Dolby PLIIx width front height speakers

[brewmaster]

I have a Yamaha HTR 5063 which has Dolby Pro logic IIx NOT the newer PLIIz

I just bought a new surround speaker package Polk audio RM87 but with my couch must be against the back wall putting the rear surrounds on the wall would put them within a couple feet of my head. I figured it would be just to much sound in the rear so I plan on only using 2 rear speakers, 5.1 system..

As looking at my new yamaha I noticed it has the Dolby IIx but not IIz .. What if I were the put the rear surrounds as front / height speakers that the PL IIz has. or should I just save those speakers for another time (or sell them on Ebay)

it would be real easy wiring the speakers in front to!!

Thanks all

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum, brewmaster!

I don't have any specific guidance on 7.1 versus front/height effects, but I wanted to point something out - with Yamaha's YPAO auto calibration system, having the speakers that close may not be a problem. It should set up the relative volume of those speakers appropriately so that they aren't blasting you. You might want to place them back there in a temporary fashion, run the auto setup routine, and see what you think of it. Just a thought.

Also, for general guidance on placing speakers for 5.1 and 7.1, here is an article from Audioholics (this is just one of several available on the web). I'll mention that I don't follow the 5.1 set up shown there, as my rear speakers are placed behind my couch like the "back" speakers in a 7.1 set up.

 

[Pyrrho]

That is a very bad idea. To properly use extra front speakers, there must be proper processing of the signal. Your receiver does not produce a signal for that use. What you are proposing is essentially redirecting sound intended for the rear to the front of your room. This will make things sound very wrong.

As for "too much sound" in the rear, there won't be if you properly calibrate the system (using YPAO in your case), regardless of there being speakers very near you for the various non-front channels. However, you might be underwhelmed by the effect of two speakers above you for the rear surround channels.

If you like the speakers, I recommend saving the extra pair for later use, if you don't want to install them as rear surround channels.

If you want extra speakers up front, you should buy a receiver/processor that will give you that. Otherwise, forget it.

 

[brewmaster]

Thanks- now I have to decide if i want to run 2 more wires to the rear before my hardwood floor gets put in

would 2 more rear speakers be work the trouble???? rhetorical question......

 

[Pyrrho]

Thanks- now I have to decide if i want to run 2 more wires to the rear before my hardwood floor gets put in

would 2 more rear speakers be work the trouble???? rhetorical question......

If you can try it beforehand as a temporary thing (just running the wires across the floor to listen to it), that would be best. Otherwise, I would go ahead and run the wires now, as it will not cost that much money, and if you end up liking it, great, and if not, no great loss.

I personally don't care much about the rear surround channels, but you may feel differently, and the only way you will know will be to try it. Also, how much of a difference it will make depends on the placement of the other surround speakers, as well as the particular surround modes you use and the movies you watch.

 

[Adam]

IMO, if you have the chance to run wires now before a new floor gets put in - do it! That's just my two cents. You never know what you'll want in the future, and if you can have the wires already routed, I think it's well worth it. I say think about what you might want to put back there eventually, including maybe a sub (so perhaps a 75-ohm cable).

BTW, I take it that you don't have a basement running underneath that room. If you did, you could probably run wires fairly easily.

When I had my new carpet put in, I ran eight conductors of flat 16-gauge speaker wire. I only had two speakers back there, but I did it in case I decided to either move to a 7.1 system or bi-amp new rear speakers (that I never got). I did add a rear center channel, so I'm happy that I had those extra wires already run. I bought Gecko wire (and wrote a thread on it here). Their site is currently under construction, but you can buy similar wire elsewhere.

EDIT: Hmmm. The Gecko cable site went from under construction to not in service as I was clicking on it tonight. The cable from this site here looks to be the same stuff.

 

[brewmaster]

Yes this is my future man cave in basement. wood floor is being clued on concrete foundation. Im running my wires in the concrete gaps but there is no way Im going to get 2 more wires in that space in floor

So if i do want 2 more wires for speakers Ill have to run them under floor molding. It will be about 75 ft to get around the room....

Make it a labor day weekend task huh

Or just be content with the classic 5.1 system