Speaker Size in HT

[Earthy]

On the hunt for speakers for my new home theater. It's 14 x 15. I'm curious if there is any advantage to having all larger speakers in a 7.1 setup as opposed to large fronts, and smaller surrounds.

What do you all think?

Earthy

[beardog03]

IMO, the rears don`t need to be large...
they are for ambient sound

[Dennis Gardner]

For mains:

If your speakers are going to be used on the small setting with a sub for HT, then the only advantage is the "cool factor" of towers.

If you plan on using them for 2 channel music also, then the towers make more sense. They may sound better without requiring a sub.

For surrounds:

I wouldn't waste real estate (floor space) on big speakers. The surrounds like it better above ear level anyway. Go smaller here.

It really is still your choice, there is no right or wrong, only choices.

Your room may dictate your needs.

[Earthy]

I had the luxury of desiging this space and put the entry between the left front and left surround speaker. I have the floor space, or wall space or whatever. This is MY space (wahoo!). I do plan to listen to music in there some, but will have a primarily listening setup in the living room.

I have some LS 70's I plan to use for mains, and had the option to get another pair at a reasonable cost. I have also looked a getting 4 B&W 602's to go with the LS 70's but wonder if I will be wanting to upgrade them too soon if the B&W's sound much better.

Thanks for the input!

[jmierzur]

My 15 x 13 room (http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/showcase/view.php?userid=11182). I decided to use all small speakers.

[Early B.]

For a room your size, I'd go 5.1 with bookshelf/surround speakers in the rear mounted on the side walls, esp. if your primary seating position is close to the back wall. In a larger room floorstanders all the way around would be awesome.

[Earthy]

jmierzur, thanks for the link. Looks like I need to consider looking into tube traps also.


Early, the primary seating will be about 3 or 4 feet from the back wall. I will probably go with the smaller speakers on stands. That's one of the reasons I was thinking of towers all around.

Thanks for the input!

[jdhdiggs]

Think wall mounted sats for the back. I would go something like 80-90% of your speaker budget on the front three and the rest for the other two/four. The fronts are what you really hear in the movie's and also, 2-channel will benifit as well. That's how I would start on a tight budget.

If budget isn't that much of an issue, I'd try and go with 7 of the same speaker.

[Sami]

Originally posted by jdhdiggs
If budget isn't that much of an issue, I'd try and go with 7 of the same speaker.
I don't know, that room is rather small for 7. Same speaker, yes, but 5 of them.

[jdhdiggs]

Originally posted by Sami
I don't know, that room is rather small for 7. Same speaker, yes, but 5 of them.

Good point, that is a small room

[Earthy]

Originally posted by jdhdiggs
Good point, that is a small room

It seems pretty big to me considering we have been living in a 800 sq ft home for the past 6 years.;)
I do have another room that's much bigger at the other end of the house, but it's right over the bedooms. Besides it's our hobby room.

I only plan to have spase seating, with one recliner in the sweet spot, or possibly a love seat/recliner? I figure our seating at 10' from a 50ish" screen, leaves us with room behind for the rear speakers. I just need to nail down my speaker choices, so I can move on to the rest of the electronics and video stuff.

[Sami]

Originally posted by Earthy
It seems pretty big to me considering we have been living in a 800 sq ft home for the past 6 years.;)
Room size is ok, it's just not that big for a 7.1 setup so 5.1 is probably a better option.

I have my HT with over 100" screen on 13x11 room with a 5 speaker setup and a big SVS cylinder in the closet. It's a good HT room for 2-3 people, all that I really need. It would be nice if it was a little longer, 16x11 or so, but 13x11 works.