kmx Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Hi What is the general recommendation for surround back channels i have RS52s for surrounds, should i setup a 2nd set of RS52s as surround backs or RB52? cheersKen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The History Kid Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 (edited) RB-52's would likely be the better bet, you could also probably get away with RS-41's but the bookshelf speakers tend to perform better. I'm using RS-3's in my setup and they work nicely. Generally, you only need the bipole surrounds for the sides. The rears tend to perform better as front firing speakers. Edited November 9, 2014 by IbizaFlame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang guy Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 As a general rule he is correct. If you want more specifics, perhaps you could give some information on your setup and possibly post a picture or two or three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappydue Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 The general recommendation is for a direct radiating speaker. I would skip the RB-51. They are rear ported and have no where near the same sound as the rs-52. I would get the RB-61ii for surround backs. Front ported so can be mounted flush if you wanted. And will be able to match the output of the rs-52. Call around for the best pricing. Should be able to grab those for 400$ brand new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paducah Home Theater Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 (edited) As already mentioned, direct firing is the official recommendation, and they're supposed to be pretty close together, not at least 4' apart as mentioned in a different thread. However... I'm just not convinced that it matters a whole hell of a lot. I can only name two movies I've seen that have any sort of noticeable 7.1 / rear surround material, and only one that was very strong where I knew that's exactly where it was coming from. That was Edge of Tomorrow. Most other movies are either only mixed for 5.1 or only has very weak 7.1 rear material for ambience. I'm running RS-62ii's for my rears and I just can't believe that direct firing speakers closer together in this position would really gain me a whole hell of a lot. But, yeah, that's the official recommendation. Personally I just like the look of the RS series, I think the RB's just bolted onto a wall look pretty funny. If you could run them on a stand or actually on a shelf then yeah but bolted onto a wall just doesn't do it for me. Due to a curved seating arrangement I wanted mine elevated, which meant bolted onto a wall, and wanted the rears to match, so I chose the RS. YMMV. Edited November 10, 2014 by MetropolisLakeOutfitters 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappydue Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 and they're supposed to be pretty close together this is how thx recommends them in their setup dolby recommends a certain degree angle: http://www.dolby.com/us/en/guide/surround-sound-speaker-setup/7-1-setup.html not at least 4' apart as mentioned in a different thread from an old onkyo i had the thx recommendation as per the setup was less than 4 feet so i always went off of dolby as they needed to be at least 4 feet apart. what is wrong with that recommendation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmx Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 Thanks everyone, i thought the RB would be the way to go but i too dont really think they would look as nice as having a set of RS on the wall, but i was wondering if the design of the speaker would make an odd surround back channel as its angled. My current setup is a Pioneer LX87, Klipsch RF35 mains, RC62II centre and RS52 rears and a SVS SB13 Ultra sub. Thanks for feedback on 7.1 I was wondering if you can actually hear a difference to warrant spending that much cash on a 2nd set of surround channels. Maybe i should save a little more and get a 2nd SB13 Ultra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang guy Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 A second sub is always a good choice... There are lots and lots of threads discussing the benefits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psg Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 THX setup. I guess people are supposed to have two sets of brackets and move their speakers around depending on the movie! LOL. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappydue Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Well I don't run my avr in any sort of thx mode so i see no need to conform to their standard. And op I agree that I'd add a second sub or maybe move to rf-82ii for mains so timbre is perfect across the front before I went 7.1. I have 7.1 in my basement and 5.1 in my living room and I don't miss the surround backs at all. Actually i would do the rf-82ii's before a second sub. That would be my path. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paducah Home Theater Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 (edited) THX setup. I guess people are supposed to have two sets of brackets and move their speakers around depending on the movie! LOL. Yeah I was about to post this, that's today's standard as far as I am aware. Here's what I don't get though... if you use Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio, your 7.1/rears are supposed to be spread out. Of course, when exactly was the last time that you popped in a 7.1 channel lossless audio disc? I don't even know where to get one and if you go with a Marantz setup I think you have to get their $1,200 disc player to even play it. Edited November 10, 2014 by MetropolisLakeOutfitters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappydue Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 last time that you popped in a 7.1 channel lossless audio disc you talking about a music disc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paducah Home Theater Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 last time that you popped in a 7.1 channel lossless audio disc you talking about a music disc? Hell if I know. I thought music discs were only 5 channel. I've never heard of a 7 channel audio-only music disc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paducah Home Theater Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 (edited) I've been thinking that second recommendation is for music for some reason, but apparently a ton of good movies use DTS-HD Master Audio. So why is their primary recommendation to put them close together but if using DTS-HD MA, spread 'em out? Makes no sense. Edited November 10, 2014 by MetropolisLakeOutfitters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psg Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 (edited) Mine are setup like this (except for R+L angles, which are at 45 degrees for me for an obvious reason; plus I am using direct radiator as side surrounds): Edited November 10, 2014 by psg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivernuggets Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 I would get the RB-61ii for surround backs. KMX, if you decide to go this route and haven't seen this already: https://community.klipsch.com/index.php?/topic/153610-pair-of-rb-61ii-and-stands-for-sale/ Good price for basically a new pair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorm Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Switched my RS-7s for a pair of RB-75s last night on my rear surrounds. Hell of a difference. Of course, my rear surrounds are nearly 15 feet back from the main listening position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paducah Home Theater Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Switched my RS-7s for a pair of RB-75s last night on my rear surrounds. Hell of a difference. In what ways? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heritage_Head Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 (edited) As already mentioned, direct firing is the official recommendation, and they're supposed to be pretty close together, not at least 4' apart as mentioned in a different thread. However... I'm just not convinced that it matters a whole hell of a lot. I can only name two movies I've seen that have any sort of noticeable 7.1 / rear surround material, and only one that was very strong where I knew that's exactly where it was coming from. That was Edge of Tomorrow. Most other movies are either only mixed for 5.1 or only has very weak 7.1 rear material for ambience. I'm running RS-62ii's for my rears and I just can't believe that direct firing speakers closer together in this position would really gain me a whole hell of a lot. But, yeah, that's the official recommendation. Personally I just like the look of the RS series, I think the RB's just bolted onto a wall look pretty funny. If you could run them on a stand or actually on a shelf then yeah but bolted onto a wall just doesn't do it for me. Due to a curved seating arrangement I wanted mine elevated, which meant bolted onto a wall, and wanted the rears to match, so I chose the RS. YMMV.Only two! Wow that has just not been the case in my experience. Lots of great rear speaker content movies. With that said I can totally see how if not set up right the rears can be lost and a waste for someone. Every room is different so set up will be room dependent. Don't break the bank but also don't waste your time if your going to half *** it. Like anything in this hobby you get out of it what you put into it. If you just stuff something back their like it doesn't really matter. You probably won't be that happy with the results. The rears also work really well in 5.1movies. Depending on the avr. You might need to matrix them in with Dolby pro. Or some avrs like mine run the rears in 5.1 even in direct mode. Edited November 12, 2014 by Pro-Cinema_Head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paducah Home Theater Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Only two! Wow that has just not been the case in my experience. Lots of great rear speaker content movies. With that said I can totally see how if not set up right the rears can be lost and a waste for someone. Every room is different so set up will be room dependent. Don't break the bank but also don't waste your time if your going to half *** it. I should also disclose that I've had my system in place for a whopping 2 1/2 weeks. They didn't get on the wall until October 20. Haven't exactly had time to go rent a bunch of blu-rays in that time. All of Netflix is all 5.1, both Metallica and STP's concerts are 5.1, most kids movies are 5.1... installing it differently ain't going to help with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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