I'm building a home theater system around Martin Logan Aerius i mains. Is it necessary that I use electrostat for the center and surrounds? or are there other possibilities using conventional speaker setup?
I need 4 surrounds, 1 center, and 1 subwoofer to complete 7.1 setup.
I will use Denon AVR-2802 receiver for the center and two side surrounds and Rotel RB-956AX for the mains (bi-amped) and 2 back surrounds. the second question is, would I get better results with Denon AVR-2802/Rotel 956AX combo or am I better off getting just the Denon AVR-3802? FYI, Denon AVR-2802 comes with 6x90 wpc, Rotel 956AX 6x40wpc (mains are biamped, so 80wpc), AVR-3802 comes with 7x110wpc.

Thanks for your help.

Hi Superdan,

No, it's not necessary to use an electrostatic center channel speaker; indeed, it might work against intelligibility--if the center was a dipole design--if you did.

I know the Martin-Logan Aerius. A neutral wide-range dynamic center-channel speaker like the Axiom VP-150 should be a reasonable timbral match with the Aerius mains.

Since you like dipole main speakers, I've selected 4 quadpolar Axiom QS-8 surround speakers, and the EP-350 subwoofer to complete the system.

As to your alternatives in the HT electronics, it' rather six of one and a half-dozen of the other. I'm all for convenience in HT operation, so I'd likely opt for the Denon AVR-3802. Bulletproof amps, etc. But only you can really make that choice. . .Perhaps other visitors to our message boards will have some opinions.

Regards,