A Guide to Bipolar, Dipolar, & Direct-Radiating Monopole Surround Speakers (PART I)

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

Elemental Designs makes custom dipole speakers. You should add them to your list.

Are you sure they are dipole speakers? The only information I get is that they are MTM speakers. Horizontal MTM speakers are usually built for center channel.

[Driver_King]

No, they posted pictures on their blog a while back. They were definitely dipoles.

Custom dipoles finally left last week.

[arush5268d]

Great information!

If you are going for a record for the number of sticky threads created by one member....well you might already hold that title.

Thanks for the information!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by arush5268d

Great information!

If you are going for a record for the number of sticky threads created by one member....well you might already hold that title.

Thanks for the information!

Actually I am going for Michael Phelps' record. I believe I have surpassed him. I wonder if Stephanie Rice is willing to have a tonsil game of hockey with me. I am willing to travel to Australia. Please don't tell my wife.

"Michael Phelps doesn't have a girlfriend, but he celebrated his record-breaking eight gold medals in Beijing by sneaking off for a sizzling game of tonsil hockey with one of Australia's hottest Olympians."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/0..._n_120557.html

[Silo5]

Question about the Klipsch surround speakers (i.e. RS-42s,52s, & 62s). If I used them in a 7.1 surround set-up, would I just reverse the speaker wire (+ to -) going to the side surround speakers to make them dipolar? The back surrounds, I assume, would connect normally (+ to +) since they would be bipolar.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Silo5

Question about the Klipsch surround speakers (i.e. RS-42s,52s, & 62s). If I used them in a 7.1 surround set-up, would I just reverse the speaker wire (+ to -) going to the side surround speakers to make them dipolar? The back surrounds, I assume, would connect normally (+ to +) since they would be bipolar.

By reversing the speaker wire (+ to -), you will change the phase. You do not make them dipolar. To make them dipolar, you need to open the speaker boxes and rewire them. My advice is to leave your speakers alone. Don't mess with the wiring. There is nothing wrong with having bipolar speakers in a 7.1 setup. Bipolars can completely fill the room and irritate your neighbors.

[Clapton101]

So what would my RS-52's be Bipolar or what?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

No, they posted pictures on their blog a while back. They were definitely dipoles.

Custom dipoles finally left last week.

I added Elemental Design to the list.

[mdabb]

I pretty sure Revel has dipole speakers as well............

[RUR]

As well as most Martin Logans.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by RUR

As well as most Martin Logans.

I can't find any information about their Bipole/Dipole speakers.
http://www.us.martinlogan.com/frontpage.html

[RUR]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I can't find any information about their Bipole/Dipole speakers.
http://www.us.martinlogan.com/frontpage.html

All of the ESL models are dipoles and folks can and do use all of the big panels for surrounds:

Vista http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speaker_intro/vista.html
Vantage http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speake...o/vantage.html
Spire http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speaker_intro/spire.html
Source http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speaker_intro/source.html
Purity http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speaker_intro/purity.html

Summit is no longer listed on the site (soon to be replaced) and not even ML is crazy enough to recommend the CLX for surrounds.

[micks_address]

Mordaunt short also make bi-poles

http://www.mordauntshort.com/summary...tle=Avant+903i

Actually ordered two to use as rear speakers. Have 902i on order for fronts and 905c for centre

Interested to see how the bi-poles work out..

Cheers,
Mick

[jerix]

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Big daddy, the illustration above shows my HT area and present speaker setup. I am using only one back surround and I want to put one more. Where can i possibly place the other back surround?

I am using dipole surround speakers and my available back surrounds are also dipoles.

Please comment too on the placement of my speakers. Thanks

[mayo29]

A monopole and a direct radiator are not the same thing. Most dipoles and bipoles ARE direct radiators. And there are monoples that AREN'T direct radiators. Monopolar describes the direction in which a driver is pointing; direct radiating decribes the manner in which a driver is coupled to the air.

A direct radiator is a speaker in which the diaphragm acts directly against the air without an intervening device. Examples of non direct radiating speakers are horns and bandpass boxes. An example of a non direct radiating monopole is a Klipschorn. Or an Altec VOT.

Some speakers are a mixture of horn loaded and direct radiating such as an Altec Model 19 which uses a direct radiating woofer and horn loaded treble. Another example would be a full range driver like a Lowther loaded to a back horn; frequencies above about 200hz are radiated directly from the cone while frequencies below 200hz come mainly from the horn.

The only non direct radiating dipolar syatem I've seen is a DIY EV horn system a friend built which has horns pointing front and rear and wired out of polarity from each other.

[sazabi]

Nice and very helpful thread indeed thanx B.daddy.
But my question is about the Axiom QS8 Quadra pole speakers under which category can we put them?
And are they that good I am thinking of getting them do u recommend them?
And do I need one pair for the surround and keep my direct speakers as rear or should I go for two pairs of the Axiom QS8 for the surround and the rear surround in a 7.1 set up?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by mdabb

I pretty sure Revel has dipole speakers as well............

I added Revel. Thank you.