Least worst option for connecting existing speakers wireless for rear surround

[TLS Guy]

I think the originals. I can't find when I bought them but I think maybe 10-15 years ago.

Now that they are up on stands they look incredibly tiny. Like silly tiny. Really tiny. Still sounds awfully good for the size though.

I have a center because I listen about 95% to movies, and understand it helps with more clear dialog? I think I certainly need it with the wimpy L/R I have now.

I've been reading a lot, and with no access to the ceiling over the listening area, my excuse for upgrading the AVR to get atmos seems pointless, but newer (notably some higher end) appear to have better room mapping programs than the YPAO that I have now (dating from 10-15 years ago), to help mitigate some of the poor room shape issues. Maybe?

Why did I start pulling on this thread....

By far your best "bang for your Buck" is to carefully choose good front left and right speakers. Really good speakers do have a stable central image and excellent voice clarity. You can later add a center, but they need choosing with even greater care than the fronts, so they don't downgrade the system.

Good audio in the home brings immense pleasure, so don't regret joining this forum. We have a lot of experienced 'old hands' here. Don't have second thoughts on joining this community. You are interested polite and seem to have a good sense of humor, which is a perfect fit for this forum. We will try and give you our best advice even if that is not what you want to hear.

 

[ski2xblack]

Prolly want to avoid those Klipsch RP-8000.

KEFs would be great, so check the sale Everett mentioned. A trio of those (or just a pair if you skip a center) would be such a huge upgrade from those quintet desktop speakers you're using.

 

[Linwood]

Emotiva? (Chatting with a friend on the other coast who went through this recently).

 

[TLS Guy]

Emotiva? (Chatting with a friend on the other coast who went through this recently).

Absolutely not Emotiva!

 

[Linwood]

Absolutely not Emotiva!

Interesting, I keep reading and most things are good.

So take $2000 and spend it on a center and two fronts, what would you get for my room?

 

[everettT]

Interesting, I keep reading and most things are good.

So take $2000 and spend it on a center and two fronts, what would you get for my room?

I would avoid them unless you prefer to play dice. It's less than 50/50 it works out in your favor.

 

[Linwood]

I would avoid them unless you prefer to play dice. It's less than 50/50 it works out in your favor.

Interesting. And customer pays return freight for returns, so that's not good odds.

But you didn't answer the 2nd question.

 

[everettT]

Interesting. And customer pays return freight for returns, so that's not good odds.

But you didn't answer the 2nd question.

And that's even if they're willing to fix the problem. A search on this site will reveal issues and not just "bugs". They're a high value company when their products work and I sang their praises at one point until....

 

[Linwood]

Ok, moving on. Looking at Polk R500, 600, 700 now. Reading as fast as I can.

 

[ski2xblack]

But you didn't answer the 2nd question.

Google up "KEF sale"...ls50 for fronts and center, may be able to squeeze in ls50 wireless rears too (could be optimistic for the budget, you'll have to check, unsure if your setup warrants such expense for matching rears...but it would solve your initial problem/question AND be a really sweet setup). Two channel option: R3 Metas are $2k on sale. Go-big-or-go-home two channel option, Q11 Meta on sale for $2k (the Q line is a notch below their R line, but any would wildly surpass what you have now).

Those polks are pretty well regarded (our guy @shadyJ and Erin tested 'em and liked them).

 

[TLS Guy]

Interesting, I keep reading and most things are good.

So take $2000 and spend it on a center and two fronts, what would you get for my room?

I will try one more time. For $2000 you can get a pretty decent pair of speakers, but not three.

Quality of the speakers aces quantity of speakers by a country mile.

I am going to recommend KEF as then you can add your center as funds permit and if you need to. KEF is a good choice as they use very good coaxial Mid/HF drivers. This makes it easy to add a good KEF center. Coaxial drivers really make for the best center speakers in my view. Most centers have a middle tweeter, and a bass mid either side. This gives a dreadful polar response (dispersion pattern). So the best response is vertical and not horizontal where it should be.

So in your budget, you have two options in the KEF range. The KEF Q7 Meta or the KEF Q11 Meta. I would go with the Q7 unless you want to spring for an external power amp. The Q11 has three bass drivers and a lower impedance which is problematic for receivers, and a power amp would be strongly recommended. The Q7 is an easier drive. There is a member who lives nearby (Squishman) and he has the Q11s and they are excellent.

Now, one more time, Quality beats quantity when it come to speakers, and it is no contest.