6.0 surround

[Kristijonas]

Hello, what do you think about 6.0 surround system? Is it a good idea? Thank you.

 

[sdifox]

what is 6.0?

 

[Durvelle27]

don't you mean 5.1 or 6.1

 

[Soundmanred]

A 6.0 system is simply a 6.1 system without a dedicated subwoofer.
The ".1" denotes a dedicated subwoofer.
If you have large enough front speakers, you can get away with a 5/6/7.0 system.
My Klipsch fronts have more than enough bass, but I use a Paradigm PW-2200 for lower extension and usually only use it while watching movies.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I have a5.0 setup. I got my mains long before dedicated subwoofer channels were the norm so I have 12" woofers in thosetowers. The way t ogo if you want osmething for music and movies.

 

[SithSolo1]

A speaker's design has as much if not more to do with its frequency response range as the size of the woofer. This an extreme example but it makes the point.

Klipsch Heresy III
3-way sealed box
1" Tweeter, 1.75" Mid, 12" woofer
58Hz-20KHz +/- 3db

Klipsch RF-42 II
2-way ported box
1" Tweeter, 2x 4.5" Woofers
59Hz-24KHz +/- 3db



As for the OP. Any setup is possible but whether it is enjoyable or not is up to you. The only x.0 system I would run is a 2.0 strictly for music with speakers that dig at least into the mid-40Hz if not lower. I will assume since you asking about surround that these will be for movies/gaming. Is there a specific reason you can not have/use a subwoofer?

 

[blackangst1]

Im not a fan of 6.x. (Or 7.x for that matter). I prefer to listen to movies in native form, and AFAIK DTS-ES is the only native 6.1 format. Everything else is extension.

 

[Paul98]

no, you would be much better off with a 5.1.

If you are getting a surround system make sure to get a good subwoofer.

 

[Kristijonas]

Is there a specific reason you can not have/use a subwoofer?

Not really, I just don't like them and also I live in a room that is not very big, so 4+ speakers will create more than enough sound... I currently have a 2.0 and sound is more than enough. I'd just like to feel the surround. Also I don't like subwoofers because I like knowing which side the lows come from.

I'm currently thinking about 4.0 5.0 6.0 or even 7.0. I'd probably just buy two more sets of 2.0 speakers and have myself a 6.0. I have http://www.edifier-international.com/products/edifier-studio/r1900tii 6 of them will take so much space however... (they're bigger than they look in the pictures)

If you are getting a surround system make sure to get a good subwoofer.

Why?

 

[Gintaras]

no, you would be much better off with a 5.1.

If you are getting a surround system make sure to get a good subwoofer.

Not true.
I had before 5.1, now 5.0. I get much better, nicer and softer bass thru front speakers than that pounding bass thru 5.1

 

[Soundmanred]

Not true.
I had before 5.1, now 5.0. I get much better, nicer and softer bass thru front speakers than that pounding bass thru 5.1

Sounds like you needed a better subwoofer.

 

[Rio Rebel]

First off, a subwoofer is only important for frequencies lower than a full range speaker can handle (which would include basically ANY movie with an explosion). You don't NEED a subwoofer. If you want to hear anything below around 40hz, you should get one. For most music, you don't need it, and it's more important to get one that is tight and not "muddy" if your focus is music. I watch too many movies to live without a sub, but that doesn't mean you wouldn't enjoy a 5 or 6 speaker setup without one.

But you did say your room is small, which makes me wonder how and why you want 6 speakers. The only reason you would go to 7 speakers instead of 5 is to get a more distinct rear channel. In a small room, you can't hear a distinct rear, so there is usually no reason to add the sixth or seventh speakers. Position your surround speakers well, and leave off the extras.

Also, remember you can always de-emphasize the sub, or set the crossover very low. With no sub at all, you will not hear anything in the very low range. You can set the sub to only play at very low frequencies and leave anything above, say 35hz to the speakers. That would eliminate any "pounding bass"

 

[SithSolo1]

In a smaller room there is no need to go above 5.0/5.1 Whether you want a sub or not is up to you but if you can tell where the "bass" is coming from the speaker isn't digging low enough.

I'd take the extra cash that a 6th speaker would cost and spent it on the other 3-5 speakers. If music is your focus with some movies spend the most on the front 2, then the center, then the surrounds. If movies are the focus spend more on the center, then front 2, then the surrounds. Polk, Bic America, and Dayton audio all make some small, cheap speakers ideally suited for surround duty.

 

[Howard]

Sounds like you needed a better subwoofer.

He probably just doesn't like bass.

 

[donfm]

I'm currently thinking about 4.0 5.0 6.0 or even 7.0. I'd probably just buy two more sets of 2.0 speakers and have myself a 6.0. I have http://www.edifier-international.com/products/edifier-studio/r1900tii 6 of them will take so much space however... (they're bigger than they look in the pictures)



Why?

Well first of all that little 5" woofer on that 2-way speaker you linked to is not going to give you any deep bass if that is your thing. You would definitely need a sub to get any kind of deep low end sound. A 5" speaker is better suited to the midrange and upper bass regions. It's impossible to say if you need a sub or not....it depends on your taste...the freq range of your main speakers......your room size....and the kind of music you play. In a small room the benefit of a sub is diminished as well. You need some room volume to get the most out of it. The only time I would say you definitely would NEED a subwoofer is if you plan on using this system for home theater. In my opinion anything more than 5.0 or 5.1 in a small room is a waste of money. You simply won't get the intended spatial effect of more speakers unless you can spread them out in the room with some space between them.

 

[Paul98]

Not really, I just don't like them and also I live in a room that is not very big, so 4+ speakers will create more than enough sound... I currently have a 2.0 and sound is more than enough. I'd just like to feel the surround. Also I don't like subwoofers because I like knowing which side the lows come from.

I'm currently thinking about 4.0 5.0 6.0 or even 7.0. I'd probably just buy two more sets of 2.0 speakers and have myself a 6.0. I have http://www.edifier-international.com/products/edifier-studio/r1900tii 6 of them will take so much space however... (they're bigger than they look in the pictures)



Why?

If you didn't like your subwoofer before it means you didn't integrate it into your main system. You should not be able to tell there is any difference between the main speakers and the subwoofer, everything should just be clean and accurate. A low quality subwoofer, setup incorrectly, or placed in a bad place in your room can cause the bass just to sound bad and take away from the music. Once you get everything correctly setup it's astounding, you don't get over powering but clear and clean sound just going lower than your speakers can. Most people have never heard a sub setup well and has freq response into the mid teens. Most people are used to the thump thump thump, just loud into a small freq range which just sounds bad.