Monopole or Dipole surround speakers?

[StevenSurprenant]

I thought side di-poles were supposed to do the opposite. With the sound radiating front and rear an ambient or surrounding effect should be the result.

I've use Klipsch RS-3 side surrounds in my 5.1 system. I also use them as side surrounds in my 7.1 system with monopole rear surrounds. A wall of sound has never come to mind when thinking or listening to the surround channels.

The RS-3s are specifically designed (as well as many other models) with the mid driver facing the listening area and two tweeters (horn-loaded in the case of the RS3s) facing front and back. The result is a null region facing the listening area with diffuse ambient sound front and rear. Diffuse, ambient, surround all sound to be more omnidirectional than a more specifically dimensional wall of sound.

I didn't consider that configuration, but it sounds like it should work well. I suppose it does considering that you like it. It shows that Klipsch was using their grey matter when they made those. BTW, they look nice too.