Speakers and subwoofer

[Canada]

Can you mix say Paradigm speakers with a Velodyne subwoofer. Do they need to be timber matched? I am thinking about buying Paradigm speakers but the Velodyne subwoofer is the best I have ever heard.

I would think that the sub is the only speaker that does not have to be timber matched?

[jomari]

the importance of timbre matching speakers lies in the soundstage you are trying to recreate up front. meaning front left, right and center speakers.

i rarely place emphasis on the rears, and even less on the subwoofer.

the only reason id invest in a good set of surrounds if ever you would be using SACDs and or DVD-audios and the new formats out there.

the subwoofers job is to handle the redirected lower frequencies from the 'smaller' speakers, and send them into the room. in a nutshell, its just moving air.

no need for your subs to be timbre matched at all. then we'd all have 6" subwoofers.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by jomari

the importance of timbre matching speakers lies in the soundstage you are trying to recreate up front. meaning front left, right and center speakers.

i rarely place emphasis on the rears, and even less on the subwoofer.

the only reason id invest in a good set of surrounds if ever you would be using SACDs and or DVD-audios and the new formats out there.

the subwoofers job is to handle the redirected lower frequencies from the 'smaller' speakers, and send them into the room. in a nutshell, its just moving air.

no need for your subs to be timbre matched at all. then we'd all have 6" subwoofers.

Exactly.... My ONLY concerns with timbre matching is the fronts/Center (although I wouldn't use big floor standers for surrounds, and little satellites for the fronts, but I doubt anyone would do that)

[guitarist155]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

(although I wouldn't use big floor standers for surrounds, and little satellites for the fronts, but I doubt anyone would do that)

.......sneeks off to rearrange his set up.... jk like others have said the fronts and center carry the dialog and sound track so they need to be matched so that movement across the sound stage on the screen is uninterrupted, the surrounds represent effects that are not on the screen usualy but it would be nice to have them matched to the fronts for a smooth transition, however this is not as necessary as it is with the fronts, on the other hand you do want you surrounds to match in pairs EX. rear surround pair, side surround pair, you would not want one of each speaker the sub does not need to match anything in the set really as it reproduces the low freq effects which do not move around the sound stage

[Canada]

Originally Posted by guitarist155

.......sneeks off to rearrange his set up.... jk the sub does not need to match anything in the set really as it reproduces the low freq effects which do not move around the sound stage

Makes a lot of sense, thanks!