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). KEF has the better center channel speakers, coax.

 

[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.

 

[Linwood]

OK, will research those. Was sent off by a friend to look at SVS Prime Pinnacle. Playing with Crutchfield's speaker comparison tool. Neat idea for emphasizing the differences.

As to the $2000, was picked at random. The budget is "to get what will be good enough that spending more will not get me a difference I can hear". Emphasis on "I" and I realize that means no one can accurately define what it means.

 

[Linwood]

Something like this is just over that $2000 range and also probably improves the surround speakers if I can find a stand for these (basically net $250 for the surrounds vs buying the three front components separately).

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_700PRPINBA/SVS-Prime-Pinnacle-Tower-5-0-Home-Theater-Speaker-System-Black-Ash.html

Would I hear the $500-1000 difference in the KEF's you mention? Interestingly the Q7 and Q11 are the same price at Crutchfield (Q11 discounted) but I get your point on power.

 

[lovinthehd]

Might also consider the Arendal 1961s (and enter this contest for them https://www.audioholics.com/news/win-a-pair-of-arendal-sound-1961-tower-speakers ).

Maybe the Heco Aurora 1000 too

 

[TLS Guy]

Something like this is just over that $2000 range and also probably improves the surround speakers if I can find a stand for these (basically net $250 for the surrounds vs buying the three front components separately).

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_700PRPINBA/SVS-Prime-Pinnacle-Tower-5-0-Home-Theater-Speaker-System-Black-Ash.html

Would I hear the $500-1000 difference in the KEF's you mention? Interestingly the Q7 and Q11 are the same price at Crutchfield (Q11 discounted) but I get your point on power.

Absolutely you would and in spades. I'm suggesting KEF as they are very good and I can vouch for them. The other issue is that they are ideal for surround sound HT, as they have close to an ideal center to integrate with the mains. Center speakers tend to be few and far between that are worth owning. The vast majority are way short of the mark, in fact to be blunt, bad speakers. The KEFs are among the select few.

Center speakers are hard to design. My center speaker was up there with my most difficult speaker designs. It was worth all the effort, and eventually I settled on a design built round the SEAS coaxial driver, which they license from KEF.

 

[lovinthehd]

As far as use of the center goes, is this for a room with various seating positions or just your own in the sweet spot?

 

[Linwood]

Free is good.

Might also consider the Arendal 1961s (and enter this contest for them https://www.audioholics.com/news/win-a-pair-of-arendal-sound-1961-tower-speakers ).

I confess I had never heard of that company. Interesting read, people seem to like them (certainly this site's reviews). Free is good too though I'm not a patient sort.

Absolutely you would [hear the $500-800 difference in KEF vs SVS] and in spades. I'm suggesting KEF as they are very good and I can vouch for them. The other issue is that they are ideal for surround sound HT, as they have close to an ideal center to integrate with the mains. Center speakers tend to be few and far between that are worth owning. The vast majority are way short of the mark, in fact to be blunt, bad speakers. The KEFs are among the select few.

Center speakers are hard to design. My center speaker was up there with my most difficult speaker designs. It was worth all the effort, and eventually I settled on a design built round the SEAS coaxial driver, which they license from KEF.

Is the center the Q6 meta? That puts the three at $2847, vs SVS for $1949 (for three). It's a big difference.

It's curious how Crutchfield has them rated (average 9 vs 9.33 for the towers). I have no idea what criteria they use, though they do sell both. But I've also read some reviews saying SVS excels at Subwoofers not floor speakers. The problem is reading about speakers is the concept of consensus has yet to reach that hobby.

 

[Linwood]

As far as use of the center goes, is this for a room with various seating positions or just your own in the sweet spot?

Most of the time it is used now (I may use it more by myself with good sound) is when people come over. There are photos back early in the thread, but the area people sit in is far from ideal. The whole room is far from ideal.

The sweet spot in the center is going to be 10-12' from the front speakers (depending on how close to the wall they need to go). The seating area is about 15' wide, and comes out about 5' closer to the speakers in a U. The people out in the U are more or less in front of the L or R speaker. So hardly ideal. But the room is what it is.

I can sit the people with the best hearing on the center of the sofa.

 

[everettT]

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

If that's the second question you're referring to, I'd rather have to food mains and a sub vs 3 upfront channels to start with.

 

[lovinthehd]

Most of the time it is used now (I may use it more by myself with good sound) is when people come over. There are photos back early in the thread, but the area people sit in is far from ideal. The whole room is far from ideal.

The sweet spot in the center is going to be 10-12' from the front speakers (depending on how close to the wall they need to go). The seating area is about 15' wide, and comes out about 5' closer to the speakers in a U. The people out in the U are more or less in front of the L or R speaker. So hardly ideal. But the room is what it is.

I can sit the people with the best hearing on the center of the sofa.

Might want to review this article https://www.audioholics.com/loudspeaker-design/center-channel-designs-1

I still prefer a center even though most of the time I'm on my own. What are you doing for sub?