Surround Sound Question....

[ed1564]

I have a Sherwood 6090R receiver I was reading up on it today and it says that it has Dolby 5.1. Right now I just have 2 floor standign Bose speakers hooked up to it right now. If I wanted to have surround sound, I know I would need to buy a center speaker, two rear speakers, and a subwoofer. Would it matter if I have two big Bose speakers, 2 small different brand bookshelf speakers for the rear, and a different brand center channel and subwoofer?

Thanks
Eddie

 

[fatbaby]

I have a question about ss too, what good will a rear channel speaker do?

 

[ed1564]

bump

 

[Calcio]

not really, unless you are going for top quality. It is probably more important to get matched center and front, but if this is a budget system it really doesn't matter.

As for good rear channel, it is a good idea to get decent ones. I have had a cheap set, and it kinda sucked. You could hear the sound sound, but it wasn't very good.

 

[BooneRebel]

It depends on how different the speakers are. Most receivers (not sure about yours) allow you to adjust the level of output for the different channels. So you can change the power output (i.e., volume) going to each speaker in order to get them level. Your receiver probably has a test mode that lets you do this, go to avsforums or one of the other AV sites to get information on the test CDs to really 'dial in' your equipment.

But if you have two massive front speakers & two 2" tweets for the rear channels, you're not going to be happy with the results no matter what you do.

I've got a pair of KLH for the front pair & sonys for the rear and they work well enough. Plenty of room for improvement though if I start spending more $$.

 

[GasX]

(resisting urge to abuse Bose...)

For the best surround sound experience possible, you would have 5 identical speakers and a subwoofer. For most people, this is impractical. What then? Well, your front three should be "matched" or at least as similar as possible. The brief explanation for why is that as sound pans accross the screen from left to right, the signal goes from the left speaker to the center speaker to the right speaker. If the speakers are very different, you will notice a difference in the sound that may bother you. If you want a low cost / low hassle surround system, I wouldn't worry about it for now. However, it will not be long before you get the upgrade bug.

Want a cheap solution?Check out the Level 1's - they are the best bang for the buck 5.1 system you can get.

Cheers,

Matt

 

[ATLien247]

For a truly transparent sound stage, you should have speakers that have the same or very similar timbre. This is best done by having matching drivers all the way around. Of course, this comes into play more for music than HT. For HT, at least, you'll want your mains and center to complement each other.

 

[howesey]

OK, first off, try and move away from the Bose speakers. Bose are not nice and you end up paying more for what they are worth. Have a look at some of the mission speakers or B&W. The new B&W 600 Series 3's are great. If you have a chance have a look at them at your local hi-fi dealer. The B&W 600S3 range from small bookshelf speaker, large 3 way floor standers to dedicated centre speakers.

URL: http://www.bwspeakers.com/products/...cfm?range=18F0AD3B-E308-49BF-8112B4BB4D28E656

You do need to keep the same type of speakers all round (i.e. the B&W 600S3 series) to prevent mismatching of sound. Getting the tembre around the system is one of the most important factors in a multi-channel setup.

The best thing for you to do is to go to your local hi-fi dealer and listen to maybe 3 - 4 different speakers. Take along some DVDs and some CDs/SACDs you normally listen or watch so you know they will sound right to you. Not everyone agrees with everyone else, trust your own ears!


Just ask if you need more help.

- Simon

 

[ATLien247]

<< I have a question about ss too, what good will a rear channel speaker do? >>



I assume you mean a dedicated rear channel a la 6.1? If so, it's better at reproducing sound effects directly behind you than the left and right surrounds in a 5.1 system.