auscott Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 hey all, just a genuine question. i was reading soemthing and i noticed the statement. in an ideal world we would have all speakers matching. is that true? would you be better off with floor standing speakers all the way around, as compared to floor standing for your mains, and normal bookshelf for your rears? i realise the cost, but if you could get 3 sets of floor standing speakers for the same price would that be a better sound that, 1 set of floor standing speakers, and 2 sets of rear surround speakers? yes, im aiming for a 7.1 system. At the moment i have mains (AAD c800i) and i have a set of rears (AAD c50i) and reading that statement just got me interested in getting floor standing speakers all the way around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausnew Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 In 2 words - "it depends" You are not going to get a better tonal match than 3 sets of identical speakers, but you must have the setup to be able to include say a floorstanding speaker, if that is what you are considering for the centre channel e.g. space under screen Another point is that you must be able to drive the speakers. if you have 3 sets of floorstanders with demanding power requirements, then the quality of your amp must be carefully considered Price is another factor. If you have a fixed budget and compromise the overall quality of the fronts to get 3 sets of identical speakers instead, then imho, this would not be recommended. If you stick by the main speakers you want and then invest extra to getting the identical speakers all round (I still would not go for 7 anyway), then this would be fine Lastly there is the WAF - not to be underestimated ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTMPWR Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 hey all, just a genuine question.i was reading soemthing and i noticed the statement. in an ideal world we would have all speakers matching. is that true? would you be better off with floor standing speakers all the way around, as compared to floor standing for your mains, and normal bookshelf for your rears? i realise the cost, but if you could get 3 sets of floor standing speakers for the same price would that be a better sound that, 1 set of floor standing speakers, and 2 sets of rear surround speakers? yes, im aiming for a 7.1 system. At the moment i have mains (AAD c800i) and i have a set of rears (AAD c50i) and reading that statement just got me interested in getting floor standing speakers all the way around. I dont think its true @ all, not for HT use anyway. I had this discussion with a couple of the guys @ Len Wallis Audio the other week they also think its rubbish to match them all. as long as the pairs are the same its ok. Im generalising here, but i think careful decision would see you happy, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auscott Posted January 24, 2007 Author Share Posted January 24, 2007 cheers guys, it was just a genuine question, ive never heard of such a thing before is all, and my use will be 60% Home Theater, 30% Gaming, 10% Music (which will be MP3 running through a media extender) i wouldnt do it for various reasons, 1 being price, 2 being over all size. i have the AAD c50i rears and they are the bi-polar type speakers, and i reckon they look great. Havent set them up yet, hell, i havent even picked them up yet, but have heard them and really like them. I have heard all the reasons for not going 7.1 but at this stage Dolby Digital EX is the best audio format that Lord of the Rings comes on, so im setting up my system for that and i have read stuff that trueHD will eventually come out with 7.1 as well. i cant forsee wanting to get new speakers to soon, so im future proofing as much as possible and the speakers i have bought are a combination of performance and great price (refer to my aad speaker thread) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thornton Melon Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 cheers guys, it was just a genuine question, ive never heard of such a thing before is all, and my use will be 60% Home Theater, 30% Gaming, 10% Music (which will be MP3 running through a media extender)i wouldnt do it for various reasons, 1 being price, 2 being over all size. i have the AAD c50i rears and they are the bi-polar type speakers, and i reckon they look great. Havent set them up yet, hell, i havent even picked them up yet, but have heard them and really like them. I have heard all the reasons for not going 7.1 but at this stage Dolby Digital EX is the best audio format that Lord of the Rings comes on, so im setting up my system for that and i have read stuff that trueHD will eventually come out with 7.1 as well. i cant forsee wanting to get new speakers to soon, so im future proofing as much as possible and the speakers i have bought are a combination of performance and great price (refer to my aad speaker thread) As long as the tone of the centre speaker matches the left and right speaker, the rears don't matter as much But the centre must be clear and efficient, nothing worse than a "muddy"centre speaker Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azz123 Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 auscot The centre I believe that you're getting (the c401) is actually basically a c600i on its side. Same 25mm silk dome tweeter and 2 smaller 5" drivers from the same manufacturer as that of your c800i's. I'm certainly no speaker builder, though from what I've read, one of the major reasons that you just couldn't lay a floor stander on its side under your screen is that they are designed to project the sound