Timbre match surrounds

[GuitarPicker]

My main front's are B&W 603 and a HTM6 center channel. I'm wanting to upgrade my surround backs. My surrounds are Bose 601 tower speaker but my surround backs are Bose 161. Should I go with B&W or what would you recommend? I need to be able to mount these to a wall. I was thinking about SVS elevation speakers.

 

[ryanosaur]

You do not really need to match your surrounds or Atmos speakers. The front 3 are the main ones to worry about matching. If you are really into 5.1 Music programming, then maybe include the Surrounds.

 

[Verdinut]

You do not really need to match your surrounds or Atmos speakers. The front 3 are the main ones to worry about matching. If you are really into 5.1 Music programming, then maybe include the Surrounds.

Even then, it's not necessary to use the same brand for surround left and right channels.

 

[ryanosaur]

Hence the phrase:

then maybe....

 

[mazersteven]

Matching is what Awesome H/T Experiences are made of. But if you want to do things half way. We understand

 

[Verdinut]

Matching is what Awesome H/T Experiences are made of. But if you want to do things half way. We understand

Perfect matching was originally recommended for a 5 channel surround system when the SACD disc format was released in the early 1980's.

 

[mazersteven]

Are you saying Speakers with the same drivers from the same series in a 5 or 7 system isn't preferred for a Seamless H/T Experience

I understand its not as critical as your L/C/R.

 

[KenM10759]

I have ZERO regrets about getting all matching brand and model series for surrounds and Atmos-enabled speakers. The additional expense was quickly forgotten.

 

[lovinthehd]

While I do like to have surrounds being at least in the same family or sharing tweeters, that's mostly for multich music where I think it helps out a bit....for movies/tv it doesn't matter as much to me. Personally I'd simply start over with the speakers as neither the B&W or Bose appeals....

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

My main front's are B&W 603 and a HTM6 center channel. I'm wanting to upgrade my surround backs. My surrounds are Bose 601 tower speaker but my surround backs are Bose 161. Should I go with B&W or what would you recommend? I need to be able to mount these to a wall. I was thinking about SVS elevation speakers.

If you’re only interested in upgrading the rear surrounds, maybe you can do a twofer and move the sides to the back, and upgrade the sides. The rears are far less important, but to recommend AGAINST matching is fukkin dumm. Sure, the LCR are most important but I agree with @mazersteven.
I’ve had Frankenstein systems and sure, they make noise, but having matched, or at least speakers from the same line makes for a much more wholistic experience. It’s not “the front of the room” and “the back of the room”. It’s a SYSTEM!!!!’
FWIW, I’d throw all the Blose in the garbage and replace all 4 if you could. Otherwise, move the sides back, and replace the sides. There are plenty of wall mount options.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Perfect matching was originally recommended for a 5 channel surround system when the SACD disc format was released in the early 1980's.

And it’s still a good recommendation.

 

[ryanosaur]

Just to be clear... I am all for Timbre Matching. I did surround myself with Raals from Dennis, and very well matched 3-ways for the main 5. part of the rig.
My main focus is also 5.1 music over HT. And some DTS 5.1 programming doesn't use a front center, rather a Rear Center which gets parsed to the Rear Surrounds.

All of this is to say that I clearly value matching it up...

But the reality is that you can choose not to. More than anything, I think trying to get a close match is important for those other channels... and I do know of some other Philharmonic and Salk owners that swear by NHT...

 

[mazersteven]

Dennis, Dennis, Dennis

LOL

 

[lovinthehd]

View attachment 40741

LOL

So what does the meatball recommend?

 

[GuitarPicker]

While I do like to have surrounds being at least in the same family or sharing tweeters, that's mostly for multich music where I think it helps out a bit....for movies/tv it doesn't matter as much to me. Personally I'd simply start over with the speakers as neither the B&W or Bose appeals....

Ouch, that was a little below the belt.The Bose are around 20yrs old and when I bought them they were really great speakers. A lot has changed over the last 20yrs with the output that AVR's can reproduce, back then virtual surround was as about as good as it got. I have 2 Bose PA systems that sound better than anything else I ever heard. As far as the B&W I still stand behind that decision 100% at the price point these were purchased. I demoed these in a store up against some really good competitors and went in not knowing exactly which speaker I wanted. That is exactly why I drove 2hrs just to demo some speakers. Hands down the B&W sounded better.."to me".. and to my wife. My HT really sounds excellent, I just want to upgrade the rear surrounds to a better quality speaker.

