Confused about RCi and TCi ceiling speakers...

blue911

I plan on getting Monitor 50 or 60 series front and center speakers. Seating is against a back wall, so I thought in-ceiling surrounds might be a solution. The RC60i's are supposed to be a timber-matched to the Monitor series. On the other hand, the TC60i's have a better lower -3dB limit of 50Hz vs 60Hz.

1) How important are timbre-matched surrounds for movies? And what exactly is timbre-matching?

2) Should the extra 10Hz lower limit be the deciding factor?

3) The ceiling speakers will unavoidably be near the walls. Are these features such as tweeter level and wall distance adjustments (TC series) or aimable tweeters (RC series) important for surrounds?

zingo

I would go with the timber match RCi. The imaging can be effected by not matching the speakers, especially with theater, or multi-channel music. I would also listen to both of them if you can. The one that sounds better, I would go with. No one can tell you your ears are wrong. Just go with what you think sounds best, and matches.

kingkip

Hey blue welcome to the club!

1.Timbre matching matches the tweeters across the sound stage so that the surround seems seamless. It is possible that different high end can cause a loss of the illusion of wrap around sound as the sound pans from the fronts to the rear and changes slightly. Some will tell you it is very important, and others will say it doesn't matter that much. Personally I think it matters, and that you should always try to timbre match if possible. The hardcore approach is to get the exact same speakers all the way around. Most people, and it seems like you included, can't get away with this.

2. I am assuming that you are using a subwoofer to fill out the low end for HT. If that is the case, then no, it won't matter. It probably won't matter much even if you are not using a sub. The rear channels are rarely bass heavy and going from 60 to 50Hz isn't going to make up a big difference. Not to mention that room acoustics will change those numbers fairly dramatically. The specs are just a good starting point, don't get too wrapped up in them.

3. I would say that aimable tweets are important. Generally you would want the tweeters pointing at you, however this may not give you the "ambient" type of sound that the rear channels are usually used for. With the adjustable tweets you can move them around so you can make it sound best to you.

As an alternate route you may think about the di-poles like the Csi3/5. While they wouldn't be timbre matched to the monitors they are designed for seating against the rear wall. IMO that is the best reason to use that type of speaker. I know that a lot of people use them even when they are not sitting against the rear wall, but I prefer direct radiators in that situation.

Hope that helps

kingkip

I forgot to say that if you are not using a sub for HT I would highly reccomend getting one. It will make a world of difference.

blue911

Thanks for this very practical advice. Yes, I will be getting a sub, either the PSW10 or 12.

As a matter of fact, I was also considering the di-pole Csi3's. The in-ceilings would be more asthetic, but I have to check out how difficult cutting a hole in the ceiling will be!

kingkip

I am pretty sure you mean Fxi3s because putting a center channel right over your head may not work too well.;)

Cutting a hole in the ceiling is the easy part, running the wires it alot tougher. Is there an attic above the room?

blue911

Not a real attic, but there is space under the roof. Never been up there. It's an old house, so the ceiling is not sheet rock, but plaster and wood I presume.