Needing opinions on speakers

[dpjones]

Ok, I've been killing myself worrying about what speakers to buy. I have a couple of issues I would like opinions/advice on.

When it comes to surround sound, what are your opinions on the number and type of speakers. I'm trying to decide whether to go with a 5.1 system with direct radiating towers in the rear (same model as in the front), or a 7.1 system with 4 matching dipole surround speakers, or a 7.1 system with with 4 direct radiating towers in the rear (same model as in the front). It seems some people really like dipole speakers for the surrounds (my focus in on movies), yet others like for the sound to be more precise in the back like with direct radiating speakers. Some think 5.1 is better than 6.1/7.1. I like the look of dipole type speakers mounted flush high on the walls, but I like the low end you can get out of towers in the rear. Some movies have a good deal of low end in the rear channels.

I'm trying to decide between Monitor Audio Gold Reference 60, Center, and (GRFXs or maybe 2 or 4 Silver 8 towers) for the rears, or the B&W Nautilus 804 towers, HTM1 Center, and (DS7s or maybe 2 or 4 804 towers) for the the rears.

My room is a dedicated theater room that is 16' W X 19' D.

Any advice/opinions are greatly appreciated.

 

[Jason Coleman]

DP-

If most of your use is HT, I'd recommend getting the dipole/bipole's for the rears. They create a broader soundstage in the back. As far as 5.1 v 6.1 v 7.1...it's up to you and your room. I'm going through the same debate in my "Music Mostly" room (90% music) with either a 5.1 dipole/5.1 direct radiating/6.1/7.1...etc. I guess you need to find what sounds best to you and either buy it or save up for it.

Jason

 

[Polygon]

This could get interesting.

While the dipole/bipole speakers will create a broad sound stage in the rear I would still suggest getting the same exact speakers in the rear as you have in the front for better timbre matching. Then get a set of dipole/bipole's for the sides for a 7.1 system.

Just my humble opinion.

 

[Sounds Simple]

I am struggling with the same decision in an 5.1 Monitor Audio Silver setup (S6 fronts, LCR and either S1s or SFXs in the rear). I've yet to hear the SFXs but my dealer should be getting some in. This setup will be used for both music and movies so I'm leaning towards the S1s. Even so, I can see some SFXs in my future.

I used a Monitor Audio Gold setup (GR-10s, Center and GRFX) in a 5.1 config to do a receiver comparison this past week. I will say that the GRFXs are quite remarkable. Though they produce a more diffused soundfield than adirect-radiator, the front-mounted woofer clearly anchors the sound and provides a some directionality in the rear. I am not certain if they were wired as bipoles or dipoles but they definitely go me to thinking about using them instead of the S1s (like you, I think they make for a very tidy installation).

In an HT setup, I'd most likely go for the FXs but the Golds are quite expensive. If you have a good sub, I don't think the extra bass extension provided by the towers in the rear will get you much and it might make it more difficult to deal with room modes. Another thing to consider is that the Silvers are voiced differently enough that you might notice timbral shifts (especially with music).

Another possibility would be to use GRFXs as the surrounds and then use a bookshelf (like the GR-10) mounted high as rear-surrounds. Since so little really happens in the rear channels this setup could be very workable. It would provide a bit more localization in the rear while creating a spacious overall surround field.

 

[perato]

You could look for speakers that can be switched from monopole mode to dipole mode. B&W and Von Schweikert make some speakers that have this feature, but they are not floorstanding speakers.