LC80i - Which way is the front??

[gellor]

Ok so I'm installing a pair of LC80i's. I combed through the manual but it really doesn't say which way to point them. I'm installing them behind a couch. The woofers are slightly tilted. So should I point the tilted side towards where I'm sitting or do I point them towards the wall behind the couch? An easy way to phase it might be, does the tweater go towards the back or the front when mounted?

thanks for any help

[amulford]

If your using them for surrounds, point them to the wall. This will help to diffuse the sound and you might even get a little gain

[howie777]

My M&Ks have the tweeters angled and it is says to always angle then away from the listening position. So I'd point them towards the back. I think amulford is correct.

Howie

[PolkThug]

Try both ways and see what you like better. Personally, I'd aim them towards the listening position. If I wanted to bounce the sounds off the wall, I'd by Bose. ;)

Regards,
PolkThug

[Larry Chanin]

Originally posted by PolkThug
Try both ways and see what you like better. Personally, I'd aim them towards the listening position. If I wanted to bounce the sounds off the wall, I'd by Bose. ;)

Regards,
PolkThug

Hi,

I'm inclined to agreed with everything PolkThug stated, except if I wanted to bounce the sounds of the wall, I'd buy a Polk Audio dipole. ;)

However, the Owner's Manual does offer some direction.

DIRECTING THE DRIVER (LCi60 & LCi 80)

The fixed 15° angled driver in the ceiling
speaker allows you to direct the midrange
towards your listening area when used for
front stage (left–center–right). When used as
rear surrounds or 6.1 or 7.1 back speakers,
direct the driver towards the listening area
for a more direct sound field or toward
a wall for a more diffuse soundfield.

So according to Polk both ways are correct depending on your personal preferences.

While you state that you're installing a pair of rear surround speakers, you don't indicate whether you're dealing with a 5.1, or 7.1 configuration. Contrary to what Polk states, personally I think it does make a difference if you have a true 7.1 configuration.

As you are aware movie sound tracks place different types of sounds in the surround channels. Some sounds are ambiance effects, such as wind and rain, where it is better if the listeners can't localize the source of the sound. Other sounds, such as wizzing bullets or helicopter flyovers, are direct sounds and it is better if the listener can hear where the sound is coming from.

Dipole speakers that bounce sounds off the walls are better for dealing with ambiance sounds. While direct radiating speakers are better in reproducing direct sounds (especially if the drivers are directed toward the listeners).

The problem with 5.1 configurations is that you must pick one or the other type of surround speaker. This is similar to what Polk is suggesting in their manual, you must aim the woofer/midrange one way or an other. You can't aim it at the listeners for direct sounds, and then away for ambience sounds.

However, with advanced 7.1 systems we have the luxury of selecting both types of surround speakers, both direct radiating and dipoles. I have a Lexicon processor it extracts a stereo surround back channel in addition to the stereo side surrounds. In my configuration I prefer to have direct radiating speakers in the rear to handle direct sounds and dipole speakers on the sides to "fill-in" the ambiance effects. The net result is that direct sounds pan forcefully and precisely from front to back (and visa versa) between the direct radiating speakers in the front and rear. The side dipoles overlay non-localized sounds throughout the room. I feel I have the best of both worlds and the results are quite spectacular.

If you have, or eventually plan to have, a true 7.1 system I would aim the drivers of your ceiling mounted speakers at the listeners. Then I would put dipole to the sides of your primary listening area. If you plan to stay with a 5.1 configuration then you must choose a compromise of which type of surround sound you prefer, a direct sound field or a diffuse sound field and aim the drivers appropriately.

Larry

[dorokusai]

Yea, it's a "suggestion" in the manual, not a rule. The gang hit it, go with what sounds best in your application.

[gellor]

Thanks all,

I am actually going eventually for a 6.1 setup. I will probably just test them out as many of you suggested. Thankfully they are easy to just turn :)


Thank you