Dipole Question?

[Cantstandya]

I recently bought 5.1 Energy system - RC-70's, a RC-LCR, RC-R's and an S10.3. Now the question is about the dipoles, I've never owned any also I have never set any up before. Now I read this article (bobgolds.com/DipoleSurrounds/home.htm) tonight and I'm wonder how to set them up now. In the article it says they are usually labeled left or right, well the RC-R's aren't. Should I do what the diagram shows and reverse the speaker wire on the left rear speaker so it keeps them in phase?

 

[MDS]

Diploles have two separate drivers that fire out of phase (as opposed to bipoles that have two drivers but fire each in phase).

You should not reverse the wiring in any cirumstance. They should be wired positive to positive and negative to negative like a normal monopole speaker. The speaker itself takes care of the phase relationship. Just make sure the 'null' of the dipole is pointed at your ears.

 

[nova]

Usually Bi-Di pole speakers are supposed to be oriented a certain direction dictated by screen placement. The Energy RC-R is a bit odd as far as Bi-Di's go. I'm thinking that since it is only the 2 2" mids that are going to operate in a Bi-Di mode that speaker orientation toward the screen really does not matter. Of course I could be wrong

Most Bi-Di's are set up with 2 opposing tweeters and two opposing woofers (or mid woofers)

 

[Dolby CP-200]

You can take four monopole loudspeakers and attach them to the sidewalls one facing forwards the other facing towards the back. Reverse the polarity of one loudspeaker and bingo you’ve got yourself a dipolar.

 

[Cantstandya]

I'm getting conflicting ideas on multiple forums. So I wrote to energy to see what they say about it? I guess going to the source is the best method. But thanks for everyones post.

 

[AVRat]

Generally, di-poles do have some sort of directionality marking on the speaker. It seems odd that the Energys don't, since the phasing would be wired the same for each speaker. This would lend to the speaker firing in opposite directions to its counterpart. IOW, one firing forward, the other rearward. Maybe ENERGY thinks it doesn't matter the way they've designed the speaker.

 

[MDS]

I'm getting conflicting ideas on multiple forums.

What conflicting information?

It's simple. If the speakers are mounted to your sides, the null of the speaker must face your ears. The null is the flat portion that has no drivers and one driver fires forward while the other fires backward.

If they are mounted behind the listening position, the null is aimed at the back of your head and the drivers fire to the left and right.

Under no cirumstance shoud you wire them out of phase.

Edit: By the way, the diagram at the bottom of the bobgold link is incorrect. The arrows show both drivers firing in the same direction and they do not.

 

[nova]

The speakers he has DO NOT have a null. The tweeter and woofer fire forward, and the two mids fire to opposite sides. Not a conventional Bi-Di speaker.

 

[MDS]

Uh, if the drivers are on opposing sides then the space between them is the null.

 

[nova]

Only the mids are on opposing sides, the woofer and tweeter are in the place where a null normally would be.

 

[Sheep]

You guys really need to study the speaker before you comment, you can adjust it so both the side and front divers play, or one or the other.

There should be a placement diagram in the manual, I would use that for setting them up, then play around with the speaker settings until you find what you like.

SheepStar

 

[MDS]

You guys really need to study the speaker before you comment, you can adjust it so both the side and front divers play, or one or the other.

There should be a placement diagram in the manual, I would use that for setting them up, then play around with the speaker settings until you find what you like.

SheepStar

Gee Sheep I guess everyone should know the model numbers of every speaker ever made OR here's an idea: the original poster can post a picture of the speaker in question rather than using terminology that implies a specific arrangement that we later find out is not the case.

Regardless, I will reiterate - under no circumstance should the speakers be intentionally wired out of phase.

 

[Sheep]

Gee Sheep I guess everyone should know the model numbers of every speaker ever made OR here's an idea: the original poster can post a picture of the speaker in question rather than using terminology that implies a specific arrangement that we later find out is not the case.

Regardless, I will reiterate - under no circumstance should the speakers be intentionally wired out of phase.

What? A model number isn't enough? I mean, I know they need to tell you what speaker it is, but a picture isn't going to explain all of its features. When I help someone out, I research the speaker before I comment, how can you help if you don't know what you're dealing with?

SheepStar

 

[MDS]

What? A model number isn't enough? I mean, I know they need to tell you what speaker it is, but a picture isn't going to explain all of its features. When I help someone out, I research the speaker before I comment, how can you help if you don't know what you're dealing with?

SheepStar

How can I comment without reading about one specific speaker? Simple - I understand the concepts and many times the exact implementation behind all of the technology.

Great, you looked up the exact speaker and said it can be set to play one, the other, or both sides. Now how does that address the question of which one is left vs right or whether you should intentionally wire them out of phase? It doesn't.

So what I've said so far is spot on. The driver on the front baffle which is typically the NULL on a real dipole faces your ears or is directly behind you and you should not wire them out of phase. Didn't need a picture of the speaker to answer a simple question.