Column

I hit the speaker market because I wanted to watch all of my favorite movies in surround sound. “I have a mini-system for CD’s,” I thought, “All I need is a cheap surround set up and I’m set.” No sooner was I watching Scarface in full surround when I realized that my system possessed a ton of untapped potential for music. In order for that to happen I needed something than the odd, mismatched collection of small, cheap speakers that were tearing away at the aesthetics of my living room. Something I could have avoided had I thought this purchase through ahead of time.

If you’re just hitting the market it might be wise to sit back and think things out before you go out and waste money on the wrong set up. Figure out right away why it is you want a new system and what you’ll be using it for and buy accordingly. If you are going to use your system solely as a stereo, I for one, would stop at the 2 channel set up.

Although innovative technology like the explosion of home theater has converted some to surround listeners, I have found that it unnecessary and sometimes unproductive. After all, if you have a collection of CD’s that were released a few years ago, chances are they were all recorded in traditional left/right channel stereo. Therefore, you’re not gaining much by listening to them in surround, except maybe a few decibels. In fact, I find that the center speaker plays really negatively on the authenticity of the soundstage. If placed poorly (i.e. lower than the fronts), the center can diminish the overall sound quality even further. Before I hit play on my CD, I am always sure to hit that Stereo button on my receiver so that I can hear the clarity and placement of vocals and instruments the way they were recorded and engineered.

If you do decide that 2 channel is all you need, the good news is that now you can spend your money exactly where it is needed. Rather than having to buy 5 + speakers, you now need only 2, meaning you can save serious dough or spend the entire budget on a much higher quality pair of fronts. More good news—if surround sound continues to explode and more and more CD’s start to hit the market in 5.1 format and beyond, you can always add some surrounds—and now you’ve had some time to save more cash, get a big raise, etc.

If you’re a movie buff with a wall of cinematography, and you want to have the modern technologies of the movie theater right in your home, you should probably look seriously at a full surround set up. Personally, I’d skip those packages that you see at Best Buy and the like. Although they might seem like a cheap, simple solution that offers everything you need with no overkill, they can be extremely limiting. The receiver in those sets tend to be extremely low-end, designed specifically for that set of tiny surrounds, which means if you decide you want more sound—you’re going to need to go ahead and start from scratch. On the other hand, if you begin with a quality receiver you can always change out your speakers as your tastes and income fluctuate.

Setting up a 5.1 system can be slightly more complicated then a 2 channel. Rear speakers can range from matching the front speakers exactly (which I prefer), to a small cheap set of generics. I prefer to have all my drivers match, which provides an overall cohesion to the full system. Although you can get away with small, non-matching rears, the center should definitely match the fronts. If not, you might experience some seriously inferior sound that doesn’t match properly.

As far as other alternatives go, such as 6.1, 7.1, I’d dissuade the consumer from those much for the same reason I’d stay away from 5.1 set ups for music— they are unnecessary (unless you know that you have soundtracks that utilize the format). Although you might consider buying a receiver, with such capabilities, I have found that a sixth + speaker is not very useful. Most movie soundtracks tend to be released in the 5.1 format. It seems that Joe Hollywood has not quite caught up with the home audio explosion. Therefore, the 6.1 becomes an unnecessary mix of the rear left and rights that really doesn’t add a whole lot of depth to the overall soundtrack. Further, additional speakers take up more space in your living room, which you might want to use for something else.

As technology and quality continue to advance, perhaps 6.1 + soundtracks will become more of a norm than an exception. At that time it might be worth revisiting the idea of adding those extra speakers. Alternately, if you are a tech freak, bent on having the latest and greatest, you’re free to plaster your room with loudspeakers. Last time I looked, audio gurus had even advanced so far as 9.1. From a financial standpoint, it just seems like too much excess.

Figuring out exactly what capabilities you would like to utilize regularly will help you build a great system without spending money on equipment that sits silent. You can focus your time and resources into speakers that you will be using day in and day out and design the perfect sound for your lifestyle.

-Chris Weiss