Are bipole/dipoles appropriate?

univera
univera Posts: 848
edited October 2006 in Electronics
I just got my HT up and running and intended on using FX500's for my rear channel in a 5.1 setup. My installer wasn't very keen on my using these speakers for the rears since my couch/listening position is directly against the back wall that the FX's would be mounted. The Polk manual doesn't give this setup the ideal reccomendation.

These are rather large speakers and I don't intend on mounting them at ear level or close to it as it just doesn't make sense in my room from a "looks" perspective. (I would consider doing so IF there was consensus that this option would be good in spite of the couch being on the back wall.) Therefore, one will go in the top corner and the other in line with my front, right speaker (no perpendicular wall to make a corner on that side to mount or reflect off.) I currently have them sitting on a table next to the couch and below ear level, so its hard to judge how they will sound once mounted.

Would I be better off just using direct radiating speakers for high placement? I also have a pair of NHT Super Zeros I previously used near ear level that sounded great for their size, but the I thought something larger was needed for the SDA's. I'd like to mount whatever speaker up high, out of sight since my room is dominated already by large speakers and thought that if I played with the delay, I could get it to sound pretty good.
UNIVERA
Historic Charleston SC

2 Channel:
SDA-SRS's RDO tweets
Biamped Anthem 2 SE's w/1970's NOS Siemens CCA's
Anthem Pre 2L w/E.harmonix platinum matched 6H23's
CDP- NAD C 542



HT setup:
AVR: NAD T 773
Rears: Polk LC80i
DVD: Toshiba 3109 dual tray
Subs: Velodyne and M&K
T.V.: Sony KDL-52XBR4 w/Vans Evers Clean Line Jr.
Conditioner: Panamax M5100EX

Master Bedroom Sony 40KDL-XBR3

"I love it when a plan comes together." Hannibal Smith, The A-Team
Post edited by univera on

Comments

  • scottvamp
    scottvamp Posts: 3,277
    edited October 2006
    Having you couch and listening position directly against a back wall for HT is about as bad as it gets. And it sounds like you sides are not much better. With that said just side mount the FX500's - that is what they are designed for. The fun part of HT is experimenting - ultamatly, it is going to be what sounds best to you.
  • nebborjk
    nebborjk Posts: 425
    edited October 2006
    I would use a bi-pole speaker over a direct rediating speaker for surround duty no matter where they were located in relation to the seating area.
    Proud SOPA Member since 2005!
  • scottvamp
    scottvamp Posts: 3,277
    edited October 2006
    nebborjk wrote:
    I would use a bi-pole speaker over a direct rediating speaker for surround duty no matter where they were located in relation to the seating area.
    Agree 100%. In a 5.1 setup ofcourse.
  • univera
    univera Posts: 848
    edited October 2006
    nebborjk wrote:
    I would use a bi-pole speaker over a direct rediating speaker for surround duty no matter where they were located in relation to the seating area.

    My thoughts exactly. I figured that dispersed sound would give a better result than a direct radiating speaker. It seems that a direct radiating speaker can have better pinpointing of sounds (like bullets) whereas multi-poles would present a larger, more dispersed sound with possibly a larger sense of space. I could mount one on a side wall, but the other wall is wider than my front, right main and is an exterior wall without access to the attic.

    I can't mount them up high with intentions of moving them and I can't just hold them up there to listen. If I go with any speakers, is mounting at ear level the best option? One set of holes is all that will be happening. More opinions appreciated.
    UNIVERA
    Historic Charleston SC

    2 Channel:
    SDA-SRS's RDO tweets
    Biamped Anthem 2 SE's w/1970's NOS Siemens CCA's
    Anthem Pre 2L w/E.harmonix platinum matched 6H23's
    CDP- NAD C 542



    HT setup:
    AVR: NAD T 773
    Rears: Polk LC80i
    DVD: Toshiba 3109 dual tray
    Subs: Velodyne and M&K
    T.V.: Sony KDL-52XBR4 w/Vans Evers Clean Line Jr.
    Conditioner: Panamax M5100EX

    Master Bedroom Sony 40KDL-XBR3

    "I love it when a plan comes together." Hannibal Smith, The A-Team
  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited October 2006
    Hang em high... wasn't that a movie?

    Use the FX500's on the wall.. they will sound very good. trust me. in bi pole mode. i'll always use bi pole speakers over direct radiating ones.

    Why do you think Polk designed them? For surrounds of course.


    Is ear level your only option?
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
  • univera
    univera Posts: 848
    edited October 2006
    danger boy wrote:
    Hang em high... wasn't that a movie?

    Use the FX500's on the wall.. they will sound very good. trust me. in bi pole mode. i'll always use bi pole speakers over direct radiating ones.

    Why do you think Polk designed them? For surrounds of course.


    Is ear level your only option?

    No, ear level isn't my only option. I just thought that was ideal, or a bit above ear level. I really want these up high out of sight. Of course they are for surround, but it seems they benefit from sidewall placement.
    UNIVERA
    Historic Charleston SC

    2 Channel:
    SDA-SRS's RDO tweets
    Biamped Anthem 2 SE's w/1970's NOS Siemens CCA's
    Anthem Pre 2L w/E.harmonix platinum matched 6H23's
    CDP- NAD C 542



    HT setup:
    AVR: NAD T 773
    Rears: Polk LC80i
    DVD: Toshiba 3109 dual tray
    Subs: Velodyne and M&K
    T.V.: Sony KDL-52XBR4 w/Vans Evers Clean Line Jr.
    Conditioner: Panamax M5100EX

    Master Bedroom Sony 40KDL-XBR3

    "I love it when a plan comes together." Hannibal Smith, The A-Team
  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited October 2006
    Take a look at my surrounds. They are pretty high and they sound good.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited October 2006
    Isn't the ideal 2 to 3 feet above ear level? However, I am sure it would depend on how far they are away from you (closer-probably a little lower and farther a little higher).

    Mike
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited October 2006
    imo the fx's are superior to monopoles regardless of position; speaker or chair. Merely set them to either bipole or dipole, as to your convience and preference.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush