Rear Surround Suggestions?

[tbergman]

Ok, I'm looking to get some new rear speakers for my modest little HT set-up. Currently I'm working with the Onkyo receiver included in the 5100 HTiB, Infinity Beta 20's as mains, Infinity Beta 250 coming for the center, the original 5100 mains as rears, and the original sub still. I'll probably replace the sub with an SVS sometime down the road but right now I'm looking to get some new rears. Budget is undecided but considering my front sound stage was around $200-250 total, I don't really want to spend more than $150 on the rears.

You guys are always full of great suggestions and are very helpful. What do you think is a good option?

Thanks,
Travis

 

[lsiberian]

Ok, I'm looking to get some new rear speakers for my modest little HT set-up. Currently I'm working with the Onkyo receiver included in the 5100 HTiB, Infinity Beta 20's as mains, Infinity Beta 250 coming for the center, the original 5100 mains as rears, and the original sub still. I'll probably replace the sub with an SVS sometime down the road but right now I'm looking to get some new rears. Budget is undecided but considering my front sound stage was around $200-250 total, I don't really want to spend more than $150 on the rears.

You guys are always full of great suggestions and are very helpful. What do you think is a good option?

Thanks,
Travis

ES250 would be amazing

a Pair of Bet 10s or 20s would be ideal.

I'm assuming you have side surrounds already. Since rears only exist in a 7.1

If you want something smaller KEF makes nice surrounds that do well with Betas

 

[tbergman]

ES250 would be amazing

a Pair of Bet 10s or 20s would be ideal.

I'm assuming you have side surrounds already. Since rears only exist in a 7.1

If you want something smaller KEF makes nice surrounds that do well with Betas

Should have been more clear, I sold all the original speakers in this system except the front mains. I'm running a 5.1 now, and by rears, I was referring to the side surrounds.

 

[lsiberian]

Should have been more clear, I sold all the original speakers in this system except the front mains. I'm running a 5.1 now, and by rears, I was referring to the side surrounds.

Well sometimes we have to put them in the rear, but it should be avoided. 110 degrees from the front axis is the suggested angle. Honestly I don't feel surrounds are super important. I mean it's nice to have good surrounds, but subs and mains are far more important. In fact I always suggest using cheap surrounds until one can get there subs, mains, etc. When I had my Beta 20 and 250 setup

Any Infinity Primus or Beta Series speaker will have the same tweeter as the beta 20 and will match very close in Timbre and would be ideal, but most can be bulky.
100- 120 is the recommended angle for side surrounds Though I've found 90 to be fine as well as 130.

Since I couldn't get away with using big speakers as surrounds
I run Kef 2001.2s as surrounds. Found them locally for 40 bucks a pop from an angry ex-wife. They retailed for 200 a pop, but A4Less does sometimes sell them for 100. Check Craigslist(you never know)

They do a decent job of matching the Betas and are a compact good looking ported design. Please note that my 2001.2s have more volume than the Beta 20s when the betas are off axis so you will want to level match with that in mind.

It doesn't mean the Betas are bad speaker they just tend to be less efficient off axis.

Of course my ears are different than yours so you may not like it as much.

With Audyssey EQ the sound stage with the Betas and KEFs was just plain sick. The only reason I changed stuff around is I'm trying to do more than just get great sound. I want to learn wood working and sound management.

I have personally used your front setup so if you have specific question feel free to ask.

Last words:Save for your subs you won't regret it.

 

[krzywica]

Well sometimes we have to put them in the rear, but it should be avoided. 110 degrees from the front axis is the suggested angle. Honestly I don't feel surrounds are super important. I mean it's nice to have good surrounds, but subs and mains are far more important. In fact I always suggest using cheap surrounds until one can get there subs, mains, etc. When I had my Beta 20 and 250 setup

Any Infinity Primus or Beta Series speaker will have the same tweeter as the beta 20 and will match very close in Timbre and would be ideal, but most can be bulky.
100- 120 is the recommended angle for side surrounds Though I've found 90 to be fine as well as 130.

