Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Full range rears?

IMO, this is completely dependent on your own priorities.

If I was listening 80% of the time to well mixed action movies on Blu-Ray, or proper (i.e. multi-miked) classical multi-channel recordings, and I had the room for it, I would go for five (or seven) identical full range loudspeakers all round, eschewing a sub and letting the processor distribute any .1 bass appropriately. If I was that serious, I'd also go vertical centre with an acoustically transparent screen, but if that wasn't a possibility (e.g. large flat-screen), the latest DSP horizontal centres do have image height compensation (which is supposed to be very good).

But I'm not in the above category. I listen in a small room, mainly to TV, Sky Movies, and two-channel music; Blu-Ray and (dead) HD DVD too, but less so. In this scenario, a pair of DSP33s at the back are more than adequate for my needs, with 6ks and a 5500HC up front; and for music, I normally listen in Direct.

On average, and stating the obvious, there is far more energy delivered up front. That's not to say that full-range rears of commensurate quality to the fronts aren't important with the right material; but how much of that material actually exists? (that's a genuine question, not a rhetorical one)

I'll also note that height channels are regarded as psycho-acoustically far more important than surrounds. When the 861v9 arrives (next year now, I'm guessing), I would be surprised if height channel synthesis is not one of the new features. How long that would take to roll down to the G6x, I have no idea.

I'm one of them. The 6ks work surprisingly well; certainly as well as the 5ks I had in the same physical positions, if not better. A bit of room correction is needed, but the room is boxy...