thinking about a 6th speaker - need advice

[edwelly]

Hello all... I am thinking about adding a rear surround speaker (6.1) but am a little lost as to what to look for in one. The way my room is set up, 7.1 will not work nor will a di-pole/bi-pole. I am wanting an in wall speaker as well.
Suggestions anyone???I attachment a rough picture of my room...

 

[MDS]

How wide is that back wall? Can't really tell because there is no scale on the drawing.

I would say though that if you have room for one speaker, you have room for two. They can both be placed right next to each other, about 1 foot apart. That is actually what THX recommends.

You probably would be better off with monopole speakers because there isn't a wall surface to the left and right to bounce sound off for a di/bipole. Some people consider 6.1 to be a flawed format because sometimes with a single speaker directly behind you, you get a psychoacoustic phenomenon known as 'back to front reversal' which is where your brain perceives the sound that is actually coming from directly behind you to be coming from the front. Not everyone notices it and it won't occur on all material (I have no personal experience with it), but its something to consider.

 

[edwelly]

Sorry about no dimensions... rough drawing at work.

The area is slightly bigger than a closet. the speakers would be mounted about the closet door so there might be a issue with the height...???

 

[jcPanny]

Speaker mounting.

Rear and surround speakers are supposed to be at least 2 feet above the listening position, so mounting above the closet door height should not be a problem. Keep in mind that in-wall type speakers use the wall as the enclosure so having the back of the speakers open to the closet won't work. A pair of bookshef speakers and brackets might work better.

 

[edwelly]

Keep in mind that in-wall type speakers use the wall as the enclosure so having the back of the speakers open to the closet won't work.

There is an area above my closet and it is enclosed. Thanks!

 

[edwelly]

How important is the speakers in the rear? Reason I ask is Parts Express has some 6 1/2 for $50 a pair. I ahve been happy with everything I have gotten (IC wise) from Parts but I have never bought speaker from them.

 

[AVRat]

Keeping with the Paradigm, how about the SM-60R single stereo speaker?

 

[Xsound]

one thought would be to repeat your center speaker on the back wall. I know that you are interested in an in-wall speaker, and I believe that Paradigm makes in-walls.

You could go with 1 bipole on the back wall, like the Wharfedale DFS. It mounts pretty flat to the wall, and depending on how the sound bounces off those side walls, could give more width to the area behind the sectional.

X

 

[jaxvon]

I think you'd do best with an ADP-370.

 

[jeffvee]

Rear and surround speakers are supposed to be at least 2 feet above the listening position, so mounting above the closet door height should not be a problem. Keep in mind that in-wall type speakers use the wall as the enclosure so having the back of the speakers open to the closet won't work. A pair of bookshef speakers and brackets might work better.

In all of the H/T magazines I've read,the recommended height for rear surrounds is 1' above ear level.

 

[edwelly]

I solved my issue - we moved the couch around and now it is against one of the walls - hense no room for 6.1 or 7.1 sound

 

[Sheep]

I solved my issue - we moved the couch around and now it is against one of the walls - hense no room for 6.1 or 7.1 sound

don't give up on 6.1 and 7.1

A 6th channel is quite good for movies. When I had mine, its was a much better experience.

That layout you had looked quite good for a 6th channel. Even 7 if you put them right beside each other, which works with 7.1 specs.

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/specsformats/THXSelectUltracertificatio2.php

see pics at bottom of the page.

SheepStar

 

[edwelly]

hey sheep - I haven't given up BUT with the re-arrangement of our room, I don't see how I could work in 6.1 or 7.1 sound - I attached a new pic - your suggestions???

 

[CaliHwyPatrol]

I don't want to hijack this, but I didn't really want to start a new thread...

I would like to add a 6th speaker as well, but my couch is up against the wall and inwall is out of the question because this setup isn't going to be in this room for too much longer... Is there any hope for me? I <i>might</i> be able to move the couch forward a foot or so, but I don't really want to.

Thanks,

~Chuck

**EDIT: Your situation is the same as mine with your new room layout, so it's not a hijack afterall!

 

[CaliHwyPatrol]

Bump.

~Chuck

 

[Sheep]

You could get a Axiom QS4 or 8. They have a driver that fires down.

My 6th channel was a bookshelf. It was at the very top of my room, just below the roof, and it pointed straight out. I sat about 2 feet infront of it and I still heard it. If you have a ADP-170 or 370, use that. Its will sound good.

Cali,

Use the equivillent speaker from polk that equals the ADP-370 (Bipole).

SheepStar

 

[CaliHwyPatrol]

you wouldn't use monopole?

I was just thinking of getting another center channel...

~Chuck

 

[Sheep]

you wouldn't use monopole?

I was just thinking of getting another center channel...

~Chuck

How are you going to point it at you? Plus, I like how Dipoles sound. I am a theater man, not music.

SheepStar

 

[edwelly]

cali - no problem my friend...

I am not concerned with a 6th channel right now as I want to concentrate on adding some room treatments instead.

 

[CaliHwyPatrol]

How are you going to point it at you? Plus, I like how Dipoles sound. I am a theater man, not music.

SheepStar

Yeah, I was going to point it down from about a foot above the listening position... I'm just used to the sound of monopole speakers, so I am going to stick with that!

My dilemma is that my couch is up against the wall and inwall speakers aren't an option... I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas how to make it work!

~Chuck