bookshelfs or towers for rears - Blu-ray Forum

tlinnert · 11-19-2008, 04:53 PM

Does anyone have an opinion on what is better to use for rears, bookshelf or towers? In my case I live in a one bedroom apt. and I wont have a monster sub. I could probably make room to put towers on either side of my couch but if bookshelf speakers give a better surround then I would go with that. Its either the Polk Monitor 50's or the Polk Monitor 40 bookshelf speakers for my surrouds. Any info would be great.

gearyt · 11-19-2008, 04:55 PM

I started out with towers all around...
what a waste... I down sized to book shelf as all that
they do is provide the "suround" effect

kpkelley · 11-19-2008, 05:08 PM

go for dipole or quadpole surrounds, they do a much better job of creating a surround field than bookshelf speakers. Check out emotiva or axiom audio for examples.

Uniquely · 11-19-2008, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gearyt

I started out with towers all around...
what a waste... I down sized to book shelf as all that
they do is provide the "suround" effect

That's really going to depend upon the room and the equipment. Using towers for my sides offered a great improvement in my sound since my room is so wide my surrounds are actually further from my listening area than my fronts are.

RIPSeanTaylor21 · 11-19-2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlinnert

Does anyone have an opinion on what is better to use for rears, bookshelf or towers? In my case I live in a one bedroom apt. and I wont have a monster sub. I could probably make room to put towers on either side of my couch but if bookshelf speakers give a better surround then I would go with that. Its either the Polk Monitor 50's or the Polk Monitor 40 bookshelf speakers for my surrouds. Any info would be great.

It depends on your space and usage ultimatley, oh yeah and your budget, if using towers for rears, Polk Audio are the ones i recommend, not all that expensive...but Im a fan of Bi Polar Rear and Surrounds, like The Klipsch Bi-Polar Surround Speakers and Def Tech Bi Polar...It depends on you

aramis109 · 11-19-2008, 05:43 PM

I would suggest listening to bi/di polar speakers before making the jump over to them. I personally like direct radiating speakers.

The 40's are huge for bookshelf speakers. Make sure you have room.

I am currently using them for my surrounds. I upgraded from satellite surrounds (the Polk RM6750 set) and the difference is, of course, impressive. I get much better bass response. I'm also able to put them up higher than the 50's stand so that they can clear my couch.

Remember to factor in speaker stands or mounts or shelves (as necessary) into the cost. However, I don't think you can go wrong either way. The 40's are great speakers for the price.

Sir Terrence · 11-19-2008, 05:55 PM

I agree with some of the others here. Towers for the surrounds is a waste of money. We don't mix alot of deep bass into the surrounds, and I think you will find 95% of the soundtracks out there don't have deep bass in the surrounds. The reason for this has to do with the size of the surround speakers in theaters. Put deep bass at high levels into those, and you will be blowing speakers all over the place, and theater owners will hate you.

Get a pair of high quality bookshelf speakers that match your fronts, or bipolar surrounds are also a very good alternative. Whichever you choose, make sure they voice match your fronts, or you will have soundfield holes and jumpy pans as signal move from front to rear.

jomari · 11-19-2008, 06:20 PM

it also depends on what you'd use your surrounds for btw,

ive known a couple of colleagues who prefer to use towers, due to them using SACDS or DVD-Audio for music reproduction. they then would use the multichannels and get the 'full effect' of the rear channels.

i would prefer bookshelves, but if you had the opportunity, and of course the budget to match ALL the speakers (including the center), then by all means...

11-19-2008, 04:53 PM	#1
tlinnert Active Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:Charlotte, NC Blu-ray collection:13	bookshelfs or towers for rears Does anyone have an opinion on what is better to use for rears, bookshelf or towers? In my case I live in a one bedroom apt. and I wont have a monster sub. I could probably make room to put towers on either side of my couch but if bookshelf speakers give a better surround then I would go with that. Its either the Polk Monitor 50's or the Polk Monitor 40 bookshelf speakers for my surrouds. Any info would be great.

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11-19-2008, 04:55 PM	#2
gearyt Power Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Henderson, NV Home Theater Gallery:8 Blu-ray collection:33	I started out with towers all around... what a waste... I down sized to book shelf as all that they do is provide the "suround" effect

11-19-2008, 05:08 PM	#3
kpkelley Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Framingham, MA 4K collection:385 Blu-ray collection:2478 Digital collection:113 Blu-ray reviews: 152	go for dipole or quadpole surrounds, they do a much better job of creating a surround field than bookshelf speakers. Check out emotiva or axiom audio for examples.

11-19-2008, 05:43 PM	#6
aramis109 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Milwaukee, WI Home Theater Gallery:10 4K collection:4 Blu-ray collection:360 Trading Score:18	I would suggest listening to bi/di polar speakers before making the jump over to them. I personally like direct radiating speakers. The 40's are huge for bookshelf speakers. Make sure you have room. I am currently using them for my surrounds. I upgraded from satellite surrounds (the Polk RM6750 set) and the difference is, of course, impressive. I get much better bass response. I'm also able to put them up higher than the 50's stand so that they can clear my couch. Remember to factor in speaker stands or mounts or shelves (as necessary) into the cost. However, I don't think you can go wrong either way. The 40's are great speakers for the price.

11-19-2008, 05:55 PM	#7
Sir Terrence Sound Insider/M.P.S.E. Member since:Dec 2006	I agree with some of the others here. Towers for the surrounds is a waste of money. We don't mix alot of deep bass into the surrounds, and I think you will find 95% of the soundtracks out there don't have deep bass in the surrounds. The reason for this has to do with the size of the surround speakers in theaters. Put deep bass at high levels into those, and you will be blowing speakers all over the place, and theater owners will hate you. Get a pair of high quality bookshelf speakers that match your fronts, or bipolar surrounds are also a very good alternative. Whichever you choose, make sure they voice match your fronts, or you will have soundfield holes and jumpy pans as signal move from front to rear.

11-19-2008, 06:20 PM	#8
jomari Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Home Theater Gallery:18 Blu-ray reviews: 2 Trading Score:2	it also depends on what you'd use your surrounds for btw, ive known a couple of colleagues who prefer to use towers, due to them using SACDS or DVD-Audio for music reproduction. they then would use the multichannels and get the 'full effect' of the rear channels. i would prefer bookshelves, but if you had the opportunity, and of course the budget to match ALL the speakers (including the center), then by all means...

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