bookshelf or multidirectional surrounds?

[soundsfine]

I don't think I've seen this discussed anywhere...

Aside from WAF, what are the tradeoffs between using a set of bookshelf speakers as surrounds or using a pair of those multidirectional on-wall surrounds?


-

 

[jcPanny]

Direct radiator vs. bipole / dipole

The multidirectional speakers (bipole, dipole, etc.) tend to widen the rear sound stage by dispersing the surround sound effect in multiple directions. This is preferred for HT, especially with a large seating area.

The bookshelf speakers (direct radiator) work well when directly pointed at the listener and are also preferred for music. If you typically have a couple people watching the movie, then either option will work fine.

 

[j_garcia]

It has been discussed numerous times

Monopole speakers as surrounds works great, and is the preferred method for me personally, especially if your room does not allow the correct placement of bi/dipole surrounds. I like the more localized sound of a monopole. Bi/Dipoles give you a more "ambient" surround effect that is less directional. Monopoles do not, and in most cases should not be pointed directly at the listener, in particular if they are fairly close to the listening position. You can achieve a similar diffused surround effect with a little experimentation with the orientation of monopole surrounds. It varies depending on what you are listening to, as well as your specific room/setup, how effective each will be.

 

[Tex-amp]

Di/bi-poles were part of the original THX standards when the surround effect was strictly created by the processor and the diffuse sound from them helped with the illusion. Now sound tracks are recorded in 5.1 with sound engineers intending certain sounds to eminate from a particular location and di/bi-poles are no longer a THX standard. It comes down to personal preference. I like direct firing others prefer the diffusion. Listen to both and pick what you prefer.

If you have multiple rows of seating I see advantages to the di/bi-poles.

 

[Sheep]

bah

Get a switchable mono/bi/di speaker. This way you can run mono, or both, or bi. Its the best way to do it.

This is an example

http://www.energy-speakers.com/v2/products/product-page.php?id=14#

Sheep

 

[Tomorrow]

bah

Get a switchable mono/bi/di speaker. This way you can run mono, or both, or bi. Its the best way to do it.

This is an example

http://www.energy-speakers.com/v2/products/product-page.php?id=14#

Sheep

Hey, thanks, Sheep. I've been looking for just the right back surround. Maybe this one.....hmmm

 

[soundsfine]

Since I dont think there are bipoles that match BIC DV62, could I pair BIC mains and a BIC center with something like the Fluance AV-BP2 surrounds and hope to get anything that sounded good?

 

[Audioholics]

Di/bi-poles were part of the original THX standards when the surround effect was strictly created by the processor and the diffuse sound from them helped with the illusion. Now sound tracks are recorded in 5.1 with sound engineers intending certain sounds to eminate from a particular location and di/bi-poles are no longer a THX standard.

Actually, that is absolutely false. Dipoles are intended to recreate the large theater surround experience of an array of speakers. They are especially helpful in smaller rooms and are still part of THX recommended practices for side surrounds. In somewhat larger rooms bipoles could be utilized to cover a wider amount of area while still not supplying direct radiating sound to the listening position. THX does not recommend that the surrounds be easily localizable - that is not the intent of the mix engineer, so directly pointing surround speakers at the listening position is about the worst thing you can do in their opionion.

Dipoles are great in that you pojnt the "null" of the speaker to the listening position and benefit form having a wide, dispersed sound field that does a fair job of mimicing the surround array in a larger room. Side Surrounds are not designed to be point source or play highly localized sounds for movie content.

Games, however, want point sources, which is why there are Games processing modes and particular speaker placement configurations that provide options for that.

Just trying to clarify some things...

 

[Sheep]

Hey, thanks, Sheep. I've been looking for just the right back surround. Maybe this one.....hmmm

Start saving, that speaker ain't cheap
All energy's lines of box loudspeakers have that feature

Ref. C
C
Veritas i

Sheep