Speaker set-up vs receiver potential

[Draven]

I've just finished setting up my home theatre and am a bit miffed at what I just discovered about my receiver:
Got myself the sub-flagship Onkyo TX-NR3008 which supports a whopping 9.2 surround, but here's the hick:
If I want to bi-amp my Paradigm Monitor 11's, which should be 'cause they're massive, I have to use the receiver's rear-surround outputs and hence eliminate my rear-surround channels.
Presently, I've got all Paradigm speakers with
FRONT Monitor 11 v.3
CENTER CC370 v.3
SURROUND ADP370 v.3
SUB PW2200
with no REAR surround speakers, as of yet. My home theatre is already set-up with one rear-surround wire (I'm thinking the old owner only had a 6.1 setup), but I can always fish another wire.

So here's the BIG question: Should I forget about bi-amping my Monitor 11's and just add one or two rear-surround speakers, and maybe another couple of fronts, eiither HIGH or WIDE, OR should I go full out frontal and bi-amp my Monitor 11's AND maybe even a pair of HIGH's or WIDE's, and just forget about the REAR-SURROUNDS?

I know it's a question of taste, but my ADP370 SURROUNDS are already di-polar, so I'm thinking maybe I could go without the REAR's, but it REALLY pisses me off that I have to choose between either having REARS or BI-AMPING my FRONTS.

 

[Cos]

As far as bi-amping using the 2 rear channels, I would advise against it based on the feedback on that same exact question I asked in the Pre/Pro Receiver forum

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/amps-pre-pros-receivers/85734-bi-amping-receiver-worth.html

- Granted this was for a secondary system in my bedroom, but it seems like the general consensus is against it.
- My main system is all Paradigm and my Parsound Halo A52/A23 amps are only rated at 125w and drive my Studio 100v5s like a champ
- If you have a really huge room then maybe it might be an issue but that is something you are going to have to decide.



I have the Studio 590v5 Dipoles for both my Left and Right Surrounds as wells as for my rears. IMO I appreciate the extra channels when listening to 7.1 content. Even with 4x dipoles you do notice the sound movement when properly calibrated.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Just don't even think about passive bi-amping your passive speakers, no matter how big they are. There are theories to potential diminutive benefits. But you won't hear any difference. It's really a waste of time. So just don't do it.

 

[Draven]

Thanx for the feedback. The general consensus seems to be against bi-amping, even for my massive Monitor 11's.
Still can't understand why the Onkyo receiver wouldn't just use other FRONT channels (either HIGH or WIDE) to enable bi-amping, but the point is moot if it's not recommended.

That said, seems my ADP370's are no longer available, so would you suggest pairing them with the new Studio ADP's?
I'm kinda disappointed at where Paradigm had gone since I bought mine. The Monitor series now seem to be made of plastic when mine were made of wood; press-wood most probably, but still, I'm assuming acoustically better than plastic. The finish also seems to have gotten a lot cheaper. Just hope they still excel in sound!

 

[j_garcia]

If you need more power for the 11s, an amp is the answer, not biamping from a receiver. If you were running them full range at very loud levels, you might need an amp.

 

[Cos]

Thanx for the feedback. The general consensus seems to be against bi-amping, even for my massive Monitor 11's.
Still can't understand why the Onkyo receiver wouldn't just use other FRONT channels (either HIGH or WIDE) to enable bi-amping, but the point is moot if it's not recommended.

That said, seems my ADP370's are no longer available, so would you suggest pairing them with the new Studio ADP's?
I'm kinda disappointed at where Paradigm had gone since I bought mine. The Monitor series now seem to be made of plastic when mine were made of wood; press-wood most probably, but still, I'm assuming acoustically better than plastic. The finish also seems to have gotten a lot cheaper. Just hope they still excel in sound!

You could look at the Studio series, if you like dipole for surrounds I can say I really have been happy with my ADP 590s. You can also find the adp 370s on ebay and audiogon on a regular basis. I don't think it's necessarily wrong to look at other vendors, I just always try to match my fronts and center the the same.

I don't have a lot of experience with the Monitor Series as my local guy doesn't display them and he is one of the larger volume Paradigm dealers in the US. I do know that they did switch some of the manufacturing of the lower end to China, but not sure the impact. The Signature series was always made in Canada, the Studio series cabinets for the V5 were made in china and put together in Canada until Paradigm bought the necessary equipment to make the curved cabinets at their facility.

I am probably feel the same in that I would feel safer with the V3 as opposed to the newer version.

 

[3db]

I've just finished setting up my home theatre and am a bit miffed at what I just discovered about my receiver:
Got myself the sub-flagship Onkyo TX-NR3008 which supports a whopping 9.2 surround, but here's the hick:
If I want to bi-amp my Paradigm Monitor 11's, which should be 'cause they're massive, I have to use the receiver's rear-surround outputs and hence eliminate my rear-surround channels.
Presently, I've got all Paradigm speakers with
FRONT Monitor 11 v.3
CENTER CC370 v.3
SURROUND ADP370 v.3
SUB PW2200
with no REAR surround speakers, as of yet. My home theatre is already set-up with one rear-surround wire (I'm thinking the old owner only had a 6.1 setup), but I can always fish another wire.

So here's the BIG question: Should I forget about bi-amping my Monitor 11's and just add one or two rear-surround speakers, and maybe another couple of fronts, eiither HIGH or WIDE, OR should I go full out frontal and bi-amp my Monitor 11's AND maybe even a pair of HIGH's or WIDE's, and just forget about the REAR-SURROUNDS?

I know it's a question of taste, but my ADP370 SURROUNDS are already di-polar, so I'm thinking maybe I could go without the REAR's, but it REALLY pisses me off that I have to choose between either having REARS or BI-AMPING my FRONTS.

Bi-amping means using two seperate amps in seperate chassis with seperate power supllies. WHat you are proposing is bi-wiring which is running a 2nd pair of wires from the same chassis using the same power supply. IHO, thats an absolute waste of time and money with no improvements in audio what-so-ever.

 

[Draven]

Would Studio ADP590's pair well with my Cinema ADP370's? Don't like the look of the new Monitor Series 7 Surrounds (1 or 3), plus, the Studio's have an extra "center" speaker.
P.S. Oh, and these ARE sold in pairs, are they not? I know it's a stupid question, but nowhere I look does it say that they are sold 2 in a box! Just wanna know if I'm payin' $800 for one or two speakers!

 

[j_garcia]

They are twice the price of a comparable bookshelf speaker, so no, not two in a box. I would NOT go new studios for surrounds when your mains are old Monitors, that would be a waste of money. At that point, I'd be upgrading the mains. If it were the opposite it wouldn't be as bad, Monitor surrounds with Studio mains, but the other way around, no.

 

[Draven]

So do you suggest going with the Millenia's, then? I really don't like the curved design of the Monitors.