[kurros]

Hi, this is my first post so go easy on me. Reading some of your posts here are depressing, as I could never afford some of the things you guys are buying!


Anyway, here is my question. I currently still have an one of those ancient 2-channel stereo setup, you might remember them. However I recently upgraded my speakers, I have two JBL S412P's. Now I have gotten the home theater bug and want to go all the way. Reading some of the docs (propaganda?) on Dolby's web site, they recommend that I have the same speaker for all 5 channels. Would 3 more S412P's be ideal? As per the LFE channel, the S412P's have powered woofers and LFE inputs, which I was planning on using the LFE connections on just the front L/R speakers. Is that enough? Or should I get all 5 speakers tapped into the LFE channel? To anyone who is familiar with the JBL S series: would S38s be sufficient for the center and rear speakers? S312s? I ask because I don't want to spend $1800+ for 3 more S412P's and find out it was wasted money.


And finally, I see DTS-ES 6.1 and Dolby Digital EX 6.1 is starting to appear in consumer equipment. DTS' web site says DTS-ES DVD's will be appearing soon. Are new DVD players going to be needed? Or will current DTS DVD players coupled with a DTS-ES capable reciever be enough?


Sorry for so many questions in a single post http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif

 

[kurros]

Hmm, I find it hard to believe that noone here has an opinion on my post. http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/confused.gif

 

[Dave McRoy]

Kurros,


I would agree with Dolby Labs' recommendation of using identical speakers all around if possible. That's the way Dolby Digital was designed to work and you give up nothing, in my opinion, in using such a setup for Pro-Logic. I'm not familiar enough with 6.1, 7.1, DD-EX, dts ES, etc. to offer advice. Anybody out there experienced with that stuff?


-Dave


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HiDefDave

 

[Dave McRoy]

I have always been of the opinion that the optimum subwoofer crossover frequency is somewhere around 50Hz or so (this assumes that at least your main left and right front speakers can be operated full-range and can make 40 or 50Hz and that your processor's bass-management scheme will let you do this in the first place!) Here's why: as a broadcast TV sound guy I'm keenly tuned-in to the sound of human voices. Since the crossover filters are usually 6- 12- or 18dB per octave, part of voice frequency fundementals (especially male voices, and assuming that they were EQ'd for a natural, wideband sound and not subjected to excessive bass roll-off, as is too often the case in Hollywood) are going to end up being reproduced at least in part by the subwoofer if you're crossing over at, say 100Hz. And if there's anything my brain can't deal with it's disembodied vocal fundementals rumbling forth from a subwoofer!


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HiDefDave

 

[clopez]

Dave,

I was only trying to explain that the lower frequency under the selected crossover frequency will be sent to the subwoofer. Depending on what reciever or pramp he has (The Marantz AV-550 is set at 100HZ internally and cannot be changed (when set to SMALL)) he might be surprise how high the cross over is set.

 

[clopez]

Hi,

The reason why they recommend the have the same 5 speakers is


a) all the speakers should be full range (20Hz to 20KHz) speakers

b) They would have the same tonality (sound the same)


Most processors will allow you to set the cross-over to say 100Hz and send the remaining frequencies to the subwoofer. That allows you to have speakers that are not full range, thus leaving only tonality.

It is important the speakers sound the same so as a scene move from left to right there is no degradation in sound when it come to the center channel (90% of the sound comes out of the center channel, watch Matrix without the center channel. It is pretty much silent in some scenes.


You will find that personal taste comes in when it comes to choosing speakers, so I would go to a store that allows you to do in-home demos and try out different center and surround speakers.