JBL 5.1 system upgrade to 7.1

[eBay]

Hello,

I have JBL cinema 510 5.1 HT system and I want to upgrade to 7.1 by adding Fluance XL7F Floorstanding speakers but I'm not sure if this setup makes sense or not.

Please share your expertise and help me purchase the right speakers!! Thanks!!

 

[DD66000]

The obvious question to be answered is does the timber match...
Most likely not.
You need to stay with JBL or start from scratch.
I would suggest a pair of JBL 570, 580, 590.

 

[markw]

Like DD says, timbre matching is important for best sound, at least for the front three. IF you're going for the front R/L speakers, go for the matching center speaker. The surrounds are less critical, particularly for movies.

 

[herbu]

The surrounds are less critical, particularly for movies.

Right.
If you're going to use those Rear Surrounds for all-channel music, you may want some timbre matching. But for movies/TV, I don't think it matters at all. In fact, regarding the rear surrounds, I think very little matters.

The only thing you're going to get from those speakers is an occasional sound effect. Maybe the background hum of a crowd, or the closing of a door, or a creak in the floorboard, or a phone ring, or a doorbell, etc. There is so little from the rear surrounds that many audiophiles stick with 5.1. Also, there is really quite a small selection of 7.1 material out there. A few blurays. So most stuff that comes from those speakers is artificially created in your AVR from a 5.1 source.

I've had very cheap speakers for rear surrounds, and currently have $1k/each towers back there, (simply because I kept replacing my fronts and moving the old speakers back). If I was starting over, I would focus spending on the 3 front speakers and subs. I'd spend less on the side surrounds, and much less on the rear surrounds.

 

[eBay]

Hello DD, markw and herbu,

Thank you very much for your expert advice!! I really appreciated your quick feedback.

I understand that I need to consider the timbre matching for front 3 speakers. I checked the JBL website to see the timbre value of cinema 510 speakers but it doesn't mention anywhere...
Can you tell me what I should look for when I choose the timbre matching speakers?

Another question is as long as the timbre is matched, can I choose another brand like Polk or any other brand you would recommend?

 

[markw]

There is no spec that will define/describe timbre matching. It's a whole bunch of different things. Generally, the only way to assure timbre matching is to get a center from the same manufacturer and line as the mains.

 

[fmw]

There is no spec that will define/describe timbre matching. It's a whole bunch of different things. Generally, the only way to assure timbre matching is to get a center from the same manufacturer and line as the mains.

And even that doesn't often provide timbre matching. Most center channel speakers are designed to be used horizontally and will necessarily sound different from the vertically oriented main speakers. I have a 5 channel speaker system from the same series and same manufacturer. My surround speakers timbre match better than the center channel. This is actually quite common.

I don't view timbre matching as critical for center channel as some people because the huge majority of the content will be dialog. Sound effects and music coming from the center channel is not all that common. But if you want true timbre matching, use the same model speaker you used for the main pair.

 

[eBay]

And even that doesn't often provide timbre matching. Most center channel speakers are designed to be used horizontally and will necessarily sound different from the vertically oriented main speakers. I have a 5 channel speaker system from the same series and same manufacturer. My surround speakers timbre match better than the center channel. This is actually quite common.

I don't view timbre matching as critical for center channel as some people because the huge majority of the content will be dialog. Sound effects and music coming from the center channel is not all that common. But if you want true timbre matching, use the same model speaker you used for the main pair.

If I want to upgrade the current 5.1 system, which speaker I should buy, i.e. center x1, bookshelves x2, floor-standing x2?

 

[markw]

And even that doesn't often provide timbre matching.

Sometimes, vertical placement of a center speaker can be problematic, particularly with towers.

Aside from using the exact same speaker as the mains, if one uses the one made by the manufacturer of the mains to be used in conjunction with them, it's about as close as one can get.

 

[eBay]

Sometimes, vertical placement of a center speaker can be problematic, particularly with towers.

Aside from using the exact same speaker as the mains, if one uses the one made by the manufacturer of the mains to be used in conjunction with them, it's about as close as one can get.

Thank you very much markw for your comment.

I need a clarification on your comment. What does this mean?
>vertical placement of a center speaker can be problematic

I shouldn't buy any tower speaker like JBL 570? I should buy center speaker like JBL EC25 (or any other brand speaker you recommend)?

 

[markw]

Thank you very much markw for your comment.

I need a clarification on your comment. What does this mean?
>vertical placement of a center speaker can be problematic

I shouldn't buy any tower speaker like JBL 570? I should buy center speaker like JBL EC25 (or any other brand speaker you recommend)?

Towers re great for right and left mains. Many of us, including yours truly do. However, placing a tower under my TV would be awkward, what with the receiver, Blu-ray player and such under it on a stand. Plus, to raise the TV above the height of the tower would cause the TV to be at an uncomfortable viewing angle.

So, to keep things manageable in a living environment, I bought the recommended, matching center, which is horizontal, to my mains, and placed it comfortably under my TV.

What is "the best" in theory doesn't always cut it in real life situations.