5.1 Surround Sound - What do you think?

[lsiberian]

OK, I'll ask the dumb question: What's "phantom the center" mean. Do you mean hiding the center speaker behind a screen or something? I was thinking of painting it to match the surrounding stonework as best I could.

In your situation I suggest it. Because of the resistance to an actual center.

 

[Bushka]

In your situation I suggest it. Because of the resistance to an actual center.

That was my next question. Do you lose a lot by going with the phantom idea? I mean, we are already giving up something by going with 4 ceiling speakers, so will it really matter if we go phantom vs center speaker? Just so I understand, when the "normal" TV is on, such as a sit com or news program, is the center speaker the only one that is normally producing sound? So in the phantom case the 2 front speakers would do that job. But, what about when the 5.1 system is needed for a movie? How are the front speakers able to mimic whatever the center speaker does during a movie, when they themselves are supposed to be generating whatever signal they normally do when a center speaker is in place? Hope that makes sense.

And I am following up on all the speaker/sub suggestions people have made, so thank each of you for taking the time to make the recommendation.

 

[Bushka]

Hi all. I'm hoping to resurrect this thread as I'm now ready to start buying stuff. Based on what I learned in this thread, I called SpeakerCraft and had two conversations with their technical people, who are very, very nice. Just to recap my requirements, everything has to be ceiling mounted as this room doubles as a living room, and visible speakers just aren't in the cards. SpeakerCraft recommends five AIM7 Three series speakers - 2 front, 2 rear and 1 center channel in the ceiling. They tell me that while having a center channel at ear level is optimum, that I will be losing very little in quality by going with the ceiling mounted center channel. We're sitting about 15' away from the 55" TV with 9' high ceilings. They assure me the ceiling center channel will work great as the speaker can be aimed. Of course they are selling these systems, but I tend to think it will work out OK. I'm not looking for recording studio quality sound, just something that doesn't make me say, "Wow, what a picture, too bad the sound sucks."

I do have an issue with the subwoofer. SpeakerCraft makes one, but they do not recommend putting it in a closed cabinet. My cabinets will not have speaker cloth - they will be solid wood doors, so I'm at a loss at the moment. Their sub is forward firing. I thought of directing the sub upward out of the top of the cabinet (leave an opening on the top), but he didn't like the idea of putting the sub on its side, plus bouncing off the ceiling may not be ideal?

So, I THINK I'm set on the speakers, but need to figure out the subwoofer, and then choose a receiver. Also (there's always more) I have to see if I can convert my cable box with IR remote to work with a RF remote. Verizon says no, but maybe there is still a way.

Any comments are greatly appreciated!

 

[TriMe]

Just a quick suggestion, the reason everyone is trying to encourage you to steer clear of in-ceiling speakers, is because you lose the real "surround" effect. There is a compromise, especially because your room is large enough. Consider Angled Speakers..they point towards the listening area, rather than straight down. Sound is directional...so when you put in ceiling speakers that aren't angled in a surround sound set up..it's difficult, you can't put them too close to the walls around the outside of the room and you don't want them too close towards the center of the room, because, well you no longer have 'surround"...

hope this helps you find common ground with the wife

 

[Bushka]

TriMe - The AIM series are directional. Both the woofer and tweeter can be directed independently. My problem is more with the subwoofer. I think I need to start a new thread on just that issue.

Thanks!