Hello,

I have bought a set of 5.1 surround sound speakers. I am a bit
confused about how to set them up. 

The kit contains four identical speakers for front L+R and back L+R
and then a front centre speaker.

I know I need to have two speakers behind me L+R to make the sound
surround me but I am unsure do I really need to put two speakers in
front of me L+R when I already have the two big speakers left and
right that I use when playing cds and radio through my amp? Will the
big speakers be just as good or better, or should I use the big
speakers for cds and the small speakers for dvds? I just think it
might look a little crowded with so many speakers in front of me!

Thanks.

On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 19:25:47 GMT, Fred <fred@neitherhere.northere>
wrote:

>Hello,
>
>I have bought a set of 5.1 surround sound speakers. I am a bit
>confused about how to set them up. 
>
>The kit contains four identical speakers for front L+R and back L+R
>and then a front centre speaker.
>
>I know I need to have two speakers behind me L+R to make the sound
>surround me but I am unsure do I really need to put two speakers in
>front of me L+R when I already have the two big speakers left and
>right that I use when playing cds and radio through my amp? Will the
>big speakers be just as good or better, or should I use the big
>speakers for cds and the small speakers for dvds?

It's difficult to say without knowing more about the rest of your
equipment. You've referred to an additional stereo pair used for
music, but not said what amp they're connected to, or whether it's
possible to have both that set and your new front pair hooked up at
the same time? If so, can you have sound only coming from one pair at
a time? You've also not said anything about makes or models of
speakers, so there's no way we can tell which might be better. In any
case, it's all entirely subjective. Your own opinion is the only one
that matters in this context.

It's normal to use a matched set for surround use, simply because
different speakers have different sonic characteristics and using your
'big speakers' together with unmatched centre and rear speakers might
sound odd. On the other hand, your big stereo pair might sound better
with music than the new ones.

>I just think it
>might look a little crowded with so many speakers in front of me!

Do you live with anyone who'd object to that? If it's right for you
and the answer's 'no', do it!

I have two amps - one for music, with a pair of LS3/5as connected, and
another for AV use with a 5.1 set of Epos speakers connected. As I sit
on my sofa, I have five loudspeakers and a TV in front of me. The
outer pair of speakers are the LS3/5as, whilst the inner pair and the
centre one are Epos. Behind me are two more Epos speakers, and the
subwoofer is off to one side. Sure, eight speakers in one room is a
lot, but it works for me. (Mind you, the LS3/5as are quite small...)

The bottom line is that you need to try various combinations, and see
which you find most satisfactory. You might find that there are other
relevant constraints that you've not mentioned.

Go on, experiment!

Peter.