Since I couldn't get away with using big speakers as surrounds
I run Kef 2001.2s as surrounds. Found them locally for 40 bucks a pop from an angry ex-wife. They retailed for 200 a pop, but A4Less does sometimes sell them for 100. Check Craigslist(you never know)

They do a decent job of matching the Betas and are a compact good looking ported design. Please note that my 2001.2s have more volume than the Beta 20s when the betas are off axis so you will want to level match with that in mind.

It doesn't mean the Betas are bad speaker they just tend to be less efficient off axis.

Of course my ears are different than yours so you may not like it as much.

With Audyssey EQ the sound stage with the Betas and KEFs was just plain sick. The only reason I changed stuff around is I'm trying to do more than just get great sound. I want to learn wood working and sound management.

I have personally used your front setup so if you have specific question feel free to ask.

Last words:Save for your subs you won't regret it.

What he said...

But if you haven't heard dipole surrounds you may want to give them a shot especially if you have limited placement options as these are a lot easier to work with and I prefer their sound to direct facing speakers when it comes to surrounds. But thats a personal preference and you might now like them.

 

[lsiberian]

What he said...

But if you haven't heard dipole surrounds you may want to give them a shot especially if you have limited placement options as these are a lot easier to work with and I prefer their sound to direct facing speakers when it comes to surrounds. But thats a personal preference and you might now like them.

How do they handle mult-channel music? I've always wondered about that.

Dipoles tend to be expensive and would cost more than his fronts. That's why I suggested direct-radiating. If you have Beta 40s or 50s dipoles would be great, but the ES250 is the price of his entire front sound stage.

I've thought of building dipoles some day. Or picking up the KEF ones.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/SpkSurround/Speakers-Stands/Surround-/-Rear-Speakers/1.html has some good dipole deals.

 

[krzywica]

How do they handle mult-channel music? I've always wondered about that.

Dipoles tend to be expensive and would cost more than his fronts. That's why I suggested direct-radiating. If you have Beta 40s or 50s dipoles would be great, but the ES250 is the price of his entire front sound stage.

I've thought of building dipoles some day. Or picking up the KEF ones.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/SpkSurround/Speakers-Stands/Surround-/-Rear-Speakers/1.html has some good dipole deals.

I find them to be excellent for multichannel music. I recently watched Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds: Live at Radio City and it sounded amazing. I feel the dipoles add a lot to the ambience of a live concert as they fill the room a lot better.

 

[lsiberian]

I find them to be excellent for multichannel music. I recently watched Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds: Live at Radio City and it sounded amazing. I feel the dipoles add a lot to the ambience of a live concert as they fill the room a lot better.

Maybe I will have to build some one day.

 

[tbergman]

Dipoles tend to be expensive and would cost more than his fronts. That's why I suggested direct-radiating. If you have Beta 40s or 50s dipoles would be great, but the ES250 is the price of his entire front sound stage.

yep, right on with the price issue, but it keeps making me want to get something better for the front too. I found some Infinity dipoles for $99.50 but they are in-store only. http://www.electronicexpress.com/product?prod_id=4401&refer=6&cpc=6&utm_campaign=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle

 

[lsiberian]

yep, right on with the price issue, but it keeps making me want to get something better for the front too. I found some Infinity dipoles for $99.50 but they are in-store only. http://www.electronicexpress.com/product?prod_id=4401&refer=6&cpc=6&utm_campaign=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle

Yeah I know the feeling. However Betas are very good for the price.

I suggest you not buy a step up on the fronts.

Wait until you can have a nice big step up.



Or DIY like I am.

 

[tbergman]

Better stick with the sound I have, might leave the surrounds as-is. Just came home with a new puppy and she's not getting a job to pay for puppy chow anytime soon so there goes my fun money, that and a crate, shots, leash, toys, and what not else.

 

[lsiberian]

Better stick with the sound I have, might leave the surrounds as-is. Just came home with a new puppy and she's not getting a job to pay for puppy chow anytime soon so there goes my fun money, that and a crate, shots, leash, toys, and what not else.

Keep her happy. Some things are better than speakers

 

[krzywica]

Keep her happy. Some things are better than speakers

Blasphemy!!!!

 

[lsiberian]

Blasphemy!!!!

Ok so he understands. Music is always better live.