Dipoles,Bipoles and Monopoles..

[Goat1]

I'm looking to figure out which surround is best. If you go dipole,do you need 7.1 at all? My room is 25L X 10W X 8H. I don't really do any multichannel music,only 2 channel. I've searched and read anything I could find on the subject,but I would more than welcome opinions on the subject.. Thank you..

 

[j_garcia]

Not sure what you are asking? The speakers are configured that way to give you a diffused sound, not replace other speakers. You can use bi/dipoles in 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1. I personally prefer monopole surrounds.

 

[fuzz092888]

I agree with j. The question seems a bit unclear. Are you asking about using two bipole/dipole speakers instead of monopoles and if doing so will make it so you don't need the whole 5 or 7 channel setup?

 

[Goat1]

I'm doing 7.1 right now. Martin logan EM ESL's ,ML C2 for center,def tech sr 8040's for sides and ML motion 4's for rears. I'm wondering if I should use dipoles on the sides or add motion 4's to the sides?

 

[j_garcia]

You can do bi/dipole for sides an monopoles for rears, but it kind of depends on your seating and where you plan to mount. If you sit right up against the wall, I wouldn't even do 7.1. If you have room behind you then you could go with either monopoles or dipoles out back and dipoles on the sides.

 

[Goat1]

I have about 8-9 ft behind me. So you think I should go Dipoles all around?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I don't need 7.1 at all and my speakers are mono-pole, not bipole or dipole or any-pole.

I wouldn't waste any money on dipole/bipole.

 

[Grador]

I have about 8-9 ft behind me. So you think I should go Dipoles all around?

With no empirical testing, I would say I just don't like the idea of dipole rears. The radiating pattern of dipole just doesn't seem to be optimal for a speaker behind you.

On the other hand for the surrounds dioles will give you greater coverage and a more diffuse sound which is likely advantageous. I have heard monopole, dipole, and bipole surrounds but all of the setups were so different that I couldn't really draw any conclusions.

 

[Goat1]

That is part of it also,the rooms.. grrr

 

[j_garcia]

Monopole rears, dipole sides or monopoles all around. Heck, I went back to 5.1 and I have about 5 ft behind me. Still sounds great

 

[Goat1]

I'm just not sure if I would lose rear coverage with monopoles,meaning if I had them on the sides in 5.1. I'd have to buy another set of motion 4's do to 7.1.

 

[psbfan9]

It's my understanding that dipoles are to be used as sides and not rears. The speaker is built to have the sound bounce off the walls giving a fuller, theater type experience. So if you use dipoles as sides, you wouldn't need to do 7.1. 5.1 with dipoles would give the same affect.

 

[j_garcia]

It's my understanding that dipoles are to be used as sides and not rears. The speaker is built to have the sound bounce off the walls giving a fuller, theater type experience. So if you use dipoles as sides, you wouldn't need to do 7.1. 5.1 with dipoles would give the same affect.

Not exactly. The sound in a true 7.1 track is discrete, so it would be different than what comes from using 4 surrounds instead of 2. Having said that, the cost usually outweighs the real world benefits in a home setup to my ears. I've heard a $150K+ setup with dipoles and the surrounds really didn't blow me away. The mains DID (Aerials ) but the surrounds didn't add something that made me think to myself "I want that".

 

[Goat1]

jgarcia what are you saying then? You like monopoles?

 

[Grador]

jgarcia what are you saying then? You like monopoles?

I believe he has directly stated that a few times, yes.

 

[Goat1]

My bad,I should have probably read up. I see guys on other forums push dipoles like no tomorrow,that's why I'm curious..

 

[afterlife2]

I had a pair of dipoles and loved them. They did not survive the storm. I used them as my surrounds. I'd like to get another pair. I never tried these but they are well liked: Amazon.com: Fluance AVBP2 Home Theater Bipolar Surround Sound Satellite Speakers: Electronics

Good article on the subject: http://www.hometheater.com/content/face-surround-speaker-configuration-wars

 

[Grador]

The way I see it, monopoles are always a good option, no matter the room. Dipoles may yield better surround effects if the room is well laid out for them, but could be pretty mediocre otherwise.

 

[Goat1]

I saw those,I was looking at these also..
HTD Level THREE Surround

Afterlife,those are bipole,not dipole..

 

[afterlife2]

Doh sorry I thought they were. That looks like a good choice. Some members like that company. I did have the Wharfedale dipole speakers: