Bipole vs. Dipole

tcocklin

So I'm reading about the difference and comparing my setup. Yes I have f/x500i in-line with the listening area but I don't have a rear wall (or I do...but it's a good 20 feet beyond the back of the couch). So does that affect the null listening area? Polk engineers, please jump in. And bipole setup may not be possible since the rear wall IS 20 feet behind the couch (living room is long and skinny....14' x 32'). I know...try both and see what you like.. but which setting makes sense based on how these two circuits are created. I bought these assuming I could use dipole settings on each. Hope I don't have to buy a new house to accommodate

Thanks

Venu

Well, I have exactly the same situation at my home. I have a pair of f/x500i's too. You can use the Dipole setting and mount them directly to the sides of the listening position facing each other on the side walls.

The side wall which is used to mount the speaker, becomes part of the reflective pattern of the sound field. The sound waves leave the two sides and reflect off of the wall. Then the cascading sound is spread out by the wall's large surface and comes to the listener as a very broad diffuse sound pattern. The wall and the speaker acting together much like a wall lighting fixture spreads the light across a wall's surface. Also the surface of
the wall helps the speaker to produce lower frequency information by reflecting the lowest bass waves.
Having the back wall is not a necessity, they will sound excellent without that joining of two surfaces. There will be enough reflected sound traveling along the side walls, radiating outward towards the listening area.

Hope this information is useful.