Extra speakers yes or no?

[bruin62]

quick question on my marantz SR5008 receiver I can add extra front speakers on the wall above my front towers do you think this will add to my 7.2 setup? Or is it something I won't even notice? It is a really big room. Thanks for any help

 

[witchdoctor]

I think you'll notice a more enveloping sound-field when listening in multi channel mode (not stereo). I use an extra pair of speakers as wide channels and the sound field is much harder to localize as coming from the speakers. You can get a good deal on Cambridge Audio Minx 11 or 21 speakers (vey small) with optional mounting brackets, they are about 40% off right now.
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Wyqz2PB8Hvi/p_779MINX21B/Cambridge-Audio-Minx-Min-21-Black.html

 

[fuzz092888]

Since those aren't discrete channels the benefits can be hit or miss at best. Personally I think matrixed sound works better when up mixing from a 5.1 mix to a standard 7.1 configuration, rather than matrixing from a 5.1 to a 7.1 with heights or wides. I would save the money and put it towards updating the main's or adding side surrounds before the front wides or heights.

 

[witchdoctor]

FYI
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/audyssey-dsx-new-approach-multichannel-audio

 

[fuzz092888]

FYI
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/audyssey-dsx-new-approach-multichannel-audio

I've seen the article and disagree. My own listening experiments confirm my suspicions. If your front L/R are good enough, they'll provide a big soundstage top to bottom, left to right. In almost any "regularly" sized living room a good to great pair of speakers will more than cover that real estate without any need for height or width speakers. Especially since they aren't discrete channels. While there are aren't as many 7 channel mixes as 5 channel mixes, at least with rear surrounds there is some source material for it. With height or width it's all artificial.

That being said, if you're filled out with a great 7 channel system, I'm all for adding height or width's. Or at least trying them out to see if they add anything. However, there's no way I'd add height or width channels before completing the all 7 seven channels for which there is content. I guess that's also assuming whomever is doing this already has enough subs for smooth, even, reference level bass.

 

[witchdoctor]

FYI
http://www.electronichouse.com/daily/home-theater/dolby-pro-logic-iiz-vs-audyssey-dsx-vs-dts/

 

[fuzz092888]

FYI
http://www.electronichouse.com/daily/home-theater/dolby-pro-logic-iiz-vs-audyssey-dsx-vs-dts/

What's your point?