help help help. do I use bipolar speakers?

[kellym77]

Building a new home and have expanded the upper level to include a game room and a Home Theater. My delima is this the back wall is very short. The ceiling slopes up quickly so seating works well but there is no way to get speakers behind or beside the elevated rear row of seating. The rear/surround speakers will have to be slightly in front of the back row simply because of low wall and ceiling in rear of room. The installer has suggested Bipolar speakers. I have researched speakers and have a couple of options to go with. I know the B&W sound great, Im also looking at Definitive Technology. I know nothing about the DT speakers. So two questions. Is bipolar the way to go? (considering rear of room height.) And if so which speaker is the better choice? I have such a headache researching and trying figure this out. PLEASE HELP!

 

[spirovious]

Go for Wharfedale which are there on hifimart.
They look great n sound even better.
http://www.hifimart.com/wharfedale-diamond-10dfs-59

 

[manoj.p]

You mean di-pole speakers? If yes, do understand that these fire in two directions. So, exactly at its center point, you have a null. So, if you put these exactly on the side of listening position, you are actually seating in the null position.

If you are putting a 5.1 system, use normal surround speakers and mount those on the sides. That's where the surround speakers are supposed to be.

 

[[email protected]]

Try sonodyne surrounds at INR 15300 which is better than wharf. I've auditioned both recently and found sonodyne is cheaper, wood build (wharf is plastic), better sensitive speakers & frequency throw. It sounded better for me for sure (wharf price around 16k)

 

[rbalagopalan]

You mean di-pole speakers? If yes, do understand that these fire in two directions. So, exactly at its center point, you have a null. So, if you put these exactly on the side of listening position, you are actually seating in the null position.

If you are putting a 5.1 system, use normal surround speakers and mount those on the sides. That's where the surround speakers are supposed to be.

That is why in most of the bi-polar speakers the mid woofer is kept in the center focusing straight and tweeters are angled in two directions so that there is no point of null.

By the way what is your room length? cause in most of the circumstances 5.1 is more than enough and normal speakers are the best. Bi-polars were recommended / used mostly in Pro-logic era ie 1995-1998 where the surround was nothing but summation of fronts hence to have more enveloping surround sound BPs were used.

In the advent of (DD & dts) DD true HD & dts HD MA where separate tracks are running for each channel BPs will only dilute the purpose of surround than making them more pointed and clear surround. Hence I strongly recommend not to go in for BPs. Still if you need surrounds at the rear, there is no harm in keeping them on a stand at the ear level when seated.

I had spent enough time and money in HT set ups in the past, the following thread will explain you better.

http://www.hifivision.com/my-audio-video-setup/47854-my-home-theater-journey.html

Thanks,

R. Balagopalan.

 

[kellym77]

That is why in most of the bi-polar speakers the mid woofer is kept in the center focusing straight and tweeters are angled in two directions so that there is no point of null.

By the way what is your room length? cause in most of the circumstances 5.1 is more than enough and normal speakers are the best. Bi-polars were recommended / used mostly in Pro-logic era ie 1995-1998 where the surround was nothing but summation of fronts hence to have more enveloping surround sound BPs were used.

In the advent of (DD & dts) DD true HD & dts HD MA where separate tracks are running for each channel BPs will only dilute the purpose of surround than making them more pointed and clear surround. Hence I strongly recommend not to go in for BPs. Still if you need surrounds at the rear, there is no harm in keeping them on a stand at the ear level when seated.

I had spent enough time and money in HT set ups in the past, the following thread will explain you better.

http://www.hifivision.com/my-audio-video-setup/47854-my-home-theater-journey.html

Thanks,

R. Balagopalan.

The room is only 19' before the cabinets are installed. The problem is the back of the back wall is only 30" high. So chairs will sit 10-12" from back wall. It's a rapid slope 10" up for every 12". So walls are to low to get speakers behind

 

[rbalagopalan]

Go for Wharfedale which are there on hifimart.
They look great n sound even better.
Wharfedale DIAMOND 10.DFS

Try sonodyne surrounds at INR 15300 which is better than wharf. I've auditioned both recently and found sonodyne is cheaper, wood build (wharf is plastic), better sensitive speakers & frequency throw. It sounded better for me for sure (wharf price around 16k)

please see his location he is in US. So his options are lot more than what we get here in India.

The room is only 19' before the cabinets are installed. The problem is the back of the back wall is only 30" high. So chairs will sit 10-12" from back wall. It's a rapid slope 10" up for every 12". So walls are to low to get speakers behind

I am damn sure your seating position cannot be only 12" from back wall because at that distance your ceiling height is going to be at 40" max, So your seating position has to be at least 24" from back wall where ceiling will be at 50" (even at this spot one has to lean down and duck in to the seat) So by all probabilities your seating position will be at 36" ie 3' from back wall where the ceiling will be at 60" this will ensure comfortable sitting.

Given this situation and to your room size and sloping ceiling 5.1 set up is much more than enough and to position surrounds at a place where ceiling height is between 4' - 5' is pretty easy and ideal. So don't get confused go for book shelf surrounds and no need for 7.1 as the viewing distance is going to be only 15' - 16'. Stick to B&Ws look at my signature here in below.

Enjoy.

R. Balagopalan.