[lindzap]

Thinking about replacing my old Q series KEF cinema 7.1 set-up. My cinema is my living room, so looks count for a lot. Looking for better articulation and dynamic capability. Ideally I would also like dipoles for rears not bookshelfs masquerading as rears. I'm thinking in the Monitor Audio Gold type budget. Got interested in Monitor Audio but with grills they look butt ugly and without they won't pass discreteness with the cones on display. So after a little looking and listening around decided I would probably start to look seriously at the PMC Twenty series. And so finally here I am at the point of thinking about a home demo, but here's the problem - PMC don't do dipole rears.

What rears would integrate with a PMC Twenty front set-up? What say you wise ones?

[PSM1]

How close are the rears to your seated location? Is the need to not have bookshelf rears due to sound and/or location of the speakers or more about style? Personally I prefer the same make and model all around hence I would go for PMC twenty bookshelves as rears. (I currently have PMC GB fronts and DB rears).

[lindzap]

Thanks for the response. The reason why bookshelfs are not ideal is location. The seating position is relatively close to the rear wall. Right now I have smallish Kef eggs doing the back and surround back duties and they produce quite a directional sound as they are relatively close to the ear and at radiator height. I'm not sure I would get away with significantly larger bookshelfs even if I suggested to put them higher up just because of the visual impact factor.

[Dav1dF]

Which AV receiver are you using? This may limit your choice depending on its capabilities.

As you have KEF Q, you'll be used to the excellent imaging and wide dispersion of them, so (depending on your receiver), have you thought about the KEF R series?

PMC don't make any dipoles.

[lindzap]

The amp is a Denon 4311. Indeed the problem is that PMC don't make dipoles.

What other choices I could consider for surround rears, preferentially dipoles, that might work well with PMC front and centre?

I haven't thought about Kef Rs although I have considered the lower end of the Reference range. I must admit I haven't been too wowed by the recent hifi show demos for Kef. If there isn't anything that will match the PMCs then that's probably the next stop, but it feels rather a shame that PMC don't have more to offer cinema enthusiasts.

[bluedroog]

Have you considered the PMC Wafer series?

[lindzap]

That's a good thought. Not dipoles for sure, but they would integrate well I assume. Do they work well as rears, I wonder?

[Dav1dF]

Originally Posted by lindzap

The amp is a Denon 4311. Indeed the problem is that PMC don't make dipoles.

What other choices I could consider for surround rears, preferentially dipoles, that might work well with PMC front and centre?

I haven't thought about Kef Rs although I have considered the lower end of the Reference range. I must admit I haven't been too wowed by the recent hifi show demos for Kef. If there isn't anything that will match the PMCs then that's probably the next stop, but it feels rather a shame that PMC don't have more to offer cinema enthusiasts.

Shows aren't the best representation for any brand.

To match in with the PMC's, scout around for some Miller & Kreisel SS150 or S55s surrounds. These are tripole, but will work well with the Twenty series.

[bluedroog]

I think many people use for HT applications, the fact many use them as their main speakers also speaks volumes in regard to their qulaity, they are supposed to be just as good as the tradional cabinet regular versions.

That said be aware that they still use the older tweeter, not the same as the 'i' series but I think the previous '+' series. With the expansion of the facotry this may be something they're are working to update, I just don't know though. They sound busy!

Of course they aren't the perfect match for the Twenty series but I'd imagine better than going for a different brand altogether. If I had the budget at the moment that's what I'd go for. At least worth further investigation.

They actually have two versions of each speaker, an in wall and on wall. If you own your place then in wall would be ideal for HT.