Bi Pole speakers?

[SangYuP]

Hi, I'm fairly new to this and I am planning on getting the Athen AS-F2 for front L/R and AS-C1 for center and AS-B2 for my surrounds.

I recently purchased the ONKYO TX-SR502b 6.1 receiver and I am planning on getting an extra speaker for the 6.1. My question is, what are bi-pole speakers for. Should I get the Athena AS-R1 for my rear surround speaker or should I just get another AS-B2 for my rear surround? Please tell me which set would be best for my surround speakers in the back. Thanks.

 

[Doug917]

I use Definitive Technology bipolar BP2X speakers for my suround and suround back channels (a total of four speakers.) It's a matter of taste. I feel with the bipoliar speakers firing in two different directions gives me a more coherent sound field. I'd say listen to each (direct radiating or bipolar) if you can and see which one you like best.

 

[Tex-amp]

The original THX standards included bi-poles. Back when surround came on the scene, in the Pro-Logic days, the effect was completely from the processor and bi-boles helped create the surround illuision. Now movies are recorded in 5.1 with sound engineers intending a sound to eminate from a particular spot/speaker and hence THX has dropped bi-poles from the standard. So, now bi-pole or direct radiating is completely a matter of personal preference.

 

[krzywica]

Hi, I'm fairly new to this and I am planning on getting the Athen AS-F2 for front L/R and AS-C1 for center and AS-B2 for my surrounds.

I recently purchased the ONKYO TX-SR502b 6.1 receiver and I am planning on getting an extra speaker for the 6.1. My question is, what are bi-pole speakers for. Should I get the Athena AS-R1 for my rear surround speaker or should I just get another AS-B2 for my rear surround? Please tell me which set would be best for my surround speakers in the back. Thanks.

I have almost the exact same setup with the exception of my l/r surrounds which are b1's. I have an r1 and I love it. Think of it this way, would you get more of the sound pointing straight at the back of your head (like with adirectional b2), or would you get more if the highs came off the sides, hit the walls and came back into your ears? Thats the way I look at it, because thats the way it sounds to me. It just seems less effective if you have a speaker pointing at the back of your head.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I have the Polk FXi3's

www.polkaudio.com/home/products.php?category=6&speaker=355

that have a switch on the rear for bi-pole or di-pole operation. I have them mounted on the side walls about ear level (sitting down). My family room and kitchen/dining area are basically the same room, so I get the rear facing sound when we are in the kitchen which is nice. I have them switched to di pole for HT. Here's a great article describing the different types...

www.smr-home-theatre.org/Types/Loudspeaker-Types.html