Surround speaker choices for Monitor Audio GX range

[admin_exported]

I've discussed my plan to upgrade from my current RS setup to GX elsewhere but I'm still stuck on surround options. I'm going GX300 / GXC-350 / GXW15 at the front.

With my room, I can hang side surrounds (as my RSFX now) but if I have rear surrounds they need to go on bookshelves so the GXFX are out.

MA have recommended I go with RXFX (in bipole mode) & RX1 at the back rather than GXFX /GX50 as apparently the GXFX (dipole only) would be out of phase with GX50 on the rear for example. I wonder if I'm better restricting to a 5.1 setup with the GXFX.

I guess this leaves me with 4 options and I'd love everyones opinions:

1) GXFX x 1 pair (5.1 setup only)

2) RXFX / RX1 (7.1)

3) Keep RSFX / old Denon bookshelves I already have

4) ignore MA's advice & go GXFX / GX50 - which comprises an old-skool, by the book THX setup anyway…

Whaddya reckon?

Anyone had experience pairing GXFX (or other dipole surrounds) with monopole (direct radiating) rears?

 

[ellisdj]

Hello mate

Have you considered using the Apex A10 - they are stunning little speakers I have heard them a lot

I have just installed (as of yesterday pm) 2 as rears to my GX100 and GX150C and they blend in very well - only watched 1 film and 30 mins of TV so far

They are sonically different obviously so not a perfect matchup but if you are considering using other speakers such as the RX that will be the same anyway.

I demo'd the RX and they sounded very different than the GX to me - whereas I found the apex to be much closer in sound simialrities

Just an idea for you

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestion, I hadnt considered that. I had an audio/video calibrator here to sort my Kuro and he suggested using the GXFX in monopole mode hahaha. Apparently most modern sou dtracks are now mixed for 5 identical speakers - confusion plus…

 

[Frank Harvey]

Film soundtracks are mixed on five identical, monopole speakers - this is for more accurate effects placement. The bipole/dipole surround came about to imitate the rows of rear speakers down the sides of cinemas. So, it depends what you want to try and reproduce. The MA surrounds can be used in monopole mode, so will act like a direct firing speaker if that option is better for you at the moment, and you may be able to use them in their full glory should your circumstances change.

 

[ellisdj]

I think the gxfx has a design flaw and should be 2 separate speakers - the cost of 2 is more than 2 gx100's that's crazy to me.

If you use them mono you waste 4 drivers - if you use dipole you don't use the ribbon - they should be 2 separate speakers available to buy @ at a much lower price - then they would have winners if you ask me MA are you listening

If you think about it the tweeters in dipole mode are from the apex and the apex is a home cinema speaker so it's use as a rear channel is ideal

I have watched a few films now - given a bit of space that I don't have I can't think of rear speakers needing to be any better - I think rears are extremely important but the apex are stunning little speakers and do the job wonderfully

Thy are fast, clear and really put he sound out there with clarity

Mabe gxfx in mono on the side walls - then a10s on your shelf but wall mounted - or save the money and have 4 a 10s as your surround backs

 

[Frank Harvey]

They're for those that want a direct firing speaker for multi-channel music reproduction AND a dipole for home theatre use. For side wall use, they should ideally be set to dipole use to spread the rear channel up and down the side walls, like a cinema.

 

[ellisdj]

It must be a small % of people who want them for that, I bet most set one way or other and forget - though that purpose does make sense I hadn't considered that - either way if they sold a single driver tweeter version as well it would be better as it could be a lot cheaper £1400 for rears is loads when the fronts are only £1100 ish I am sure the majority would prefer that compromise at a more affordable price

 

[Anonymous]

They're for those that want a direct firing speaker for multi-channel music reproduction AND a dipole for home theatre use. For side wall use, they should ideally be set to dipole use to spread the rear channel up and down the side walls, like a cinema.

The problem with Dipole use with the GXFX is that MA are suggesting, if used with direct-radiating rears (in a 7.1 setup), they will be out of phase… MA have suggested using RXFX & RX1 instead so there's definitely a (frustrating) gap in the range. I would prefer to have a matched set of GX speakers but as I can only get away with side speakers on the walls & bookshelf at the rear I'm totally unsure what to do.

Take MA's advice / try something else withnthe GXFX etc?

Any chance you've been able to try & compare set-ups for 7.1? Please? Hahaha, sorry, its doing my head in.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Its one reason why I've come away from dipole/triple rears. They work as intended only when positioned correctly, and when you're seated in the ideal position, but they can be excellent in a 5.1 system.

I've moved to an all monopole system, as I'm not trying to reproduce a cinema environment (if I was, I'd use a Yamaha processor with the Adventure setting). Like my music, I'm trying to reproduce what has been encoded on the disc - and that soundtrack has been mixed using an all monopole speaker system (for accurate effects placement).

 

[duaplex]

I recently setup a system for a friend using the RXFX and I was very impressed with them in a 5.1 setup. I also use Dipoles with my own setup, however personally I prefer the direct firing mode (monopole)