5 new speakers for a 7.1 receiver

[Woochifer]

Using five identical speakers all the way around is actually an ideal configuration. Use three identical speakers up front if you're using a plasma or other wall-mounted flat screen. If there's enough room underneath the plasma screen for a third main speaker, that's actually what you should go with for the best voice matching. If you go with the horizontal center speaker, do some listening and make sure that the VR-M center speaker sufficiently matches the mains, because I remember that the center speaker that Boston matches to the CR and VR series had some notably different tonal characteristics.

As far as the surrounds go, you're fine sticking with a 5.1 configuration given that there's very little material on the market specifically encoded for back surround playback. Also, if you plan to have your sofa up against the backwall, you're best off staying with 5.1 because using a odd placement just to squeeze the back surround speakers into the setup will likely do a lot more harm than good as far as your surround imaging goes.

Also, I'm not really a fan of dipolar surround speakers. They convey a big soundfield for ambient cues, but a lot of the directional effects with movies and pinpoint imaging with multichannel music gets lost with dipoles. I much prefer direct firing speakers, and if you plan to listen to a lot of multichannel SACD or DVD-A, then direct firing surround speakers are preferable IMO. It's more a preference thing, but you should listen to both configurations and see what you like better.

The placement that I would recommend that you start with is the ITU reference placement standard. It's frequently used for multichannel music mixing, but I've also found it useful with movie soundtracks as well. The diagram is below. Once you have the speakers set up in this configuration, then you can tweak with the placement and see what changes you prefer. Keep in mind that if you choose to go with dipolar surrounds, then the speakers should be perpendicular to the listening position.



Dolby recommends that if you use direct firing speakers for both movies and multichannel music, you should elevate the speakers about 2' above ear level and point them directly at one another to diffuse the sound and retain just enough of the directionality. I think 1' above ear level is fine, and more ideal for multichannel music. Going higher diffuses the sound more, which is advantageous for most movie soundtracks.

[omikey]

Using five identical speakers all the way around is actually an ideal configuration. Use three identical speakers up front if you're using a plasma or other wall-mounted flat screen. If there's enough room underneath the plasma screen for a third main speaker, that's actually what you should go with for the best voice matching. If you go with the horizontal center speaker, do some listening and make sure that the VR-M center speaker sufficiently matches the mains, because I remember that the center speaker that Boston matches to the CR and VR series had some notably different tonal characteristics..

Wooch - Thanks for the pointers here. I will have to go with horizontal center so I'm certainly looking for a 3 way match up front. I'll be sure to go in and listen to that Boston VR-MC center along with those VR-M50s to make sure the 3 of them match. I did not listen to the center the last time I was in the store, stupid me. For whatever reason I was 'assuming' that the center would match the bookshelfs ... not to be assumed at these prices :-)

As far as the surrounds go, you're fine sticking with a 5.1 configuration given that there's very little material on the market specifically encoded for back surround playback. Also, if you plan to have your sofa up against the backwall, you're best off staying with 5.1 because using a odd placement just to squeeze the back surround speakers into the setup will likely do a lot more harm than good as far as your surround imaging goes...

OK on this one, and this is the case too. The chairs are up against (almost anyway) the back wall. Not really feasible to think about trying to get a speaker placed behind the chairs.

Also, I'm not really a fan of dipolar surround speakers. They convey a big soundfield for ambient cues, but a lot of the directional effects with movies and pinpoint imaging with multichannel music gets lost with dipoles. I much prefer direct firing speakers, and if you plan to listen to a lot of multichannel SACD or DVD-A, then direct firing surround speakers are preferable IMO. It's more a preference thing, but you should listen to both configurations and see what you like better....

Well my main reason for thinking of dipolars is because there is a closet in one corner of the room (back left when facing the front). One of the main listening/watching chairs (only two of us) sits out from the back wall further than the other and sorta off to the side a bit. So I am thinking that I need the dispersion of sound. I think if I were to use the direct firing speaker that the sound from the left rear would toally miss the person sitting in the right rear (whose chair sits further back in the room and from a sound perspective is more 'in line' with the side of that stupid closet. The closet is (or by design I guess) used for receiving guest and putting their coats in when they arrive. Since you walk directly in from the foyer and into the living room.

The placement that I would recommend that you start with is the ITU reference placement standard. It's frequently used for multichannel music mixing, but I've also found it useful with movie soundtracks as well. The diagram is below. Once you have the speakers set up in this configuration, then you can tweak with the placement and see what changes you prefer. Keep in mind that if you choose to go with dipolar surrounds, then the speakers should be perpendicular to the listening position. ....

Because of that stupid closet and coupled with the fact that the chairs are as far back in the room as I can get them .... I've been thinking that I have to have the surrounds on the side walls. So they would be directly across from each other and out in-line or perpendicular with the two chairs. As much as possible any ways since one of the chairs sits further back in the room than the other .... we can always slide the one chair forward when watching HT, then slide it back later. We rarely are sitting when listening to music .... very festive at those times :-)

Dolby recommends that if you use direct firing speakers for both movies and multichannel music, you should elevate the speakers about 2' above ear level and point them directly at one another to diffuse the sound and retain just enough of the directionality. I think 1' above ear level is fine, and more ideal for multichannel music. Going higher diffuses the sound more, which is advantageous for most movie soundtracks.

This will be a challeng. The entrance into the room is at 7 feet high and about 12 feet wide. I will have to have the left rear speaker on the side wall and it will be about 7.5 to 8 feet (maybe even 9) off the floor. Another reason for thinking dipolar ..... what are you thoughts on this one ?

I wish you could come over and assist me with this setup, and tune the system for me :-)

Thanks for all your help I really do appreciate it.

Mike