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Time for the move to 7.1? Need to pick surrounds.
#346722 04/30/11 05:33 PM
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Right now I have a 5.1 setup that has served me very well, in-cabinet T60's, VP150, QS8s, and EP500. When I was setting up my theater last year I decided to wait on 7.1 since there weren't really many 7.1 titles out there. I figured I would try to stick to the original sound track. Well, the last several Blu Rays I have bought have 7.1 surround, so maybe now's the time. My AVR is 9.2 capable, so no probs there.

Here's my right rear:


And left rear:


The columns you see on either side of the couch are wired for the additional speakers, all I need to do is pop a hole in them.

I put the QS8s up high and in back because they just worked better there. You can see my rear wall is pretty open, and I think when I had them mounted on the columns (while I was testing my setup) alot of the sound that went backwards never came back and it just didn't sound good at all. Plus they stick out so far you have to walk around them when they are on the columns.

My options are the in-wall speakers, although I will have to build a frame out around them, the columns are only 2" deep and have load bearing 2x6's behind them- I don't want to notch out the 2x6's. So those would stick out an inch from the column. Or just the flat On-wall speakers which look like they stick out 3" but would be simple to hang. I think the in/on wall ones would still have to be built out and would look funny compared to the full in-wall speakers. I'm leaning for the full in-walls for a more slick look.

So two questions: would direct firing speakers right at my head ruin the otherwise great non-directional sound from the existing QS8s? If that's the case I can stick with 5.1.

2: Any reason to look at the M3's over the M2's as surrounds? I figure the M2's 5.25" drivers would be the same as the midranges in my T60 towers, and the same drivers as the Center channel and surrounds I already have.

I realize a lot of people like the high and wides, but right now, in my setup, this is the easiest to add. Plus I want to stick to the dedicated streams in the original sound track and not have my AVR try to guess what goes where.

Thanks for any thoughts.

Last edited by rprice54; 04/30/11 05:34 PM.
Re: Time for the move to 7.1? Need to pick surrounds.
rprice54 #346738 04/30/11 07:36 PM
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I myself would opt for another set of QS8's. You have no room for sound diffusion to take place so those direct radiating speakers are going to give you pinpoint sound from the sides. You could use 2 M2's in place of the present QS8s as those points look to have a good distance to the listening position and then move the QS's to the side surrounds, to save some money.


Jason
M80 v2
VP160 v3
QS8 v2
PB13 Ultra
Denon 3808
Samsung 85" Q70
Re: Time for the move to 7.1? Need to pick surrounds.
jakewash #346744 04/30/11 08:23 PM
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Yeah, I too vote for QS8s all around, or moving the QSes to the sides, and getting M2s for rears.


Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011
Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8
Sony PS4, surround backs
-Chris
Re: Time for the move to 7.1? Need to pick surrounds.
ClubNeon #346745 04/30/11 08:41 PM
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Agreed.


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Re: Time for the move to 7.1? Need to pick surrounds.
Ken.C #346746 04/30/11 08:41 PM
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Oh, hey, you mentioned T60s. Got any pics of those?


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Re: Time for the move to 7.1? Need to pick surrounds.
rprice54 #346758 05/01/11 01:24 AM
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RP, the positioning of your QS8s is actually more ideal for back surrounds in a 7.1 setup than for the 5.1 side surrounds which they are now. If you're going to add additional surrounds for a 7.1 setup the side surrounds should now be placed directly to the side of the listening position and should be QSs rather than direct radiators because of their closeness, among other things. The current positioning of the QS8s, as was said, would be about ideal for the back surrounds.

The advanced technology from sources such as Audyssey and Dolby which expands 5.1 sources to 7.1 or height and width speakers certainly can't be fairly described as "try to guess".


-----------------------------------

Enjoy the music, not the equipment.


Re: Time for the move to 7.1? Need to pick surrounds.
JohnK #346759 05/01/11 01:34 AM
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I've not heard width or height speakers, but I can state that the expansion of 5.1 to 7.1 via Dolby Prologic IIx is completely convincing. I don't know which discs have 7 discrete channels and which don't, I just leave it on PLIIx all the time, and enjoy seamless surround effects.


Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011
Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8
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-Chris
Re: Time for the move to 7.1? Need to pick surrounds.
ClubNeon #346773 05/01/11 01:41 PM
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I hear what you guys are saying, and I did try the QSs in the 'correct' place where the columns are, and I was not happy at all, it was almost like having no surround, I think because I really don't have a back wall to bounce the sound off.

If direct speakers would interfere with the great surround I'm getting already I can leave well enough alone.

I'll try to get a pick up tomorrow of the T60. We are still finishing our basement and I had to do all the cabinets for a bathroom and kitchen down there so I only have one speaker built in so far. Gotta go to work now.

Re: Time for the move to 7.1? Need to pick surrounds.
rprice54 #346785 05/01/11 02:33 PM
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Since I've had my Axioms, I've not had any back wall or right side wall, the Qs8's are mounted on the ceiling, and they sound great. Yours is not wide open like mine. Looking at your room, it doesn't really make sense that putting them in the correct location would give you poor results, 2-3 ft above ear position and to the sides for 5.1. For me the sound travels right through you.


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85


Re: Time for the move to 7.1? Need to pick surrounds.
SirQuack #347092 05/03/11 05:26 PM
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Excuse the poor quality, taken with my phone before the can lights were warmed up and fully bright.



There will be a four panel pocket door to the left of the speaker (this is my left front). Then I will install trim and crown across the top to cover the screen housing. The screen drops down behind the flap on the right of the speaker, that helps hide the tensioned sides of the screen. The idea is that when the screen comes down, it's framed by the cabinets and speakers. Behind the screen are two display cabinets (seen here with toys) flanking a plasma. I needed something to fill the space to make it look nice when the screen is up.

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