Home Theater Speaker Advice

I'll offer an alternative perspective. If you like to listen to concert DVDs, etc., where the surround channels are recorded as part of the concert, then I agree with the above recommendations for identical speakers all around. But for the vast majority of movie soundtracks, the surround information is added after-the-fact and is independent of the front channel information. The sound engineer expects a diffuse surround field - most movie theaters have close to a dozen surround speakers. This is why many (most) surround speakers are designed as dipoles.

From my experience, these dipole wall-mounted surround speakers rarely come close to being timbre matched with their corresponding front channel speakers. (the Revel Ultima system I was using in my previous theater is a good example). But the good news is that this doesn't really detract from the home theater experience for the reasons discussed above.

The acoustic energy that your surround speakers must deliver is also significantly lower than the requirements of the front speakers. While you can get away with a monitor speaker for L/R/C, I've found that a full-range speaker at least for L/R will produce a sound that has more impact and is more involving than a monitor/sub. (I still highly recommend a sub for the LFE channel).

So, I'd recommend that you spend most of your money on the L/R/C/sub speakers, and just get some decent speakers for the surround speakers, not necessarily matching the L/R/C or even from the same manufacturer. In my new theater (http://www.jaytorborg.com/home_theather_main.htm), I'm using Revel F50/C50 for L/R/C and a two pairs of inexpensive B&W speakers for the surrounds.

I'm not familiar with the Triangle speakers, but I liked what I heard from the Paradigms.

Get the Studio 60's, Studio CC, Studio 20's and a PW2200 Sub in the Paradigm. Should come out about the same price and offer a MUCH better theater experience. Trust me ;)

I agree with using larger speakers for the fronts if budget permits. Just make sure the drivers match the surround speakers you select.

True, dipoles emulate a diffused soundfield, but home theater is out running real movie theaters in the multi channel department. Dolby digital and dts are already at 7.1 formats and growing. These surround arrays are designed to image like the front channels, and the best results will be achieved by using identical speakers all the way around. As your system grows, simply add more monitors i.e. rear center speaker. Only use a dipole if your space is confined or installation will not permit the use of monitors or larger speakers. Make sure you mount the speakers so the high frequency drivers are about 2'-3' above the listeners head for proper results.

Again, I just don't get it! Why do people continually consider mostly "music speaker designs" for their "dedicated home theater rigs!?"
If you look at what the pro reviewers are using for their reference HT rigs, you'll get a better perspective as to what works, and what doesn't! Keep to their chioces, and you'll get the best results I bet you!
If it ain't broke...don't fix it.

The reason is this: Most people end up playing music in their HT rooms. If they have a seperate music room then oftentimes they like to be able to listen to quality music in the HT room as well.

A dedicated HT speaker just doesn't sound very good playing full range music. But a music speaker sounds excellent playing HT. Just my opinion of course.