Rear Surrounds: How Important?

[Ian11]

I've got decent center and front sides but how important is it to get good rear surrounds?

I read in a magazine that since rears only carry @ 10% of the sound so inexpensive speakers are fine. So I got the cheapest speakers at Circuit City. Its seems fine to my ears but am I missing out? Should I upgrade?

[4KRG]

Dolby prologic had a limited range mono signal to the rear.

Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 have full range stereo to the rear.

What are you trying to do?

Either way I say HAVING rear speakers is important, but the quality of rear speaker is far less important in Pro Logic mode.

[palebluedot]

If it sounds good to you, that is all that matters. Be happy with your purchase.

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I am the one who calls himself I AM!

[BartleyR7]

Ian: As I'm sure you already know, it's up to you if you want to upgrade. If you plan on using your receiver for 5-channel audio, then I definitely recommend upgrading. Also, it is usually best to have all of your speakers timber-matching. If it were me, I would upgrade the speakers. However, this is your system. If you are pleased with it, great! http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/smile.gif

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"Can I feed Mitch?"

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[ANDREMIKE]

I made mine from Radio Shack speakers and they sound great!!
I watch movies in DD5.1 couldn't be happier with their sound..

Mike

[This message has been edited by ANDREMIKE (edited January 16, 2001).]

[Gonnosuke]

I agree with the others - if it sounds good to you then don't worry about it.

That being said, I would like to state that having high quality 'rears' does have certain advantages. I recently upgraded to Polk f/x 500i's and there's a pretty huge difference between these and cheap speakers. It's very difficult to put into words but there's an ambience and spacial effect that can't be reproduced using cheap speakers. The one problem that I see is that there aren't to many movies that effectively use the rear speakers. But then again, movies like Fight Club, The Patriot and Saving Private Ryan benefit tremendously from high quality rear speakers...Judgement call!

-Gonnosuke

http://www.polkaudio.com/home/products/surround/fx500i/

[Cy Jervis]

I used to have cheap Sony rear speakers but decided to upgrade (just a little) to JBL N24s. I couldn't help but notice a very big difference. I don't think you need top of the line speakers for the rears but I wouldn't buy the cheapest either.

[JimRochester]

I made mine from some tins cans and some twine and they sound just fine. http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/wink.gif j/k. Just like anything, cheap speakers will do the job, better ones will sound better. Whether or not your ears or your pocketbook will justify the cost is strictly up to you.

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