rear surround help - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

5615669 · 11-19-2001, 12:20 AM

Fellow forum members, I need help with a question. I was considering adding a second set of surrounds for the sides. I would run them in series so there wouldnt be any impedance problems. My question is with 5.1 would there be any good in doing this? Both right rear and right side would be reproducing the same signal as well as the left side and left rear. Any opinions are greatly appreciated and respected. thanks a bunch!!

***1138*** · 11-19-2001, 01:24 AM

I don't think it's a good idea because of phase problems.

------------------
1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter/Moderator
Someday, I will be the most powerful Jedi ever.

Brian G · 11-19-2001, 05:48 PM

I am running with two sets of speakers for each surround channel and have them wired in "parrallel" with nary a problem.

In essence, each channel now looks like 4 ohms to the reciever (r1*r2)/(r1+r2) as apposed to 16 ohms (r1+r2).

My rational (and that of others on HTF) is that the lower resistance in the surrounds are not going to be that hard on the reciever because:

well ventilated to dissipate extra heat
surround channels are not driven very hard
bass is being routed to the subwoofer

My reciever (a Pioneer VSX-D608) does have a switch that says have have 6-8 ohms speakers and thus I set it to that.
I am very pleased with the results. The surrounds only call attention to themselves when there is specific cause to. True surround effects are transparent.

Here is link to a diagram of how I have them located. http://home.i29.net/~bjglaeske/ht/BasementHT.gif

Brian G.

5615669 · 11-19-2001, 07:18 PM

Thanks Brian and 1138 ! I guess my next question is how do they sound ? Is it a huge difference over just one set?

[This message has been edited by 5615669 (edited 11-19-2001).]

MARVEL · 11-21-2001, 08:39 AM

Ahh the question. I asked about this in another thread but no one seemed to under stand what I was asking. I think this is a matter of opinion. I belive if you want something that sounds like an actual movie theater, then you have to set your system up based on an actual theater. I have 8 surrounds on my main system and think that it is very enveloping and theatrical. I have them running in parrallel off of a sub in the rear of the room. Just be sure to get every speaker in phase and you won't notice any one speaker over another. I think it fills in the gaps that are in the room. Every speaker in the room is generally the same distance from another all the way around the room and they start with the front speakers at around 5 feet off the ground and go up diagonally(like a theater) to around 7 1/2 feet. I think this setup is entirely based on opinion. But I love it and wouldn't have it any different on my main system. I have a 5 speaker system in a smaller room and it sounds great, but different in the fact that to me it sounds more like a "home" theater, which in no way is bad, just not what I wanted on my main system. Then again I was a projectionist for 5 years at a theater, helped install a dts system and observed setting up all of the surrounds and subs. For a home theater freak this was the ultimate high. That's my 2 cents hope it helps.

------------------
F-L-O-R-I-D-A S-T-A-T-E
Florida State
Florida State
Florida State
WHOOOOO!!!!

Brian G · 11-21-2001, 05:14 PM

5615669, it was not a huge difference, but rather a subtle difference that makes the surrounds more ambiant (as they should be).

I am also prepared for a 7.1 reciever when a good one comes to market as well.

MARVEL, that sounds pretty cool. Do you have any pictures of it?

5615669 · 11-21-2001, 06:42 PM

Thanks guys for all your help and valued opinions. Im gonna go for it and see what happens. Happy Thanksgiving!!

MARVEL · 11-24-2001, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian G:

MARVEL, that sounds pretty cool. Do you have any pictures of it?

Not at present since I just moved into my current home. But I should have some pics soon.....however I don't have a clue how to upload the pics to this page. But I'll figure it out. Also while the design of it is cool it's the one subtle feature of the room that I'm most happy about. It's that I got to paint the room deep burgundy, so when the lights go down the room dissapears and all you have is the screen and lots of sound.

------------------
F-L-O-R-I-D-A S-T-A-T-E
Florida State
Florida State
Florida State
WHOOOOO!!!!

11-19-2001, 12:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
5615669 Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: roanoke va usa	rear surround help Fellow forum members, I need help with a question. I was considering adding a second set of surrounds for the sides. I would run them in series so there wouldnt be any impedance problems. My question is with 5.1 would there be any good in doing this? Both right rear and right side would be reproducing the same signal as well as the left side and left rear. Any opinions are greatly appreciated and respected. thanks a bunch!!

11-19-2001, 05:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Brian G Actor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Fargo, ND, USA	I am running with two sets of speakers for each surround channel and have them wired in "parrallel" with nary a problem. In essence, each channel now looks like 4 ohms to the reciever (r1*r2)/(r1+r2) as apposed to 16 ohms (r1+r2). My rational (and that of others on HTF) is that the lower resistance in the surrounds are not going to be that hard on the reciever because: well ventilated to dissipate extra heat surround channels are not driven very hard bass is being routed to the subwoofer My reciever (a Pioneer VSX-D608) does have a switch that says have have 6-8 ohms speakers and thus I set it to that. I am very pleased with the results. The surrounds only call attention to themselves when there is specific cause to. True surround effects are transparent. Here is link to a diagram of how I have them located. http://home.i29.net/~bjglaeske/ht/BasementHT.gif Brian G.

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11-19-2001, 01:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
*1138* Producer/Admin Careful, or I'll ban myself... Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	I don't think it's a good idea because of phase problems. ------------------ 1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter/Moderator Someday, I will be the most powerful Jedi ever.

11-19-2001, 07:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
5615669 Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: roanoke va usa	Thanks Brian and 1138 ! I guess my next question is how do they sound ? Is it a huge difference over just one set? [This message has been edited by 5615669 (edited 11-19-2001).]

11-21-2001, 08:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
MARVEL Actor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: 30 miles north of Cinderella's castle, FL	Ahh the question. I asked about this in another thread but no one seemed to under stand what I was asking. I think this is a matter of opinion. I belive if you want something that sounds like an actual movie theater, then you have to set your system up based on an actual theater. I have 8 surrounds on my main system and think that it is very enveloping and theatrical. I have them running in parrallel off of a sub in the rear of the room. Just be sure to get every speaker in phase and you won't notice any one speaker over another. I think it fills in the gaps that are in the room. Every speaker in the room is generally the same distance from another all the way around the room and they start with the front speakers at around 5 feet off the ground and go up diagonally(like a theater) to around 7 1/2 feet. I think this setup is entirely based on opinion. But I love it and wouldn't have it any different on my main system. I have a 5 speaker system in a smaller room and it sounds great, but different in the fact that to me it sounds more like a "home" theater, which in no way is bad, just not what I wanted on my main system. Then again I was a projectionist for 5 years at a theater, helped install a dts system and observed setting up all of the surrounds and subs. For a home theater freak this was the ultimate high. That's my 2 cents hope it helps. ------------------ F-L-O-R-I-D-A S-T-A-T-E Florida State Florida State Florida State WHOOOOO!!!!

11-21-2001, 05:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Brian G Actor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Fargo, ND, USA	5615669, it was not a huge difference, but rather a subtle difference that makes the surrounds more ambiant (as they should be). I am also prepared for a 7.1 reciever when a good one comes to market as well. MARVEL, that sounds pretty cool. Do you have any pictures of it?

11-21-2001, 06:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
5615669 Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: roanoke va usa	Thanks guys for all your help and valued opinions. Im gonna go for it and see what happens. Happy Thanksgiving!!