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New to the game. Please help with set up.

I am new to the all this but I just bought a house with a good size media room. I want to set it up right, but I can't break the bank. I have a small inexpensive focal sib xl system that I use a Pioneer elite A/V reciver to power(Its about 130W per channel). The previous owner left his B&W 805s and I was wondering if the Pioneer could power these speakers as fronts with a sub and use the Focals as the surounds in a 7.1 system.

Thanks for any help you can provide
nitjt
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Welcome.

The answer is yes, it should work reasonably well.

You might even consider going simply two channel. The B&Ws are good enough that they might pull that off. Of course, if you need helicopters flying over your head, then you'll need surround. Nothing wrong with that, but many of us are very happy with great two-channel AV.

Dave
nitjt OP
2 posts
 
So it would be ok to use the Focals as surounds? I have been told that I should not mix speaker brands. I would like full suround but sound quaily is more important, should I get a B&W sub and center channel and not use the Focals at all? Will my Pioneer be enough to push this set up?

Thanks Michael
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
use what you've got for now.....the new house is gonna need money like oxygen for awhile.
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Well Michael, it may not be ideal, but you're ears won't bleed and you won't vomit at the results. Could it be improved? No doubt!!

Set up of a surround system is way more critical than the speaker brands and their interaction. Since the surround channels require much less power and, generally, produce much less energy, a bit of a mis-match will not render things as unacceptable. Set up is the key. (Easier said than done, unfortunately).

Dave
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