Freq Response for Rears Important?

[Shadow_Ferret]

OK. I finally have the money to take that plunge from my 70s stereo gear to home theater.

THX. Now that is the recommended 80hz crossover. Now is that for just the fronts or the whole system? My question being, can I get away with smaller rear speakers that might only go down to 100hz or even 150hz? Or will that gap be evident when I'm playing some movies?

Also, and this is probably really stupid, but if I get a 7.1 receiver, do I have to buy 7 speakers or can it run as a 5.1 or 6.1 also?

Thanks.

 

[Demonster]

OK. I finally have the money to take that plunge from my 70s stereo gear to home theater.

THX. Now that is the recommended 80hz crossover. Now is that for just the fronts or the whole system? My question being, can I get away with smaller rear speakers that might only go down to 100hz or even 150hz? Or will that gap be evident when I'm playing some movies?

Also, and this is probably really stupid, but if I get a 7.1 receiver, do I have to buy 7 speakers or can it run as a 5.1 or 6.1 also?

Thanks.

An upgrade in the reciever allows you to go to 7.1 but is not required. The options on the amplifier will allow 2-channel through 7.1 if all of the speakers are there for it.

 

[Sheep]

OK. I finally have the money to take that plunge from my 70s stereo gear to home theater.

THX. Now that is the recommended 80hz crossover. Now is that for just the fronts or the whole system? My question being, can I get away with smaller rear speakers that might only go down to 100hz or even 150hz? Or will that gap be evident when I'm playing some movies?

Also, and this is probably really stupid, but if I get a 7.1 receiver, do I have to buy 7 speakers or can it run as a 5.1 or 6.1 also?

Thanks.

1.) It's pretty easy to find speakers that go down to 80Hz for rears. If the speakers isn't going to 80Hz, it was built for looks and WAF, not performance.

2.) 6.1 is a waste of time. Stick with 5.1 or 7.1.

SheepStar

 

[Exit]

My surrounds go down to 70 Hz and I use an 80 Hz crossover. I have not heard any sound in the lower bass range coming out of the surrounds. I think you could use an 80 Hz crossover between your front speakers and subwoofer and not really miss much out of the surrounds if they have a higher roll-off frequency. Theoretically the surrounds receive full range inputs but in practice they don’t seem to go very low. Keeping your crossover at 80 Hz keeps the vocal range dominantly in the mains and center while higher crossover ranges result in more of the vocal range coming out of the subwoofer. If you go to a higher crossover range, I would keep the subwoofer along the front wall so vocals all come from the front speakers and subwoofer.

 

[trnqk7]

Several receivers will "auto-detect" the number of speakers connected-so you don't have to worry about it.

 

[jcPanny]

Surround speakers

Surround speakers that go down to 100 Hz would probably be adequate, even if you leave the crossover at 80 Hz. When you get a 3dB of 150 Hz or higher you either create a gap in the frequency response, or you increase the crossover and the sub starts to become localizable because it is producing the >80 Hz frequencies.

The RBH small speakers and satellites, for example, are compact but still have a decent frequency response. If you are trying to get something small or unobrtusive, also consider in-ceiling speakers for the surrounds.

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

In-ceiling. I hadn't thought of that. Are they too heavy to stick into sound paneling? Because that's what our rec room has. I'd hate to have them drop on someone's head.

 

[jcPanny]

In-ceiling speakers

The inexpensive in-ceiling speaker I bought for my distributed audio system only weigh a few pounds each. If your ceiling is anything like the acoustic panneling used in offices then you will be fine. This type of false ceiling would also make it easy to run the wiring.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

...can I get away with smaller rear speakers that might only go down to 100hz or even 150hz?

...If I get a 7.1 receiver, do I have to buy 7 speakers or can it run as a 5.1 or 6.1 also?

1) It is okay to get surround speakers that can only handle 100 - 150 Hz. Of course, full-range surround speakers would be great, but you don't need it. Don't sweat it.

2) You can run 5.1 or 6.1 in any 7.1 receiver - no problem at all.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

OK. I finally have the money to take that plunge from my 70s stereo gear to home theater.

