7 Full Range speakers a bad thing?

John-Miles · 02-22-2008, 07:23 PM

Ok here is my problem, i want to eventually upgrade my speakers to all towers, is there any reason to avoid this? I really cant think of one except for the obvious cost benefit, as most movies use the fronts more heavily.

However as a gamer and someone who still loves his surround audio, i can see obvious advantages to having ful range speakers all around.

any comments?

JohnRice · 02-22-2008, 07:34 PM

It's overkill and unnecessary, but that is no reason to completely discount the idea. The main reason, to me, is because there is virtually no way to get ideal placement of the surround speakers if they are towers. Surround speakers really need to be a few to several feet above ear level for optimum effect.

John-Miles · 02-22-2008, 07:39 PM

Thats a very good point on the placement.

but then i know my studio 60's have the speaker cones on the top half, the bottom half is mainly used for volume.

I guess i should ahve mentioned that ive currently got Paradigm Studio 60's for my mains and i eventually want to get studio 100's for the mains and shift these to the rears

Greg Kolinski · 02-22-2008, 08:56 PM

I am runnning all tower speakers ,and have no problems.I still set the crossover at 80hz though.

Brandy S · 02-22-2008, 09:24 PM

Bass cancellation would be the greatest reason to not use full range speakers all around.

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chuckg · 02-22-2008, 10:02 PM

Oh, sorry but I do so disagree. I think you should have full range speakers all around. And, you definitely shoud still do the 80 Hz crossover with all speakers set to small.

If you don't have full range speakers in your surround set, you are seriously losing some great audio back there. I have exactly the same cabinets all the way round, and it is great. Just crank up Lord of The Rings if you need proof!

If you have room for the tower speakers, then you also have room to raise them up a bit to get the correct height...just put a fancy column under them, or a table, or whatnot. You could build them into columns, or hang them on the wall. Whatever!

John-Miles · 02-22-2008, 10:08 PM

Yeah Bass cancellation would be the biggest reason, but with the crossover set at 80, that should do the trick.

question though if the crossover is set at 80, why set the speakers to small?

Brandy S · 02-23-2008, 12:21 AM

Here's what I'm not understanding - what is your definition of "full range speaker", and why have one, then cut it off at 80Hz?

John-Miles · 02-23-2008, 12:34 AM

Well by full range speaker i pretty much mean a tower speaker, ie anythign that has a woofer, midrange and tweeter, so no bookshelfs.

for my specific instance i am thinking of using Paradigm Studio 60's for my sides and surrounds with studio 100's for the mains.

Reference Models:Studio 60

Reference Models:Studio 100

Brandy S · 02-23-2008, 01:08 AM

The References are definately full range, no argument there. But why pay more for bass extension you aren't using (by crossing over at 80Hz)?
The 40s or even the 20s have excellent extension, and would be easier to place in my opinion. Plus being a woman, they look nicer to me not having to put them on stands. I had a reference setup a few years back with 100 fronts, 40 surrounds hung on the side and rear walls, and the Studio CC (whatever the model # was back then!) with a PW2200 (Sub). I still have the PW, but traded in the rest. I honestly didn't notice much difference upgrading from 60 fronts to 100s, especially with a subwoofer, but I liked the way they looked.