MIXING Speakers

[tvspecv]

[:-*] was feeling the need to adjust my speakers slightly is it good to mix them?

happy with the sub but was thinking of changing the centre and 2 front channel speakers good or bad? i have the boston acoustics wanted to send them to the back for 7.1 what do you suggest overall happy with the speakers just wondering if its a good idea?

 

[scene]

There are a number of things to consider here. If you have a fully matched 5.1 set up, then they will be designed to irk together and when surround sound effects move around the soundscape, this will be done in a cohesive fashion by you speakers, as each will have the same response and characteristics.

Against this is the fact that, on average, around 85% of sound in 5.1 movie will come from your front three speakers and upgrading them will dramatically change (hopefully for the better!) the quality of your experience. Some amps, like the Pioneer via their MCACC system, or Yamaha, via their YPAO system, attempt to compensate for differences in speakers. How well they do this varies, high-end yammies and pioneers seem to be pretty good at it, when I've heard them.

Finally, moving the front pair around to do lsb and rsb duties is not a bad way to get 7.1, if you're going to replace the front pair anyway, especially if you've got a sub+satellite setup.

 

[tvspecv]

thank you for your reply scene was thinking of putting the kef eggs on the front L+R and centre, i have the boston acoustics XS they`re fairy small but do well for the back channels which arent used as often as the front leaving the sub what do you think ?

 

[scene]

tvspecv:thank you for your reply scene was thinking of putting the kef eggs on the front L+R and centre, i have the boston acoustics XS they`re fairy small but do well for the back channels which arent used as often as the front leaving the sub what do you think ?
What Amp have you got?

BTW, when I said "irk together" in my reply above, this was of course a combo of my mistype being auto-corrected by my iPad with amusing consequences.

 

[aliEnRIK]

If your amp is unable to change frequency responses to balance out the differences in speaker sounds then id really suggest you dont do it. My old yamaha amp wouldnt and I could never get the rears to 'gel' with the fronts

Even if your amp DOES have the ability, it still may never sound 'right' as all speakers still have their own character regardless of frequency changes

 

[tvspecv]

Onkyo TX-SR608 this one

 

[scene]

tvspecv:Onkyo TX-SR608 this one
In this case, as AliEnRIK say, it may well be that the variance in the characteristics of the different speakers mean that the front and rear may never properly gel. It's difficult to say for sure as partly it's a matter of taste and it may well be that the two different speakers are close enough together, allowing for the fact that the rear four (on average) are only responsible for 15% of the sound.

Would it be possible to try this setup out before buying the speakers, or at least get the Eggs on sale or return?

 

[tvspecv]

front three kef L+R and centre ,surround back bostons surely the amp(onkyo tr806 3d ready) can make them sound good together?

 

[scene]

tvspecv:front three kef L+R and centre ,surround back bostons surely the amp(onkyo tr806 3d ready) can make them sound good together?
I've just checked the TR 806 specs. The combination of Audyssey MultEQ Dynamic EQ and THX Ultra2 Plus certification means that the Onk has a good chance of making the front and back gel.

Sorry - missed that before

Having said that, I would still recommend a demo, if possible, if you haven't already got the speakers, in case you find it doesn't work out.

 

[tvspecv]

i`m getting three kef single speakers lets hope this is for the best!

 

[tvspecv]

hi just wondering if i changed my speakers all 5 channels but not the sub (as i have 2 already) will this make a difference to the sound ? thank you

 

[audioaffair]

Ideally you need to keep the centre and front L/R speakers from the same brand (and ideally same range) unless you're sure from some research they sound similar. Rear speakers are less of an issue and subwoofer even less of an issue, providing they're at a similar level.

You could always use some room equalisation following that to make sure all the levels are correct.

As a rule of thumb, try not picking something with features that will make it sound completely different (i.e. metal dome tweeters rather than paper variety, etc)