 5.1 system


What are your thougths?


Thx,

Claude

 

[Scott Tucker]

How far in front are you talking? A few inches one way or the other would probably be fine.


Scott

 

[95 Silver TA]

Scott,

Thanks for responding, Yep I am only talking like 4-7 inches....thats about it....



Thx,

Claude

 

[sdurani]

Claude,


Four to seven inches isn't much, and should still keep the listeners in the dipoles' null.


The problem with placing surrounds forward of the listening area is that it doesn't give you the wrap-around soundfield that surround sound is intended to deliver. Instead, the surrounds pull the sound from the main speakers towards the side walls and make it sound like you have an extremely wide front soundstage. Like sitting just outside the open end of a horse-shoe shaped soundfield. None of that 'surrounded' effect.


If you don't want to drill holes in your surround speakers, then why don't you place them on shelves that are high enough to be out of reach from your nieces? That's what I did. Simply went to Home Depot and bought some small shelves (12 inches wide, 10 inches deep) and mounted them on the wall. Once that was done, I placed the speakers on them and pointed them roughly at the middle of my couch.


Just my opinion, but given the constraints of your set-up, I still think you'd be better off with a pair of bookshelf speakers spread wide apart on the back wall.


Best,

Sanjay

 

[95 Silver TA]

Guys so you get a clearer understanding of what I am talking about....

here is a rough drawing of what my room looks like...As you can see, I dont have any place (wall) on the left rear to mount anything (Shelves or speakers)....


The 3 oval shapes represents my reclyners, the Blue rectangle represents my TV....The GREEN square shape behind the reclyners is where I have my Dioplar currently mounted on stands...Currnetly with the stands the speakers are 1.5 ft above the listening level.


I can Not move my TV and other stuff around because there's not enough room for the TV in the other side of the room. If I move it another way it will block the fireplace (the wierd 6ft angle on the top left)....I have tried different angles and this ones works best for viewing and space.


I have pretty tall ceilings...It starts off at 9ft on the Left Side and goes upto 11.5 ft on the right side. I was looking at my side walls, and it looks like I can mount the speakers about 3-4 inches in front of the listening position BUT on that left Wall there are 2 big windows, so I would have to move the surrounds about 4-5 feet ABOVE the listening level if mounted on the side...Would that be OK? I represented this as the RED squares as the Side location/option for the surrounds....


Which would is MORE Idea for Dipolar, the Red or the Green?


I was really trying to get a set of direct speakers but sapphire does not have a pair with mounting holes in the back or bottom for the stands. And they dont make Bi-Polar speakers either.


This is a town home we are renting, I will probably get a house within another 2 year so this is somewhat temporary.


Any help is greatly apprecaited.

 

[sdurani]

Claude,


Thanx for the drawing; makes a big difference in visualizing the set-up.
Quote:

Which would is MORE Idea for Dipolar, the Red or the Green?

The Red, for sure.


Sanjay

 

[2left]

Quote:

Originally posted by sdurani Claude, Thanx for the drawing; makes a big difference in visualizing the set-up. The Red, for sure. Sanjay

I agree. The null spot in the center of the speakers should be facing the listener. I have my dipole surrounds on my side walls about 7' above the floor, and I think they sound fine at that height.

 

[95 Silver TA]

Cool....Thanks guys!


Your help was greatly appreciated!!!


Thx,

Claude

 

[95 Silver TA]

Well, I thank you guys and give you an update.


I did move the surrounds to the side walls (about 6-7) inches forward but pretty high up about 5-6 ft above the listener's ear. Heres what I found:

On the sides, the speakers dont have as good sound seperation from the front as they currently did when I had them placed behind me. Also I noticed when mounted on the sides the speakers sound less enveloping and more localized. Clearly the rear position was the better choice for my set up (to my ears). The way I had them placed in the rear, sounded more enveloping and gave a nicer effect to surround sound. The only great thing about having them on the side was the fact that they look much better on the sides and no one can knock over a stand which is not used. I did leave one speaker in the rear and mounted one on the side and it the one on the rear position sounded much more filling, the one on the side sounded more localized. I am pretty sure if I had the Idea spot and mounted these things on a side wall (behind the listener) about 2-3 foot above listening position it would sound even better but for now, the rear was the way to go for me....I did appreciate everyones help and wanted to let you guys know my results...But I guess as many had stated in here and in magazines, speaker placement experimentation is key to good sound. I will keep my current dipoles as I do love em but when I get my house I will mount them (IDEALLY) and maybe add another set for 7.1 set-up.


Thx,

Claude