What to do...

Shelster

Shelster

Shelster

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Joined
3 Aug 2003
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Location
Plymouth, UK
I currently have a 7.2 Sony STR DH820 AV amp, but am only running at 2.0 at present due to where we live. We are about to move and was wondering what people think of the following options

1 - Run in a 5.2 setup with the fronts in their current bi-amp set up

2 - Run in a 7.2 setup with the fronts in a single configuration.

Speaker wise I have 2 x TDL Nucleus KV6 floor standers as fronts, 2 x KEF IQ1 and 2 x Cambridge Audio SL30 that can be used for the surrounds.

Open to suggestions and opinions on the setup.

(Havent got me a sub yet, but will grab one when I have finally moved)
 
The number after the point refers to the sub, so unless you're going to be using 2 subs, then probably just go with 5.1, unless you do have the space for 7.1.
 
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Was thinking of just sticking with 5.1 as will cause less agro from the Mrs.

Wasn't going for 2 subs as that would deffo couse me some trouble, not really sure why i put it in the OP...must be going mad....

Centre is a Mordaunt Short Alumni 5
 
First thing I would do is match up your speakers, having all those different makes and ranges, especially over the front soundstage, is asking for trouble.
 
Jano...that would be a great thing to do, however buying matching speakers is asking for more trouble than having mixed speakers, when you factor in the Mrs
 
Wimenz like things that match. Should be much easier than buying additional speakers.
 
Run 5.1 unless you have a very large room. 7.1 needs a lot more space to do justice to the sound.

Get a good centre speaker. 70% of what you hear across the front soundstage comes from the centre channel alone.

Sell the Kefs and CA speakers and replace them with a pair of bi-pole/di-pole switchable side surround speakers. Monitor Audio BRFX are excellent, flexible and not expensive. They also stick out far less than a conventional bookshelf speaker on a bracket so mucho brownie points from the missus for making the room look neater.

Buy a really good sub. You're not just looking for bass extension. You want tone and texture in the whole of the bass area where it overlaps with the front mains and centre.
 
lucid said:
Run 5.1 unless you have a very large room. 7.1 needs a lot more space to do justice to the sound.

Get a good centre speaker. 70% of what you hear across the front soundstage comes from the centre channel alone.

Sell the Kefs and CA speakers and replace them with a pair of bi-pole/di-pole switchable side surround speakers. Monitor Audio BRFX are excellent, flexible and not expensive. They also stick out far less than a conventional bookshelf speaker on a bracket so mucho brownie points from the missus for making the room look neater.

Buy a really good sub. You're not just looking for bass extension. You want tone and texture in the whole of the bass area where it overlaps with the front mains and centre.
Click to expand...

i use front width for 7.1 it doesnt need much more space to be honest and widens the sound stage by about 2m! :)
 
I use 5.1 but with the extra 2 channels to bi-amp the front 2 speakers. It really does improve the grip they have on the sound.
 
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