Importance of voice matched surround speakers?

[NutBucket]

I'm setting up my surround system and have a bit of a question, far from a dilemma though.

I've got 5 matching Boston Acoustic speakers that I could use; HD10 fronts, 525v center and HD8 rears. However, I'd really like to use the HD8s for the office system. The only other set of speakers I have are Bose 201s.

Would it be a terrible idea to use the 201s for rear surrounds or would I be better off buying another set of BAs to match? I would likely go with something smaller like HD5s for rear surrounds as I think the HD8s may be a bit "overkill" for rear surrounds.

I don't want to use the 201s for the office system because they simply don't sound good as a main speaker pair.

Input?

 

[vshah]

it doesn't mater nearly as much to have the rears matching the fronts/center. try the 201s, and if you don't like them then you can think about something else.

 

[3chordcharlie]

How Important?

Not terribly.

If it bugs you, sell the 201s and buy new BAs, but it doesn't seem to matter much what you use for surrounds as long as they make noise and don't rattle.

A quick search shows HD5s available for less than half the price of used 201s (gotta love Bose!). So you could probably make the switch at no real cost after shipping, and not have to worry about it. If it were me, I'd use the 201s, and post a local ad offering a straight-up trade for BA bookshelfs.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

For multichannel music listening, it would be desirable for them to match, but for a system based on movies, I don't think it's a big deal at all.

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah, I suppose I might as well sell the 201s. They were purchased in my youth when I can claim ignorance

Multi-channel music isn't really a consideration right now beyond a few concert DVDs. When at home I mainly listen to FM and vinyl. I may give HD radio a shot at some point.

 

[sdifox]

Yeah, I suppose I might as well sell the 201s. They were purchased in my youth when I can claim ignorance

Multi-channel music isn't really a consideration right now beyond a few concert DVDs. When at home I mainly listen to FM and vinyl. I may give HD radio a shot at some point.

:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

 

[vi edit]

For movies I'd say 2/10 on the importance scale.

 

[kalrith]

Not an issue for movies at all. The only speakers that need to match are your front 3, and it's preferable if they match perfectly. The sub and surrounds can be whatever you want (the surrounds should be in matching pairs, of course).

 

[NutBucket]

Thanks for the advice everybody. I think the 201s are headed to ebay and some more BA goodness will be heading into my home.