K'horns and Front Wides?

[hjones4841]

I just upgraded to a new AVR (Denon AVR-A100) and wondered if anyone with K'horns as their fronts has tried adding front wide speakers. If so, was there a noticeable widening of the sound stage? With the K's in the corners, I am not sure there would be any benefits to adding the width speakers. Thanks.

[Chris A]

Is this the configuration that you're talking about, i.e., the "Audyssey DSX" array configuration?

Chris

[hjones4841]

Yes, but I cannot meet those specific angles in my room. L/R is more like 45 deg to my main seat. Best I can do is put the LW/RW along the side walls, which puts them 3-5 feet in front of the K'horns. That might get me about 60 degrees with them toe'd in.

[Chris A]

Did you ever get your questions answered?

I've not heard an Audyssey DSX setup before. From what I've read, there seems to be some advantages and concerns (enhanced vertical and horizontal sound imaging effects vs. reproducing film voiceovers).

I can't help but think that what it does is to reproduce what Carver called "Holographic imaging" or Polk called "SDA Monitors" in the 80s (i.e., in the horizontal direction only), except that it doesn't require someone to be sitting on the centerline between the speakers, and to produce vertical imaging--something that has been lacking in HT setups.

It seems to me that the front-wide speakers may not be as important if you are not sitting off-centerline--sort of like not requiring a center-channel speaker if you are sitting on-axis.

Chris