Mixing and Matching FXi A4's with bookshelf speakers for surrounds

27dnast
27dnast Posts: 255
edited June 2011 in Speakers
I'm guessing Polk Audio suggests that if you have FXi A4's for your L/R Surrounds, that you should also have them as your rears.

Correct?

Well... what happens if you have FXi A4's as your L/R Surrounds, and you use Bookshelf speakers as your rear surrounds?

Good/Bad?
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  • ScudDawg
    ScudDawg Posts: 68
    edited June 2011
    that is exactly what I am running, I like the directional sound from the back.
    Home Theater:
    Processor: Emotiva UMC-1
    Amps: Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-5
    Center: Polk Audio CSi A6
    Fronts: Polk Audio RTi A7
    Surrounds: Polk Audio FXI A4
    Surround Rears: Polk Audio RTI A3
    Subwoofer: SVS 2039 PCi (upgraded woofer)
    Power Conditioner: Monster HTS 5100 Signature Series

    2 Channel: (work in progress)
    Speakers: Polk Audio Monitor 40
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  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited June 2011
    I remember buying fxi 3 and used them as mains and its the first time I have experienced pain in my ears from listening to speakers
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited June 2011
    27dnast wrote: »
    I'm guessing Polk Audio suggests that if you have FXi A4's for your L/R Surrounds, that you should also have them as your rears.

    Correct?
    I'm not sure if I've seen Polk make a recommendation one way or the other.
    Well... what happens if you have FXi A4's as your L/R Surrounds, and you use Bookshelf speakers as your rear surrounds?

    Good/Bad?
    I think it sounds great.
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  • 27dnast
    27dnast Posts: 255
    edited June 2011
    For you two that are using the fxi A4s as R/L surrounds... can you describe where they are positioned (height off of floor... even with listen position or slightly behind listening position) and what phase you have them in (bipole/dipole).

    Thanks for your input!!!!



    Just as an fyi... I found a very old thread in which a Polk rep replied to a similar question. He said that polk recommends that a customer with fxi R/L surrounds also uses FXi's as rears.

    At any rate... I was thinking that some directionality from the back is a good thing... I just wasn't sure if fact that the Fxi's are non-directional would wreak havoc with the sound coming from the rear directional speakers!

    Thanks, guys... looking forward to your responses.

    27
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited June 2011
    My FXi speakers are mounted on my side walls about 7.5' from the floor to the top of the speaker, and just slightly behind the listening position. The backs are bookshelves, mounted at the same height on the rear wall, about 6' apart. It works nicely this way for me.
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  • 27dnast
    27dnast Posts: 255
    edited June 2011
    Do you have them set on bipole or dipole?

    Are your rear bookshelf speakers angled inward (to the middle seating position) or are they mounted pointing straight forward?
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