What is overkill for surround?

Geoff4rfc

I used to use my Monitor 30's as surrounds. I've heard talk (not necessarily on this forum) that anything over that is overkill i.e. Monitor 40's which I was previously using. I've also heard mention that using towers were pretty much a definite overkill.

Since the arrival of my A9's, I've been using my Monitor 70's as surrounds and I've got to tell you, overkill does not exist at my house, on the contrary, my system sounds really "theater" like.

With the exception of the CSiA6, my next upgrade will be to add a second Epik Empire and I think I'll be set until I can afford to upgrade my 50" to a 64 or 65". After that comes seating, popcorn maker, hot dog steamer etc etc.

So if anyone mentions to you that large surrounds are overkill, I say "heck yeah" go for it, I'm even considering some A7's to replace my M-70's, dang it, I just heard my wife load the gun again.

VR3

You are an audio forum bro.

There is no such thing as overkill...

If I had unlimited funds I would have Wilson Alexandrias on all 7 channels with an accompanying .7 dual 18" wilson audio subwoofer with Mcintosh 1,000 watt monos, separate crossovers and a dedicated bunker to listen to it 50 feet below ground...

Buy the biggest baddest anything you can afford and rip it!

BlueFox

Some people use the gear (electronics/speakers/cables) for both HT and for an SACD surround system. Why would anyone want to cripple the sound by not using the best electronics, cables, speakers, etc. they can afford for the audio?

mdaudioguy

Bully! That's not a proper HT! Go proper or go home!

Seriously, do you really know if there's significant audio below 80Hz back there? If so wouldn't it be less localizable? And wouldn't it just go to your sub if the crossover was set to 80Hz?

Just wondering...

Dennis Gardner

I think speaker size in surrounds is a lot like wattage needs on amplifiers. Some like an 8 wpc tube amp while others aren't content with 400 wpc just because their speakers are rated for 1000wpc. Buy the most you can afford, keep the $$$ balanced throughout and enjoy!!

michael1947

Love it, M70's are just about right...keep the power up. On one of my set-ups I use RT2000P's with dual 8" built in sub's with their own amps...things start to crawl around the room when it starts to rumble.

WagBoss

I think it's overkill because you can use the money you don't spend to upgrade something else in your system which makes a bigger impact.

Geoff4rfc

Hmmmm, interesting statement but not at all accurate concerning this thread.

My 70's were in the "mains" spot and my 40's were surround.

The upgrade was 70's to A9's which then moved the 70's to where the 40's were and the 40's got to take over the "wide" spot where the 30's were previously located.

So, moving the 70's to the surround made a pretty big impact to the overall system. The A9's are, IMHO, a pretty awesome speaker over the 70's.

jbooker82

Or underkill since your surrounds are monitors and not RTi's.

I would take small FXI's over large monitor towers.

tonyb

Really depends on what your using the system for. Ht...then yeah, not much going on in the lower regions with surround speakers. But if you were doing SACD, then 5 full range speakers would be of benefit.

Richd82

Geoff4rfc wrote: »

Since the arrival of my A9's, I've been using my Monitor 70's as surrounds and I've got to tell you, overkill does not exist at my house, on the contrary, my system sounds really "theater" like.

How do you like your A9's? Im considering them with the Emotiva XPA5 but a pair of LSi15's caught my eye. Now im torn...

PerfectCreature

I don't think the 70s would be overkill when comparing them to the A9s personally. I would imagine they would do just fine, giving the size of both of them, I would think they could compliment each other fairly well....

cfrizz

The statement of overkill is over-rated. If it is what YOU want, you can afford it, and you like how it sounds, then that is all that matters.

I have never allowed others to dictate to me what is or isn't too much as far as my system is concerned, I would do my research, read opinions, and reviews, then make the best decision based on what I want to accomplish, and what is financially acceptable. All it requires for me to achieve my goals is patience.

A lot of people on here short change the rear speakers, but I have found that they help to achieve cohesive sound when properly set up and amplified for both music and movies.

So if that is what you want, go for it.

bobsauto49

cfrizz wrote: »

I have never allowed others to dictate to me what is or isn't too much as far as my system is concerned, I would do my research, read opinions, and reviews, then make the best decision based on what I want to accomplish, and what is financially acceptable. All it requires for me to achieve my goals is patience.So if that is what you want, go for it.

Very well said! Advice is great! But do the research,read,and use your bank account to make some of the decisions to further your audio journey! And if you like it,(and have waf)thats all that matters!

Geoff4rfc

cfrizz wrote: »

The statement of overkill is over-rated. If it is what YOU want, you can afford it, and you like how it sounds, then that is all that matters.

I have never allowed others to dictate to me what is or isn't too much as far as my system is concerned, I would do my research, read opinions, and reviews, then make the best decision based on what I want to accomplish, and what is financially acceptable. All it requires for me to achieve my goals is patience.