left to right so to speak. Very little of the sound is designed to go towards the ceiling or the floor. Laying a speaker on its side would obviously wreck the speakers (if so designed) ability to project the sound off axis. As its been mentioned - The WAF and required grunt to power a 7 speaker (all floorstanders) is prohibitive unless you join Club Elektra! However you will note on the AAD Ci series webpage found HERE that under "Application" for the 500, 600 and 800, "surround" is listed for each as a possibility. With setting up your room you've consulted the Dolby advised speaker placement pictures/articles?? I had a terrible experience the other day where I went to a friend of a friends place that had just invested a considerable amount of money on some spanking Rotel gear and Polk speakers. This chap was adamant that he wanted 7.1 even though he didn't have the right room for it. The viewing position was a lounge on the back wall. Directly above the lounge was a large AirCon head unit. As the Surround Back speakers couldn't be put behind the listening position (at best they would be above) he stuck them in the back corners where the surrounds would usually be positioned. The surrounds he mounted about 1.5m FORWARD of the lounge. Like many of us he threw on one of the DTS demo DVD's - the one that features the Eagles doing Hotel California live. That clip has been mixed with quite a bit of info going to the rear channels, and knowing it quite well, it really doesn't sound right coming from in front of you.. My lesson from this experience was that it enforced that unless your listening/viewing position is forward some distance from the rear wall, don't bother with 7.1 A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auscott Posted January 24, 2007 Author Share Posted January 24, 2007 very good advice, but well aware of it. i have redesigned the furniture layour and infact re-thought the screen size i am going with due to all these circumstances. im an architectural draftsperson by trade, so i have cad software and know how to use it, so i have thought out every single room in my new house. at one stage i was getting a 62" RPTV but now, due to room size etc and the speaker set up im trying to create, im going to go with either a 50" Plasma or a 42" Plasma. Due to the room size, and the speaker system im trying to design, my viewing distance is going to be about 2.5m from the screen, hence i have gone with the smaller screen size, will most likely end up with a 50" though. both who will more than forfill my needs at the distance i will be viewing the tv from. im leaning toward plasma though for the viewing angle as there will be seats on the side. my seat will be directly infront of the screen with the perfect surround sound aimed around that. i will post a pic of the loungeroom later on, but year, thanks for the advice, but was well aware of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auscott Posted January 24, 2007 Author Share Posted January 24, 2007 how does one attach a pdf for you guys to look at? ive done the plan and printed to a pdf file. the more i think about it, the more im happy with what im going to do. becuase what was originally a home theater / loungeroom is now more a loungeroom / home theater room but its set up pretty well, indeed, almost perfectly for HT, yet, if the HT isnt in use, it will function better as a Loungeroom than how i originally had it planned. and 50" is still a fair size screen. I can basically get a 50" Plasma or LCD for the same price as the 62" RPTV i was close to getting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azz123 Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 I wasn't telling you how to eat porridge and I don't believe you took it that way. Sometimes if the obvious isn't stated, it can be easily overlooked. files you can attach/upload to the attachements forum found HERE. Otherwise upload to your own webspace and just add a link to here. 2.5m viewing distance - yup, IMO a 50" will do you nicely. I'm not sure how far youre from actually needing your screen - you mention building and plans so I take it that it may not be right now? As you're well aware, Plasma and LCD pricing is dropping week by week and I certainly wouldnt be buying something till the absolute day that I needed it. I just recently upgraded myself and basically 3+ months of research changed in the last week when the LCD that I purchased dropped near $1k overnight. Many of the manufacturers have plans to release native 1080p screens the first half of this year. Depending on your preference for LCD vs Plasma, and the technology that is available at the time, grabbing a screen that will do 1080p native (and maybe HDMI 1.3) will give you a screen that will show BlueRay and HD-DVD at its best. If you have a look over at the HDTV and HD capable Displays topic, many of the threads there will give you an indication of what the current "best picks" can be had for. According to some of the posts you can pick up a Sony KDL46X2000 from $5k. Couple of months ago it was $6500... Looking forward to seeing your PDF. A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auscott Posted January 25, 2007 Author Share Posted January 25, 2007 yep, my house i dont think will be finished to around easter time. thats when i will purchase the tv, and even then a possibility to wait a few more months and get a bargain some end of financial year sales etc.. but knowing me, i will get it as soon as i move in. http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=46015 that is the link to attachment (i think that is how it works) As it is, at this stage i like the look of the LG 50PC1D 50" Plasma and around the 3k mark from all reports is around my budget, but will wait until the last minute to make a final decision on screen. also, azza looking at what you got, it seems we are almost idential in what we will have I am looking at getting the either the Yammie rvx2700 or rvx1700 reciever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
