Any experience with Dipoles?

[sideshowbob]

I have been looking at getting some dipolar surround speakers, and have been trying to do a bit of reading up. I happened across an article here (http://www.bwspeakers.com/service/getthemost/article_details.cfm?objectID=F5CA2EB5-3D20-11D4-A67F00D0B7473B37) on the B&W site. It seems to offer some good tips, but I thought I would post here to see if anyone has experience with dipoles.

My sofa is right at the back of the room and what's more the left surround would be in an alcove (between rear wall and chimney breast) ... so I'm wondering whether a dipole would be the best option ... or whether I would be better off placing my existing surrounds higher above the listening position and angled strangely. At the moment my B&W 601s are on surround duty, behind the sofa (on stands and at an angle of 45 degrees from straight ahead ... so pointing to the walls, rather than the screen, and us) and the surround effect is OK, but very localised. I'm looking for a more diffuse sound, but I don't want to spend a heap on the surrounds only to find out that they aren't perfect in my living room.

Has anyone got any pearls of wisdom, and suggestions for speaker choices. The B&W DS6 is pretty expensive £300-400 and there are cheaper options about ... Eltax and Mission spring to mind, but I wondered about other choices ... and obviously the best prices.

I have B&W 602 and CC6 at the front at the moment, run from a Yamaha DSP A2070 (powering the front 3 channels). My DSP E800 is on surround duty.

Many thanks in advance.

[sideshowbob]

Perhaps I would be having more success if my thread had the word nipples in it? Anyone?

[soberion]

Well, I'm no expert, but I've got a pair of Mordaunt Short MSB20 rears from Richer sounds for £99, and coupled with a Mission front stage and a Paradigm PDR10 sub, they match nicely. My sofa's against a rear wall with the speakers at each end, about 6 ft from the ground. They definately give a less localised sound than the standard spaeakers i had before and sound good in my particular setup. My rooms about 3m by 5m.

[sideshowbob]

Thanks Soberion. Have you got them on the side walls then, or at the back?

[Bapapapa]

I'd experiment with re-positioning your existing speakers before dropping £££ on di-poles. My sofa is also on the back wall, so I placed my surounds on wall brackets about six foot up, aiming them across the room. I guess the height de-localises the sounds as the effects are very discrete - when necessary obviously.

Try it.

[sideshowbob]

Will do, Bap. Not going to commit the cash just yet! I'm a tight barsteward really!

[sideshowbob]

FWIW, I tried placing my DM 601s out of the way (one in far left corner and other on shelf) but the effect was still pretty localised. I went to Newcastle this week and looked at the B&W CDS6 and stuff from Boston (Micro + the THX jobs) ... then Carlisle, where I had a look at the DS6. Finally decided to take the plunge with the DS6s, but decided that £400 was a disproportionate amount to spend on the surrounds. The guy in Carlisle would not shift below £360, so I set about searching for another pair elsewhere (ex-dem / mint) and finally tracked some down to Brentwood Audio-T. So, now I'm getting ex-display DS6s, boxed and mint for £280 shipped. Much better. So now I'm thinking to myself ... hmmmmm, that £120 I've saved would go nicely toward a new 5 channel power amp! And so it goes on. A chronic case of upgradeitis!!!!!!

[soberion]

I've got them placed on the back wall 'facing' the TV (although obviously the actual speakers themselves are firing at about 45 degrees each direction from here)

EDIT - link now has all my equipment shown :)
<a href="http://members.tripod.co.uk/soberion/myav.html">see here</a>

Excuse the mess though :D

[sideshowbob]

Very smart Soberion ... your room is even the same colour (more or less) as my lounge! I'm gonna have to get myself some webspace soon so I can post a picture of my set-up when it's done! I reckon I am going to experiment with the dipoles at the back and sides and then stick them up accordingly. Wednesday's the big day for the re-shuffle. Going to pick up my new 5-channel power amp tomorrow too ... luvverly!