Considerations for 7.1 speaker upgrade

[bitsurfr]

I currently have a DB Dynamics Vega F45 5.1 speaker package. The surround speakers are 100W dipoles.

I am considering purchasing an extra matching centre speaker to use as centre rear speaker (upgrade to 6.1, $250) or 2 rear dipoles surrounds (upgrade 7.1, $320).

My understanding is that the centre rear channel in 7.1 setups are a mono signal only so is it worth the extra cost? If I do decide to go down this path, would have 4 dipoles (2 surround, 2 surround back) sound better or worse than 2 dipole surrounds + 1 centre rear?

My room size is fairly small, currently the surrounds are spaced about 3m apart.

Any advice is appreciated.

[Eric BRANDIZI]

bitsurfr wrote:
> I currently have a DB Dynamics Vega F45 5.1 speaker package. The
> surround speakers are 100W dipoles.
>
> I am considering purchasing an extra matching centre speaker to use as
> centre rear speaker (upgrade to 6.1, $250) or 2 rear dipoles surrounds
> (upgrade 7.1, $320).
>
> My understanding is that the centre rear channel in 7.1 setups are a
> mono signal only so is it worth the extra cost? If I do decide to go
> down this path, would have 4 dipoles (2 surround, 2 surround back)
> sound better or worse than 2 dipole surrounds + 1 centre rear?
>
> My room size is fairly small, currently the surrounds are spaced about
> 3m apart.
>
> Any advice is appreciated.
>
>
Hello bitsurfr.

Giving two more ways for your home cinema to tell you what's on your
discs should be a good thing.. in an ideal world. In our world (and
especially in a small room) I would fear you going to some kind of
monophony or at least phase problems. The first kind of problem is well
known in car audio, for instance : if you put too much speakers in a car
(which means usually, more or less, in a small space) what you get is a
sound a bit like coming from an headphone - inside your head, and -
worse ! - quite monoed.
The second problem could be : no more imaging (or completely blurred, no
more precision !).

So, before investing, if I were you, I would try (perhaps by borrowing
enclosures, if possible). Even with types different from the ones you
are aiming at, it could give you serious clues.

But don't forget : the more speakers you will have in your room, the
more fiddly will be their adjustment.

Best regards,

Eric BRANDIZI (eric.brandizi@thylenea.com)
www.thylenea.com
THYLENEA, your partner in High-End Audio.

[bitsurfr]

bitsurfr wrote:
> I currently have a DB Dynamics Vega F45 5.1 speaker package. The
> surround speakers are 100W dipoles.
>
> I am considering purchasing an extra matching centre speaker to use as
> centre rear speaker (upgrade to 6.1, $250) or 2 rear dipoles surrounds
> (upgrade 7.1, $320).
>
> My understanding is that the centre rear channel in 7.1 setups are a
> mono signal only so is it worth the extra cost? If I do decide to go
> down this path, would have 4 dipoles (2 surround, 2 surround back)
> sound better or worse than 2 dipole surrounds + 1 centre rear?
>
> My room size is fairly small, currently the surrounds are spaced about
> 3m apart.
>
> Any advice is appreciated.
>
>
Hello bitsurfr.

Giving two more ways for your home cinema to tell you what's on your
discs should be a good thing.. in an ideal world. In our world (and
especially in a small room) I would fear you going to some kind of
monophony or at least phase problems. The first kind of problem is well
known in car audio, for instance : if you put too much speakers in a car
(which means usually, more or less, in a small space) what you get is a
sound a bit like coming from an headphone - inside your head, and -
worse ! - quite monoed.
The second problem could be : no more imaging (or completely blurred, no
more precision !).

So, before investing, if I were you, I would try (perhaps by borrowing
enclosures, if possible). Even with types different from the ones you
are aiming at, it could give you serious clues.

But don't forget : the more speakers you will have in your room, the
more fiddly will be their adjustment.

Best regards,

Eric BRANDIZI (eric.brandizi@thylenea.com)
www.thylenea.com
THYLENEA, your partner in High-End Audio.


Eric,

Thanks for the reply, I had a suspicion that was going to be the case.

Bitsurfr