While I do like to have surrounds being at least in the same family or sharing tweeters, that's mostly for multich music where I think it helps out a bit....for movies/tv it doesn't matter as much to me. Personally I'd simply start over with the speakers as neither the B&W or Bose appeals....

 

[GuitarPicker]

If you’re only interested in upgrading the rear surrounds, maybe you can do a twofer and move the sides to the back, and upgrade the sides. The rears are far less important, but to recommend AGAINST matching is fukkin dumm. Sure, the LCR are most important but I agree with @mazersteven.
I’ve had Frankenstein systems and sure, they make noise, but having matched, or at least speakers from the same line makes for a much more wholistic experience. It’s not “the front of the room” and “the back of the room”. It’s a SYSTEM!!!!’
FWIW, I’d throw all the Blose in the garbage and replace all 4 if you could. Otherwise, move the sides back, and replace the sides. There are plenty of wall mount options.

So let's bash Bose and B&W. That's helpful. I am sticking within a budget that I have set for myself and aside from what I can afford. I come here looking for help but seems some have to be critical for owning Bose and B&W. I might feel the same way about some of the junk you own but I would probably have more class in my little finger.

 

[lovinthehd]

Ouch, that was a little below the belt.The Bose are around 20yrs old and when I bought them they were really great speakers. A lot has changed over the last 20yrs with the output that AVR's can reproduce, back then virtual surround was as about as good as it got. I have 2 Bose PA systems that sound better than anything else I ever heard. As far as the B&W I still stand behind that decision 100% at the price point these were purchased. I demoed these in a store up against some really good competitors and went in not knowing exactly which speaker I wanted. That is exactly why I drove 2hrs just to demo some speakers. Hands down the B&W sounded better.."to me".. and to my wife. My HT really sounds excellent, I just want to upgrade the rear surrounds to a better quality speaker.

Speakers are personal. You may not like the same speakers I do and vice versa. I remember when 901s were the rage and heard a few back in the day that were well setup and then Bose fell off my radar. I did have a friend who convinced me to pickup an early Acoustimass set as he was outfitting a bar with Bose pro gear and we could get them at a good discount as a side deal....I got rid of those fairly quickly (but my friend I sold them to uses them to this day). The bar sounded great but I was only looking at traditional home stuff back then (or I might have gone that direction). I've not heard a lot of B&W but some of the 6 series a few years back and they just didn't do it for me. May work great for you

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

So let's bash Bose and B&W. That's helpful. I am sticking within a budget that I have set for myself and aside from what I can afford. I come here looking for help but seems some have to be critical for owning Bose and B&W. I might feel the same way about some of the junk you own but I would probably have more class in my little finger.

Ok fair enough. I didn’t mention B&W, but was definitely rude in saying to toss the Bose in the garbage. It was a rough few days.
For that I apologize.
I did still recommend simply moving the Bose to the rear, and upgrading the sides. Rear surrounds Ime don’t contribute greatly, (although I’d never get rid of mine) and imo putting money into side surrounds makes more sense.
To answer your question I would use B&W’s as long as you like the sound. BUT, I’d put them to the sides, as most of the sound field will be from there forward.

 

[GuitarPicker]

No worries William. I guess I'm just frustrated and expecting something that might even can't be reproduced in a surround sound system. As far as the Bose I agree they are way pass there time and there are so much better sounding speakers than the 601's. I've recently thought about replacing the Bose with B&W 606 bookshelves but I'm not sure if that would be any improvement and worth the investment. I moved the BOSE 161 and mounted them on the ceiling above the seating area and aimed them toward the listening area which was an improvement. I still feel like I'm not getting but about 75 to 80% efficiency while watching a dolby atmos movie. It sounds good but I'm not hearing the sound move around me as good as I think it should be. The Bose 601 have tweeters below the midrange and the point at a 45 degree angle which I believe would sound better with speakers with the tweeter pointing at ear level?

 

[GuitarPicker]

Speakers are personal. You may not like the same speakers I do and vice versa. I remember when 901s were the rage and heard a few back in the day that were well setup and then Bose fell off my radar. I did have a friend who convinced me to pickup an early Acoustimass set as he was outfitting a bar with Bose pro gear and we could get them at a good discount as a side deal....I got rid of those fairly quickly (but my friend I sold them to uses them to this day). The bar sounded great but I was only looking at traditional home stuff back then (or I might have gone that direction). I've not heard a lot of B&W but some of the 6 series a few years back and they just didn't do it for me. May work great for you

Understand. I totally respect your opinion and you have been very helpful in my quest for audio blissfulness. Looking back I should have got more opinions in this forum for the best speakers in the $2000 price range for the pair. I'm sure they are other options that have a better overall sound.