Considerations for 7.1 speaker upgrade

[bitsurfr]

I currently have a DB Dynamics Vega F45 5.1 speaker package. The
surround speakers are 100W dipoles.

I am considering purchasing an extra matching centre speaker to use as
centre rear speaker (upgrade to 6.1, $250) or 2 rear dipoles surrounds
(upgrade 7.1, $320).

My understanding is that the centre rear channel in 7.1 setups are a
mono signal only so is it worth the extra cost? If I do decide to go
down this path, would have 4 dipoles (2 surround, 2 surround back)
sound better or worse than 2 dipole surrounds + 1 centre rear?

My room size is fairly small, currently the surrounds are spaced about
3m apart.

Any advice is appreciated.


--
bitsurfr

[Eric BRANDIZI]

bitsurfr wrote:
> I currently have a DB Dynamics Vega F45 5.1 speaker package. The
> surround speakers are 100W dipoles.
>
> I am considering purchasing an extra matching centre speaker to use as
> centre rear speaker (upgrade to 6.1, $250) or 2 rear dipoles surrounds
> (upgrade 7.1, $320).
>
> My understanding is that the centre rear channel in 7.1 setups are a
> mono signal only so is it worth the extra cost? If I do decide to go
> down this path, would have 4 dipoles (2 surround, 2 surround back)
> sound better or worse than 2 dipole surrounds + 1 centre rear?
>
> My room size is fairly small, currently the surrounds are spaced about
> 3m apart.
>
> Any advice is appreciated.
>
>
Hello bitsurfr.

Giving two more ways for your home cinema to tell you what's on your
discs should be a good thing.. in an ideal world. In our world (and
especially in a small room) I would fear you going to some kind of
monophony or at least phase problems. The first kind of problem is well
known in car audio, for instance : if you put too much speakers in a car
(which means usually, more or less, in a small space) what you get is a
sound a bit like coming from an headphone - inside your head, and -
worse ! - quite monoed.
The second problem could be : no more imaging (or completely blurred, no
more precision !).

So, before investing, if I were you, I would try (perhaps by borrowing
enclosures, if possible). Even with types different from the ones you
are aiming at, it could give you serious clues.

But don't forget : the more speakers you will have in your room, the
more fiddly will be their adjustment.

Best regards,

Eric BRANDIZI (eric.brandizi@thylenea.com)
www.thylenea.com
THYLENEA, your partner in High-End Audio.

[bitsurfr]

Eric BRANDIZI Wrote:
> bitsurfr wrote:
> > I currently have a DB Dynamics Vega F45 5.1 speaker package. The
> > surround speakers are 100W dipoles.
> >
> > I am considering purchasing an extra matching centre speaker to use
> as
> > centre rear speaker (upgrade to 6.1, $250) or 2 rear dipoles
> surrounds
> > (upgrade 7.1, $320).
> >
> > My understanding is that the centre rear channel in 7.1 setups are a
> > mono signal only so is it worth the extra cost? If I do decide to
> go
> > down this path, would have 4 dipoles (2 surround, 2 surround back)
> > sound better or worse than 2 dipole surrounds + 1 centre rear?
> >
> > My room size is fairly small, currently the surrounds are spaced
> about
> > 3m apart.
> >
> > Any advice is appreciated.
> >
> >
> Hello bitsurfr.
>
> Giving two more ways for your home cinema to tell you what's on your
> discs should be a good thing.. in an ideal world. In our world (and
> especially in a small room) I would fear you going to some kind of
> monophony or at least phase problems. The first kind of problem is
> well
> known in car audio, for instance : if you put too much speakers in a
> car
> (which means usually, more or less, in a small space) what you get is
> a
> sound a bit like coming from an headphone - inside your head, and -
> worse ! - quite monoed.
> The second problem could be : no more imaging (or completely blurred,
> no
> more precision !).
>
> So, before investing, if I were you, I would try (perhaps by borrowing
> enclosures, if possible). Even with types different from the ones you
> are aiming at, it could give you serious clues.
>
> But don't forget : the more speakers you will have in your room, the
> more fiddly will be their adjustment.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Eric BRANDIZI (eric.brandizi@thylenea.com)
> www.thylenea.com
> THYLENEA, your partner in High-End Audio.


Eric,

Thanks for the reply, I had a suspicion that was going to be the case.

Bitsurfr


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bitsurfr