50mxe20 Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 that is the link to attachment (i think that is how it works) Because there is only one, you can actually link directly to the attachment so that one doesn't have to go to the thread and click on it. Otherwise all fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjr69 Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 My 2c.. I believe having 5 or 7 identical is something to STRIVE for - obviously there are practical limitations... particularly if you are talking large speaker boxes all round! I live around the corner from VAF and originally I was thinking of 4 large floor standers and a customised matching centre channel and a sub. The cost of floor standers vs the price of bookshelves and good quality stands were about the same - all identical do look cool too - but listening is where I changed my mind. Eventually I didn't buy VAF - but that is another story.. Having a really good sub saves on your amp power and means that medium size bookshelves can alleviate the need for large floor standers. The benefits here are that the cones can be more precisely aligned with each other AND the audience, and not firing into the back of your sofa etc... I strongly disagree that matching speakers is rubbish - you may be able to get away with the rear/surrounds being different BUT the front three need to be VERY similar in character to localise the sound correctly and in particular, when the movie pans from side to side you want it to be seamless. Think of how the movie sound guys actually engineer the soundtracks - dontchathink they are fussy about using identical monitors? I'd also say that a 5.1 systems would kill a 7.1 system in terms of sound quality at the same price point. The cost of the extra 2 speakers and cables (and possibly choice of amp) could be better spent in a good sub or better centre speaker. BTW LOTR is in 6.1 - and I did extensive listening to see the benefits of a rear centre in my room - and for the few movies in 6.1 it really wasn't worth it IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azz123 Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 yep, my house i dont think will be finished to around easter time.thats when i will purchase the tv, and even then a possibility to wait a few more months and get a bargain some end of financial year sales etc.. but knowing me, i will get it as soon as i move in. http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=46015 that is the link to attachment (i think that is how it works) As it is, at this stage i like the look of the LG 50PC1D 50" Plasma and around the 3k mark from all reports is around my budget, but will wait until the last minute to make a final decision on screen. also, azza looking at what you got, it seems we are almost idential in what we will have I am looking at getting the either the Yammie rvx2700 or rvx1700 reciever Yes, systems are going to be quite similar... With receivers, I actually started with the RX-V1500 though was lucky enough to be able to upgrade to the 2500 not long after I purchased the 1500... For your surround back speakers, in-ceiling an option? A mate of mine has just had them installed (JBL) and I have to say, pretty damn impressive, when considering the balance of performance vs. the lack of intrusion in a shared living space being so aesthetically pleasing and high WAF. If I had my time again, I'd be looking pretty hard at an in ceiling solution.. Foxtails the king of in-wall and ceiling solutions. If you check his sig I think there is a link to the great job he's done at his place using Earthquake. Decided on a sub as yet? if your main usage is going to be HT and games, BIGGER is better!! (queue Norpus with the "IB IB IB" chant and Spearmints bank safes). Considering your room size and what looks like an open plan design further out the back of the room, that's a fair bit of room to energize! A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
50mxe20 Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 hin an ideal world we would have all speakers matching. Not necessarily matching but all the same brand is good.For your surround back speakers, in-ceiling an option? A mate of mine has just had them installed (JBL) and I have to say, pretty damn impressive, when considering the balance of performance vs. the lack of intrusion in a shared living space being so aesthetically pleasing and high WAF. If I had my time again, I'd be looking pretty hard at an in ceiling solution.. Foxtails the king of in-wall and ceiling solutions. If you check his sig I think there is a link to the great job he's done at his place using Earthquake. I've done similar with JM Lab Focals. ie) 716S fronts, 700S Centre and IC 206S cache in-ceiling for surrounds. Pointable tweeters work well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azz123 Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 Not necessarily matching but all the same brand is good. I've done similar with JM Lab Focals. ie) 716S fronts, 700S Centre and IC 206S cache in-ceiling for surrounds. Pointable tweeters work well. Lyle have you got pickies of your setup?? Love to see it!! I was just over your way (perth/freo) last week - that Little Creatures at Freo was a very dangerous establishment!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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