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Surround EX Experience (1 or 2 Surround Back?)

397 Views 8 Replies 7 Participants Last post by eaadams, Sep 15, 2000

Keith AP

Discussion Starter · Sep 11, 2000

For those of you that have surround back speaker(s) - any comments on the 1 -v- 2 speakers issue?

In my room configuration, I may not be able to achieve two speakers in the back. I can, however, place a single center no problem. I plan on a single B&W DS6 (dipolar) to match up with my other surrounds - and I'm running a Denon 4800.

I naturally assume 2 speakers is an optimum setup - but will I achieve similar surround involvement with a single rear?

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jackson

· #2 · Sep 11, 2000

Keith,

I've got the Denon AVR4800 in my HT room and ran into a dilema with speaker placement until I decided on the Speakercraft Aim series in-ceiling/wall speaker ( www.speakercraft.com ). I planted TWO behind the seating area,,viola!! Works well for EX material and 5.1, stereo. Just seems to add depth and dimension to all soundtracks. I was suprised at how well made the Aim 1's are, and how seemless they blend with my Von Schweikert HT speakers. Dos Keith, and if space is a problem look upward for your solution.

Jack

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Stacy Huff

· #3 · Sep 12, 2000

The first time I heard an EX setup it was using two center back channel speakers. I always assumed that when I set up a similar system for myself that I too would use two center back speakers. On Friday I got a new Sherbourn 5-channel amp to power my DSP-A1, and my Smart Devices CS-3X, Jr. arrived a few days before. I got everything wired up late Friday night. The Sherbourn is powering the three front speakers and the two surrounds. The DSP-A1 is powering the two front effects speakers and, at this point, my one center back channel. I had a Definitive Technology C1 center channel speaker that had been retired, so I put it back in the game and have it on a stand on the back wall about 8 feet directly behind my listening position. I've watched a few scenes from various titles, including the Episode 1 LD. All I can say is that the CS-3X, Jr. does its job well, and the one center back channel sounds fine to me. In fact, it sounds good enough that I'm not sure that I'll use two speakers after all. I probably will eventually because I want to get powered towers for my fronts, which means my current BP10s will move rearward, but the one center channel in the back sounds good enough that I'm in no great hurry to change things.

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Walter

· #4 · Sep 13, 2000

There's a complete comparison between dipole / monopole sides and dipole / monopole rear speakers at this site:
www.hometheatermag.com/showarchives.cgi?25

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WynsWrld98

· #5 · Sep 13, 2000

I think the answer to one or two rear center speakers is dictated by how large the room is. On a 12' wall, one rear center should be sufficient but on a 20' or 30' wall, definitely two rear center speakers are in order.

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Buzz Goddard

· #6 · Sep 14, 2000

If you want to correctly reproduce 5.1 music in your room, you need two rear speakers. Thee seems to be a great deal of conformity in speaker placement amongst multi-channel music mixers. The surrounds (and there are of course 2) are behind the listener.

If it is strictly a video system, then dipole sides and a single rear can work, but for music and video, 7 channels is the way to go.

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Buzz Goddard

TAG MCLAren Audio
www.tagmclarenaudio.com

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Keith AP

Discussion Starter · #7 · Sep 15, 2000

Thanks for the all the comments. I did reread the HT article (I had forgotten all about that issue). It appears I will have to experiment with different one/two speaker combos. I'm hoping I can achieve the satisfaction Stacy has - but with a single rear dipole.

I have not yet discovered the virtues of 5.1 music. Perhaps I'm a die hard - but from what I've heard - stereo still sounds better to me. This may be due, however, to playback on a theater-based configuration using dipole surrounds.

Buzz, you mention 7 speakers is needed for video and music use. I agree. But do you think you can possibly achieve satisfactory music results using two rear dipoles primarily placed for video use?

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Buzz Goddard

· #8 · Sep 15, 2000

Satisfactory? Well, sure. Optimal, no. Better then stereo, you bet.

Stereo is not magical, mystical, holy nor correct. It is an artifact of technological evolution. Research back in the 30's concluded we need many more then one or two speakers to reproduce a sonic event. We ended up with two speaker stereo because of the limitations of technology. We've become accustomed to it. But ask anyone involved in multi-channel music recording and reproduction. It is liberating, not trying to stuff a three dimensional (well, 4 dimensional <g> ) experience into a frontal plane created by two speakers. Having overcome my learned appreciation for the artifacts of two channel, I find precious few recordings that sound right in two channel (invariably duets).

Sorry, got me going.

Sure, use dipoles, great compromise if the speakers are too near you or you are primarily interested in movie sound.

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Buzz Goddard

TAG MCLAren Audio
www.tagmclarenaudio.com

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eaadams

· #9 · Sep 15, 2000

Depends on the material you are watching.

I bet you are thinking about the outlaw witch has 1 rear center while others have 2. is that it? well is it?

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Evan Adams

[email protected]

[This message has been edited by eaadams (edited 09-15-2000).]

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