do's and dont's of mixing b&w series

[jayhawk75]

for HT it appears by reading threads that it is not a good idea to mix 700's with 800's and it also appears no good center for 703s except another 703, so where does a person start the building process assuming funds are not available to run out and buy 5 800 and 850sw or has someone come up with a good matching system mixing in the 700's w/o immediate upgradeitis.

[alpina]

not sure whats good or bad but our system is likely to be 804s, htm3s, 705s & aws750


julie

[drsiebling]

Interesting topic. I've got 600 series all around right now with a CM-C center channel. It meshes flawlessly. My concern lies in the fact that I am about to upgrade to 804S in the front and will have to leave my DS6 rear channels in place until I can come up with the funds to replace them with the appropriate 800 series rear speakers.

I wonder if this config is going to sound less than spectacular?

-B

[Bluespower]

Don't fear! I've just done what you are about to do and the results are very easy to live with. Right now I have the 804s and an LCR600 across the front and DS6s for surrounds. It sounds just fine for films and not shabby at all for DVD-A. Not to say that I will not eventually upgrade my center to an 800 series (those tweeters ARE something special) but I've used up my good will with the wife for the forseeable future. Enjoy your upgrade...

[Miroku]

An HTM3s or NautHTM1 sounds fine with 703's

[Boone38]

I just bought the 804s and have htm 4 as my center. I personally think this sounds very good. I just hooked up a pair of the DS6s for the rear and also this this is a good fit. I may not change anything thus far. Yeah right, who am I kidding. Give me some time.

[misterdoggy]

for HT it appears by reading threads that it is not a good idea to mix 700's with 800's and it also appears no good center for 703s except another 703, so where does a person start the building process assuming funds are not available to run out and buy 5 800 and 850sw or has someone come up with a good matching system mixing in the 700's w/o immediate upgradeitis.

The Key here is you said Home Theater not DVD-A or SACD. In SACD you would ideally want all the speakers to be the same sound as they are all sharing equally information divided up to create the sound.

Home Theater is not the same. MOST important and most of the information comes out of the center speaker. Then is shared mostly across the front L&R&C with special effects coming from the rear and booms and bams coming from the Sub, depending on how you have your system setup.

My Sub is set 40hz so really only kicks in for special effects (Private Ryan on the beach)

So to answer your question about HT, IMHO matching the 3 across the front is more important than the surrounds. IMHO the speaker to invest in is the Center Speaker for HT and the L&R for Stereo, then All of them for SACD.

[jayhawk75]

i stopped at dealer and was discussing topic again and he said suprise... he had a couple of new 804s floor models that the price could be right. it wasnt what i went there for but the price was right. so at home i replaced my L&R and left htm7 and turned on a 1067. first reactions are at low volume (55) the htm7 appears to be more efficient and overwhelms 804s. however at 75 smooths out. still looking like 802 fronts, 804 rears, 750sw and possibly changing the center. however looks like an amp (1092) to fire up the 802's is next.
side topic was playing (804) at dealer using new mac model of sacd player and that would never become part of my sysem due to technical problems.

[misterdoggy]

i so at home i replaced my L&R and left htm7 and turned on a 1067. first reactions are at low volume (55) the htm7 appears to be more efficient and overwhelms 804s. however at 75 smooths out.

Did you calibrate distances and levels ?