Bipole or Floorstander for rear surrounds ?

All other things being equal what's best for rear surround Floorstanders or Bipoles

  • Bipoles are best (use a pair of 70DS)

    Votes: 2 66.7%
  • Floorstanders are best (use a pair of 703)

    Votes: 1 33.3%

  • Total voters
    3
E

EghamHomeCinema

Guest
Just spoke to someone and they suggested that Bipole speakers may provide a better sound than floorstanders for rear surrounds.

MAINS = Mission 703 (floorstanders)
CENTRE = Mission 70c

REAR SURROUND = Mission 70DS (Bookshelf Bipole) or MISSION 703 (Floorstander)

What do you think is the best ?
 
i would go for the bookshelf, bit of an overkill with the floorstanders.
 
I haven't voted mate, because they give different sounds.
Some like one, others like another.
Do a search for Dipole or Bipole on this forum and you should find much discussion :smashin:
But I would agree floorstanders is a bit much.
 
sbowler said:
i would go for the bookshelf.

That wasn't one of the options :)

Doesn't the seating position in relation to the room shape play a part ?
 
Ian J said:
That wasn't one of the options :)

Doesn't the seating position in relation to the room shape play a part ?

Yes, good point.
If you're close to the back wall, Dipoles/Bipoles can be better, mounted on side walls.
But they do create a very different sound.
Side walls is not practical for me so I moved my Bi's to the corner and kept shifting the angles until they suited me.

If you are seated in the middle of the room, directional speakers would be better, either F/S or B/S. I'd still go bookshelves myself in that case, with rear giving 25-30% (??) of volume in surround.

For 6 channel stereo, four 703's would be very nice, but a bit of a waste, IMO.
 
I would have thought if alot of SCAD / DVDA music is played the floorstanding rears would be a good way to go, good all round even sound repro.
 
Due to a merging of 2 rooms worth of kit, I have both options available (the left overs will go on ebay) so overkill or not there is no cost to me (and little in it on returns from the ebay sale).

I don't have standard bookshleves it is either the Floorstanders OR the Bipoles.

Fortunatly the listening postion will be a few feet from the back wall and there is space for the Bipoles to be mounted on the side walls (behind the seating position).

So, for 'Floorstander' read 'Normal' speaker Floorstander/Bookshelf . . . .

Waddya say Normal or Bipole? (I will search the threads - thanks)
 
EghamHomeCinema said:
Just spoke to someone and they suggested that Bipole speakers may provide a better sound than floorstanders for rear surrounds.

MAINS = Mission 703 (floorstanders)
CENTRE = Mission 70c

REAR SURROUND = Mission 70DS (Bookshelf Bipole) or MISSION 703 (Floorstander)

What do you think is the best ?

You stated bookshelf yourself which is where the comment came from.
 
I thought that 'floorstanders' mean that they sit on the floor (i.e. are big)

And that 'bookshelfs' are small speakers that could fit on a bookshelf.


Hence the Bipoles are bookshelf size so 'Bookshelf Bipoles' ?
And the Floorstanders are 'Normal' (as in non-bipole).

Am I wrong ?
 
EghamHomeCinema said:
And that 'bookshelfs' are small speakers that could fit on a bookshelf.

That is correct but the Missions can't sit on a bookshelf as they are tapered and would therefore topple over. They need to be wall mounted.

In answer to your revised question, there is no definitive answer as different people prefer a different type of sound and much depends on the seating position within the room. As you already have the speakers the best thing would be to try both sets out for yourself and see which you prefer.
 

The latest video from AVForums

TV Buying Guide - Which TV Is Best For You?
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Back
Top Bottom