THX. Now that is the recommended 80hz crossover. Now is that for just the fronts or the whole system? My question being, can I get away with smaller rear speakers that might only go down to 100hz or even 150hz? Or will that gap be evident when I'm playing some movies?

Also, and this is probably really stupid, but if I get a 7.1 receiver, do I have to buy 7 speakers or can it run as a 5.1 or 6.1 also?

Thanks.

Are there speakers you have in mind?

How much will you use the surrounds?

Will you listen to any surround music?(dvd-a or sacd dvd-v concerts)

 

[satish536]

Surround speakers that go down to 100 Hz would probably be adequate, even if you leave the crossover at 80 Hz. When you get a 3dB of 150 Hz or higher you either create a gap in the frequency response, or you increase the crossover and the sub starts to become localizable because it is producing the >80 Hz frequencies.

The RBH small speakers and satellites, for example, are compact but still have a decent frequency response. If you are trying to get something small or unobrtusive, also consider in-ceiling speakers for the surrounds.

Even my surrounds the RBH MC-44C Dipoles are rated down to 100hz only. My future receiver which would most probably be the Yamaha Rx-V661 does not have independent crossovers for different speakers.
So i would need to choose one cross over frequency point common to all the speakers from 40hz,60,80,90,100,110,120,160,200hz.

I was planning on setting it at 80hz for all speakers. Do you think my surrounds would be fine with the 80hz point in spite of the fact that they're frequency response only rated down to 100hz?

thanks as always

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

Are there speakers you have in mind?

How much will you use the surrounds?

Will you listen to any surround music?(dvd-a or sacd dvd-v concerts)

No, I have nothing in mind. I was looking for something small enough that I could wall mount, but now I have the in-ceiling idea. I see some JBLs that get a good 40hz-20khz on ebay.

At the present, I'd only use the surrounds for movies. Although some day in the future I wouldn't mind getting some surround music.

I just now ordered the Marantz SR4002, I don't know if it has the capability to simulate surround out of ordinary CDs.

 

[darien87]

Even my surrounds the RBH MC-44C Dipoles are rated down to 100hz only. My future receiver which would most probably be the Yamaha Rx-V661 does not have independent crossovers for different speakers.
So i would need to choose one cross over frequency point common to all the speakers from 40hz,60,80,90,100,110,120,160,200hz.

I was planning on setting it at 80hz for all speakers. Do you think my surrounds would be fine with the 80hz point in spite of the fact that they're frequency response only rated down to 100hz?

thanks as always

I have my crossover point set at 60Hz, even though my rears are only rated to 80Hz and I've never had a problem.

My theory is that sound designers know that the vast amount of people that have home theaters are using some type of small bookshelf type of speaker for their surrounds, and are thus altering the sound so that low frequencies don't come out of the surrounds.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

No, I have nothing in mind. I was looking for something small enough that I could wall mount, but now I have the in-ceiling idea. I see some JBLs that get a good 40hz-20khz on ebay.

At the present, I'd only use the surrounds for movies. Although some day in the future I wouldn't mind getting some surround music.

I just now ordered the Marantz SR4002, I don't know if it has the capability to simulate surround out of ordinary CDs.

If your not ultra picky... but that's why we hang out here isn't it.

Just look for speakers you like the sound of and timbre match all 5/7.

Good luck and keep us updated and you'll get plenty of opinions to form your own decision from.

Good luck,
SBF1

 

[satish536]

I'm not practically present there and this system is in my dad's house, Athough i can suggest him optimal settings though.

I was planning on 60hz as the cross over point since my mains are towers and center has 2 6.5" drivers, they can handle it. The HSU should do good below 60 hz to fill out the bottom end.

But with my Yammy 661 i have the limitation of a single crossover point for all speakers which would be set to 60 hz.

I know i would safe with 80 hz crossover for the surrounds as darien suggested, you guys think ill be fine with 60 hz crossover on the mc-44c?

thanks

 

[satish536]

Bump
Its a pretty basic question.

I know i be would safe with 80 hz crossover for the surrounds as darien suggested, you guys think ill be fine with 60 hz crossover on the mc-44c(Freq Response 100hz-20khz?

 

[Bugbitten]

Crossover is another experimental area. You really have to see what works in your room.