5.1 to 6.1...

[raoulx]

Currently I have a 5.1 setup but want to get another pair of ls50's or a single ls50 preferably for a center speaker. As this is harder the single, I may have to get a pair. So IF I bought another pair would it be best I go for 6.1? :S and have one ls50 at the front center, and one as surround back behind my head and the listening position?

Or have a random setup with one as a center and one as a surround l/r

BTW I have a Yamaha RX-V673

 

[stavvy]

they sell a 5.1 KEF LS50 speaker package here:

http://www.quantumav.co.uk/speakers/br:kef/

if they sell them as sets of 5 it would be worth asking them if they could sell you a single speaker, then they would just sell the remainder as two pairs of stereo speakers seperately. Nothing to lose in asking! 🙂

 

[The_Lhc]

You'd be better of buying a pair and replacing your existing front centre as it doesn't currently match the front L+R, which is recommended for a tonally matching front soundstage.

I believe Mr David at Frank Harvey was running exactly a full set of LX50s for a while (might still be, I can't remember).

 

[raoulx]

Quantum AV do single ones at £400 but sometimes these are harder to find. The 2005 is only there for the time being until I buy the single ls50 or pair.

The problem is, if I bought the pair what would I do with the spare speaker?

Thats why I was thinking 6.1

To get 5.1 I could get a pair and a single eventually.. just will take some time..

 

[Big Chris]

Your room/ seating layout isn't really 6.1 friendly. Ideally you'd have some space behind your sofa and the wall for the extra speaker, and the existing surround channels moved forward in line with the sofa.

If I were you I'd stick to 5.1 and try to source a single LS50 for your centre speaker.

 

[stavvy]

ive see a few people have 5.1 ls50 setups so I dare say if you put the word out on the forums that you are after a single speaker, someone in a similar position to yourself could pay half towards a pair and yourself the other half then take a speaker each

 

[raoulx]

Thanks Big Chris, and Stavy, I will try get the single ls50 first for the center and then see how it goes 🙂

 

[DandyCobalt]

We've got 9.1 with two CM1 speakers just behind our ears. Works absolutely fine as long as you've calibrated to the seating position where you'll listen.

I bought the CM1s as singles so shouldn't be a problem with the KEFs - they have to accomodate damaged speakers to send out single replacements, so it might come in a "Spares" box like my CM1.

Don't expect much 6.1 behind-the-head action with most films (as almost always just 5.1) but great when you use the Extended Stereo or other modes on your a/v receiver.

 

[Son_of_SJ]

I agree with The_Lhc that it is important to have the (front) centre speaker tonally matching the front left and front right speakers.

I disagree with some others, and agree with DandyCobalt in that I think that is is worth your going for 6.1. On my Yamaha receivers I choose Extended Surround mode, under Options. This generates surround back signals from a 5.1 source, or allows a 7.1 Blu-Ray to be played with the surround back channels. In my kitchen and bedroom I have a single surround back channel. I wouldn't say that 6.1 is a huge improvement over 5.1, but I think that it is certainly worth having and I would not be without the single surround back speaker now. By the way, I think it would be nice if the surround back channel matched the other speakers tonally, but I certainly don't think that tonal matching is as important for the surround back channels as it is for the front centre channel. I have Yamaha speakers for the single surround back channels in my kitchen and bedroom, while the other speakers in those rooms are Eltax.

 

[raoulx]

Thanks again for the input guys.

I think the only reason I'm considering 6.1 is because I can get a pair of ls50's for about £700ish give or take on ebay and it would be £400 for the single.

So it would work out cheaper overall (if you get my drift..) Then the 2nd ls50 from the pair can be used up in a proper position rather than a lob sided layout as the 1st one from the pair is going to be the center speaker.

Or eventually get another set then another lol for a full room of ls50's