Will FXi A4 match with Monitor 70/CS2/30 setup?

Mr Glide

Hi Everyone,

I am a brand new member and recently became Polk Audio speaker fan!

I have in process of receiving Monitor 70 (front), Monitor CS2 (center) and Monitor 30 (rear surrounds).

I would like to get FXi A4 (bi/dipole) speakers for side surrounds to complete 7.1 HT setup.

Do you see any mismatch (sound) issue of FXi A4 with Monitor speakers? Or, can I get away w/ FXi A4s? I've Velodyne sub.

I'd appreciate your advise/thoughts.

Thanks,
Mr Glide

kawizx9r

They're not timbre-matched ****, however the speakers that you do want timbre-matched is your front stage IE front L/R and center.

You can get away with having different surrounds. You'll love those di/bipole's

And btw, welcome to CP!

-Freddy

Mr Glide

Thanks. Well, FXi A4 are timbre matched (per Polk or Amazon website).

btw, what is timbre matched and why is it important (e.g. in case of my setup)? Just curious.

Sidenote: I don't understand why manuf. puts bipole/dipole switch on the back of FXi A4 as if people keep climbing the wall all the time, pull out the speaker and flip the switch every time time they want to listen music instead of movie. I saw a # of bipole/dipole speakers with this design. Sounds like major inconvenience.

kawizx9r

Dipole and bipole will give you a 'different' sound which goes along with where you mount your speakers IE at the rear of your HT room or on the sides. There's no need to constantly flip the switch, only if you're trying to decide which sounds best in said-location.

The FXiA's are timbre-matched to the CSiA and RTiA series, and damn near identical to the RTi and CSi series speakers.

I can't give you a definition of timbre-matching.....well I can if I look it up but it's basically the 'perfect' blending of speakers. Your monitors and cs-center are from the same series/generation, utilizing the same type drivers/enclosure matched to sound identical when recreating voices/music.

If you hear a set of front speakers with a mismatching center and watch a movie, you'll hear 'separate' voices/sounds. You'll get the same thing if you ran the TV's speakers together with your front L/R as well.

Mr Glide

Thanks as always for great feedback and explanation. Well, the reason I think I might have to constantly switch is because I hear that dipoles are better while watching movie and bipoles are better while listening to music (See http://ask.audyssey.com/entries/208239-dipoles-bipoles-or-monopoles-for-surround-speakers).

How much difference in sound really is there between these 2 settings? I understand that it's relative to everyone's ear and I am having hard time finding them in local stores to check out (if anyone carries at all, it's FXi A6).

Like most, I plan to enjoy movies as well as music. So, doesn't that mean I need to flip the switch depending on whether I am watching movie or listening music? That is where I see major inconvenience.

I've never owned diple/bipole speaker, hence I am trying to understand how others here who might have owned such speaker deal with this issue or even thoughts from others.

kawizx9r

Think you'll just have to try them out for yourself as suggested.

Btw, unless you're watching multichannel-audio discs there's really no reason to have to run surround sound for music at all. That's why there's 2CH (stereo)

2CH in itself is a-whole-nother world! :biggrin:

Mr Glide

kawizx9r wrote: »

Think you'll just have to try them out for yourself as suggested.

Btw, unless you're watching multichannel-audio discs there's really no reason to have to run surround sound for music at all. That's why there's 2CH (stereo)

2CH in itself is a-whole-nother world! :biggrin:

Sounds good. I am in close proximity to your area. Do you know anyone in our area who can do speaker wiring for me (need to pull them from attic and/or basement to the other side of the room,etc.? tx.

Mr Glide

DSkip wrote: »

Standard bookshelves tend to work best for music. The di/bi debate generally isn't an issue of what you are playing I don't think, but moreso where the speakers are located. They are designed to create ambient noise, where bookshelves and other monopole (correct term?) are designed to be more easily located.

I would set them up as the manual suggests. If they aren't set up correctly, you could have some major cancellation issues.

Good suggestions and I agree with your comments on placement. For such speakers, from what I read on internet, dipoles are better for movies and bipoles are better for music. The flip switch is on the back of the speaker. If these are hung as side surrounds (in my case) high on the wall, I see big problem in trying to flip the switch every time I listen to music or watch movie.

I go for dipole/bipole over bookshelf since as I read it, they diffuse the surround sound better [in 7.1 setup] for movies. Thanks.

kawizx9r

If you're close by, give me a call. I don't mind swinging by the area. As for wiring, no I don't know anyone that offers that around here. Wouldn't mind helping, would keep me away from the car a bit...I keep spending money on it

Mr Glide

kawizx9r wrote: »

If you're close by, give me a call. I don't mind swinging by the area. As for wiring, no I don't know anyone that offers that around here. Wouldn't mind helping, would keep me away from the car a bit...I keep spending money on it

Thanks for the offer. Greatly appreciate it. Guess I am not in that close proximity. I am in Mountain View area. I need someone in my area to take care of this job.