Using speakers from different manufacturers

[VETMANSHU]

I have two pairs of in-wall/in-ceiling JBL speakers (SP8 and HTI 6C). I was going to pair them-for surround sound- with a trio of front Axiom speakers (two bookshelf and one center) thinking that since the primary front speakers are all the same brand the "surround sound" speakers could be anything. I then talked with a tech from JBL who disagreed and then a tech from Axiom who agreed.

I know very little on the subject and just wanted to set up a nice system using hidden speakers for the surround sound. I am looking for any opinions about mixing up brands of speakers.

Thanks for any help.
Dave

 

[saaudio]

Although not ideal, you will be fine. You definitely want all three across the front to match but you should not notice any major problems by doing this. Others might disagree.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I then talked with a tech from JBL who disagreed and then a tech from Axiom who agreed.

Now unusual

just wanted to set up a nice system using hidden speakers for the surround sound. I am looking for any opinions about mixing up brands of speakers.

Thanks for any help.
Dave

Axioms do make in wall speakers, or almost in wall. It hangs out about 3" or so:

http://www.axiomaudio.com/wallspeakers.html

 

[VETMANSHU]

Thanks for the opinions. I love the look of the Axiom in-wall speakers but I already own the JBLs and they are new/in the box. Plus they are "completely"hidden into the wall.

Baring a piss-fit by the AV guy whom I hired to consult I'll get the Axioms.

Again thanks for the input.

Dave

 

[Nuglets]

You will not be one bit dissatisfied with mixing your current surrounds with a trio of new front speaker's if your primary use for the surround speaker's is to listen to movies. If you listen to music in a 5/7 channel stereo then you may notice the difference, but in my opinion 2-channel stereo is superior to multi-channel when listening to music anyways. If, however, you are going to do a lot of listening to music with all channels active, then only you can decide whether you like the sound or not.

 

[m1ke068]

I have just gone throught the whole process of purchasing new speakers, and also wanted to know about mixing speaker brands. (See thread: centre speaker sounds muffled).
The advice I got was in an ideal world you having all matching speakers is probalby the best. Having said that he went on to say, if you cant match speakers then try to match technology, i.e if you have horn type front and center speakers, try to have horn type speakers in the rear.
Having said all that, although i didnt ignore this advice, rather I couldnt afford to dish out more dosh for new rear speakers; I moved my older front canton cone style speakers to the rear and bought new reference series Klipsch for the front 3. Please read my last post on my "muffled" thread about my results.
hope this helps.

 

[dave1490]

mix and match

in my experance this is a bad idea,their is always an efficency differance,even when sticking to the same format such as horns to horns

 

[Nomo]

Efficiency difference?
Explain that, please.
The need for timbermatching is completely understandable. But Barring an extreme difference, Efficiency matching?
I say BS to that.

 

[billnchristy]

Thats what that +/- level dealie in your reciever/pre/pro is for.