Thanks, that's exactly where I live, that and trial and error sometimes as well. I don't always get the best stuff, but I get the best my money can get.

bobsauto49 wrote: »

Very well said! Advice is great! But do the research,read,and use your bank account to make some of the decisions to further your audio journey! And if you like it,(and have waf)thats all that matters!

Yes, again, this is where I live. When my wife wants to make a purchase on something, she comes to me and says, here, do the research.

bobsauto49

Hey Geoff,I was using my old RT400's for surrounds and absolutely loved them! Until a few days ago,1 finally let go on me:sad: Any how I was looking to replace them with the M70's or possibly the RTi8,both which are around $400/pair right now! I take it your loving the M70's,which i'm leaning to,for more bass,seeing though i dont have a sub. From what i've read,the M70's can dig deep,is that your assesment? I like the rears digging deep,it really seems to help fill the room with sound for me.

leroyjr1

I prefer having my surrounds above my head which is the reason I'd never use floorstanders as surrounds unless i could raise them higher.

mantis

Now that you own A9's , it's important to complete the system IF you want the best out of your system. matching center and rears will give you the best experience. Balance is key here. I don't ever like mixing and matching any speaker line even from the same company. Rtia series will sound matched way better then any monitor series will do.

So start with the center and then get the proper rears.

mantis

leroyjr1 wrote: »

I prefer having my surrounds above my head which is the reason I'd never use floorstanders as surrounds unless i could raise them higher.

Reason for this is the fact that correct placement for surround channels is 2 to 3 feet above ear level.

Geoff4rfc

bobsauto49 wrote: »

I take it your loving the M70's,which i'm leaning to,for more bass,seeing though i dont have a sub. From what i've read,the M70's can dig deep,is that your assesment? I like the rears digging deep,it really seems to help fill the room with sound for me.

Sorry to hear about the passing of your RT400's. Yes, I've loved my M70's from the time I opened up the box and hooked them up as my mains. I've gone from M30's to M40's as surrounds. The 30's did a great job, the 40's even better IMO. Now with the 70's, even mo betta. I currently have a 3ch amp but my next purchase here at tax time will include the new center and a 2ch amp so I can get power back to the 70's, they loved it when I had my emo hooked into them. If that's the way you end up going, let me know what you think, I believe you'll be as tickled as I am.

leroyjr1 wrote: »

I prefer having my surrounds above my head which is the reason I'd never use floorstanders as surrounds unless i could raise them higher.

I totally understand your preference, my surrounds have always above and angled down. This is my first experience with towers as surrounds and so far, LOVING it completely and to be honest with you, I was curious what kind of difference if any would be there due to location. After audessy set up and with lights out, I can't tell if the speakers are on the floor or up in the air. The sound is awesome.

mantis wrote: »

Now that you own A9's , it's important to complete the system IF you want the best out of your system. matching center and rears will give you the best experience. Balance is key here. I don't ever like mixing and matching any speaker line even from the same company. Rtia series will sound matched way better then any monitor series will do.

So start with the center and then get the proper rears.

1`

I agree as far as the front stage goes, my next purchase here very soon is the CSiA6. RTiA7's for surrounds would be nice but the 70's are here to stay.

dudeinaroom

Geoff4rfc wrote: »

... I currently have a 3ch amp but my next purchase here at tax time will include the new center and a 2ch amp so I can get power back to the 70's, they loved it when I had my emo hooked into them.....

I'd get a nice beef amp and run your mains off of that. Use the 3 ch for the surrounds and center. Then you could throw in a pre with ht bypass and come and play on the dark side. Or you could sell the receiver and get a pre/pro.

bobsauto49

M70's on order Geoff! NewEgg for 300/shipped. Cant wait!

boomerfss

I have 70's for fronts and just got the 60's for surrounds. I am impressed with how much of a difference it is. I was concerned about having the surrounds at ear level as well but I find the 60's do a great job of filling the room with sound.
Mind you I primarily use them for HT.

Lietuvis91

It is often challenging to place towers correctly when setting them up as surrounds, due to furniture, room shape/size, ect. The inability to place them appropriately can make them very ineffective in that role. But if you have a dedicated HT room with no obstructions, then towers can work darn well as surrounds.

Geoff4rfc

VR3 wrote: »

You are an audio forum bro.

There is no such thing as overkill...
Buy the biggest baddest anything you can afford and rip it!

I like that a lot!

dudeinaroom wrote: »

I'd get a nice beef amp and run your mains off of that. Use the 3 ch for the surrounds and center. Then you could throw in a pre with ht bypass and come and play on the dark side. Or you could sell the receiver and get a pre/pro.

Precisely my plan, I looked at some sunfire stuff but won't have that kind of budget, so an XPA-2 for the mains it will be. I've looked at the Integra line for pre-pro, one day, one day.

bobsauto49 wrote: »

M70's on order Geoff! NewEgg for 300/shipped. Cant wait!

Congrats, great price, that's what I got mine for a year ago, same egg. You gonna love it.