5.1 or 7.1

[FunkyMonkey]

My seating area will be 8 foot across (a large sofa).

Given the limited width, would two rear speakers be sufficient (one at either end and behind the sofa)?

Or do I definitely need 2 pairs of rear speakers?

The reason is two extra speakers cost £250 (from my point of view) and an extra pair of wires (from the missus' point of view).

Thanks.

 

[Dr Force]

Silly question but can your amp handle 7.1?

If so then there are added benefits to 7.1 which fills in the rear soundstage nicely which could be an advantage given your sofa size.

Personally I would go with 6.1 as most amps support this and means less wires, less speakersand still a gapfilled behind the sofa.

Alternatively you could install dipole/tripole rears which canbe outstsanding in creating an immersive soundstage

Good luck

Dave

 

[ninehours]

Listen to this weeks podcast they discuss this very subject

 

[FunkyMonkey]

Thanks for the advice. I will be listening to SACD as much as watching films. Therefore, dipoles are out of the question as all speakers need to have extended frequency and ideally be equal to each other.

I will check out the podcast for further advice. Thanks.

 

[Helicon]

So which main speakers do you use?

 

[FunkyMonkey]

I was going to get the Kef 3005. However, having heard the 2005.2 in a friend's house (albeit shoddily set up) and having read the recent 3005 thread where >1 people have said they felt it lacked something, and having always had Tannoys because I like their sound and build quality, AND after hearing the podcast and decided 5.1 is the answer for me, I am now going to buy the Tannoy Arena.

Of course, I will listen to both to be sure, but in theory the Arenas have it for me.

P.S. I already have a great Velodyne VX-10 sub bought nearly 4 years ago as a power-buy on these forums, but as yet cannot find a diminutive 5.0 setup (i.e. one that will sound right AND keep the missus happy )

 

[petetherock]

Just a point, 6.1 sometimes means the rears tend to be a bit more focused and the sound may collapse into the rear centre, so try it first.

 

[Dr Force]

I was going to get the Kef 3005. However, having heard the 2005.2 in a friend's house (albeit shoddily set up) and having read the recent 3005 thread where >1 people have said they felt it lacked something, and having always had Tannoys because I like their sound and build quality, AND after hearing the podcast and decided 5.1 is the answer for me, I am now going to buy the Tannoy Arena.

Of course, I will listen to both to be sure, but in theory the Arenas have it for me.

P.S. I already have a great Velodyne VX-10 sub bought nearly 4 years ago as a power-buy on these forums, but as yet cannot find a diminutive 5.0 setup (i.e. one that will sound right AND keep the missus happy )

Since when has antbody kept the missus happy?

 

[Knyght_byte]

given the limited width of the room i'd be inclined to say go with 5.1.....7.1 is most likely only going to be of real benefit if you have a good 12ft width and at least 5ft behind you.....then its a real boon over 5.1.....

if you listen to a lot of SACD's, i'd say go with normal monopole speakers....definitely preferable over di/bipoles.......

if you can move the speakers around a little and dont mind taking the time, with movies have them at the sides, pointed directly at each other and perhaps 6inches back from where your ears are........then for SACD's, if you can move them a bit further back but point them at yourself......it might not work for your room, but in a few different rooms, i found setting the speakers up this way gave maximum surround effect for movies (the former) and surround music (the latter)

 

[Piers]

FunkyMonkey,

Diminutive 5.1 was needed here to satisfy my missus. Previously I had B&W 602s and they were good. I discovered Anthony Gallo almost by chance and first impressions weren't good - tiny round speakers couldn't possibly work. I am now a convert, they do work, and blow away many speakers at the same price point whilst being much more "wife friendly".

Micro if your room is small or A'Diva if the budget stretches to them and essential if the room is bigger.