How big a difference can you have between front and rear speakers?

[OdinGOW]

So I'm getting the paradigm Titan v2 L/R monitor fronts with the cc350 centre. The other seller I was going to buy the other two Titan v2's from has not responded and I was wondering if I could still order the fluance xlbp surrounds? Would they be too .... Off? Compared to the older paradigm? Or be completely out performing the fronts making it... Weird?

 

[markw]

If your main usage will be for HT, they are not critical. Almost any speaker can handle the ambient noises and occasional sound effect they are called on to reproduce.

If you're mainly into multi-channel music, then they should match the fronts, but that depends on how critical you are of your sound.

 

[lsiberian]

Well my fronts are custom built bipolar sealed 3-ways and my rears are KEF eggs. That's about as different as you can get and it still sounds great to me especially after a couple beers.

 

[herbu]

My fronts & sides are towers, my rears are also KEF eggs. I think it sounds great. My wife agrees. I'm replacing my front towers, and will move them to the rear. So side and rear surrounds will all be nice towers. Skeptical how much difference it will make, but some people here have exceptional speakers all the way around, and say it does make a big difference.

I would say do the best you can with the Front L/R and Center. That is where most of the sound comes from in TV/Movies, and the only place normal stereo music will be played. Spend less on the sides, and rears if you have 7.1 or 7.2. Over the years, if/when you upgrade your fronts, you can move them back to surround duty.

 

[j_garcia]

I'll throw this out there: while surround matching is less critical, having them match DOES make a difference. The first time I matched everything in my system it was like an epiphany because the sound was so cohesive all the way around, especially for mulitchannel music. So you'll have to decide what it is you're after.