Vintage speaker surround sound help

[jlukins]

OK, I'm going to make this question generic and not brand specific. This could apply to new speakers as well but I happen to have three pairs of full range vintage speakers and will use a single speaker from one of the pairs as a center channel. All are from the same manufacturer from the same 'family' but one pair is 'small', one pair is 'medium', and one pair 'large'.

The question is this: I will obviously use the large as the mains, but would you use one of the medium speakers as the center channel and the smaller speakers as surrounds or use one of the small speaker as center and the medium speakers as surrounds?

Thoughts?

 

[jlukins]

Also, please assume that I will use the setup equally for movies and multichannel music.

 

[cbraver]

Use the medium sized one for your center channel. Ideally, you want the same driver sizes across the front, but if that's not possible, you just get as close as possible. Lots of content will go though that center channel.

 

[jlukins]

Thanks for the quick response. That's exactly what I was thinking, but my only concern was with multichannel music I wouldn't be using everything I had, so to speak. But I'm inclined to agree with you.

 

[jlukins]

Anybody disagree with this?

 

[m_vanmeter]

nope, it's the way to set up your system. Simple process of elimination....L & R front need to be large due to large amount of audio informaion. Surrounds can be small due to very limited audio information as compared to fronts. That leaves your mediums to select a center from. Try it and enjoy your system.

 

[Exit]

Medium speaker in the center is the way to go. The surrounds don't get a lot of signal during movies or music and they can be less capable than the fronts and center. What would be cool would be to use both mediums next to each other as a center but someone would have to figure out a way to do that electrically so it wouldn't damage your amplifier. My fronts are all vintage (17 years old) and they work great. I am sure yours will work out fine too.

 

[Exit]

I think Gene picked up on the two speakers on one amp question and he wrote a reply at

http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeaker-impedance-series-parallel-connection-basics

Fair warning it's full of equations (egads) but if you go through it he explains the possibilities and results. I kind of came away with the impression its not a very good idea.