Is It Okay To Have Six Bookshelf Speakers In A 7.1 Setup?

[Hellfire94]

Hello everyone. I'm planning to have a 7.1 surround sound setup by next month and I've already bought the Onkyo TX-NR555 av receiver, Wharfedale Diamond 220C center channel speaker and two pairs of Wharfedale Diamond 220 bookshelf speakers. I will get a subwoofer by next week. Now the thing is that I wanted to get the Wharfedale Diamond 230 floor standing speakers as my front left and right speakers but they cost $1000 a pair and it's out of my budget. I was thinking of buying another pair of the 220 bookshelf speakers and set them up as my front left and right speakers since they cost $400 and are within my budget. Will it be fine to have six bookshelf speakers in a 7.1 setup?

 

[tyhjaarpa]

Yes it will when you have a subwoofer. I personally would go for dual subs tho.

 

[j_garcia]

I'd say it is closer to ideal. I actually prefer it that way.

 

[Hellfire94]

Thanks for your help guys. I appreciate it. I do wish that there were other speaker brands like Klipsch, JBL, SVS, Bowers & Wilkins, Dali, GoldenEar Technology, Elac and Polk Audio available here in Fiji. We only have Wharfedale, Quad and Mission speakers available unfortunately.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

What jgarcia said. I have a 5.1 system with bookshelf speakers all around. Big full-range front L/R speakers seem senseless to me since you’re going to send all the lows to the subs anyway.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[MR.MAGOO]

My listening / viewing area is small so I went with all bookshelf and 2 subs.

 

[sterling shoote]

I too think you will a satisfying experience using the bookshelf speaker for front left/right since you are incorporating a subwoofer. I'd say the only downside would be when listening to two channel music, unless you can use the sub in that configuration too, then you may not feel a need for floor standing fronts at all.

 

[lovinthehd]

Why only 6 speakers, going with a phantom center or a single back surround?

 

[j_garcia]

6 identical speakers. Can't usually buy a 7th. My front stage used to be 3 identical MTMs.

 

[lovinthehd]

6 identical speakers. Can't usually buy a 7th. My front stage used to be 3 identical MTMs.

Gotcha forgot some are pairs only....

 

[sterling shoote]

The OP stated, not being able to afford floor standing fronts, would bookshelf speakers, of the sort he is using as surrounds in his system, be pleasing as mains.

 

[2channel lover]

The OP stated, not being able to afford floor standing fronts, would bookshelf speakers, of the sort he is using as surrounds in his system, be pleasing as mains.

I'm not familiar with the speakers he has, so on that end I can't comment. Generally speaking for HT I think 7.1 is fine with a decent sub with all surround level speakers.

I will say...once you've been exposed to higher quality, you start to crave it.