I haven't seen any comments on the sound of the 1050,on the rear 6.1 channel.Is it whorth the extra expense of the rear speaker and install?Does it make any sound inprovement when you use 5.1 ?Or do you just have to have a DVD withh a 6.1 output?Any comments?

Most of the time it's subtle, but on several films it is really beneficial.

- JP3: The scene near the beginning where Dr. Grant and his charges are flying toward the island. The scnen begins with the airplane flying onscreen from 'below' the camera, with complemetary rear to front vroom sound that is very convincing.

- JP3: Airplane crash. As the airplane disintegrates you can clearly hear the cockpit warning beepers quietly doing off front center, while parts of the plane are loudly knocked off left and right and the parts fall away to various places in the rear. Very cool.

- Lara Croft - Tomb Raider: Opening scene where at various points Lara is shooting toward the robot, which is between you and she. The shots are clearly audible from the front center, with some whizzing past and hitting the wall behind you. You will duck the first time this happens.

Lots of others. The entire attack in Pearl Harbor. Airplane sounds in Space Cowboys. Even scenes with ambient sound fields (rain, wind) are more enveloping.

If it's not prohibitive I'd go for it.


Charlie

I've gotta agree with Charlie on this one. I love my rear center. I went through some hassle to install it, but IMO was well worth the effort.

For some other good demos, check out the rooftop bullet dodging sequence in The Matrix and pretty much the entire Episode One, but specifically the pod race.

I just leave mine on all the time. That way anything that comes on on the satellite with DD I also get in six channel surround. Even my wife likes it!

Leaving it on all the time whether you have a 6th speaker or not eliminates that DD cut-out issue all together also.

Just a reminder.

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m-mmeyer

Thanks for the advice,however is the sound difference worth 850.00.?My JBL speaker and install run that much!!

Why would you need to spend $850 on a rear centre surround? If one was to have a lot of extra cash I could see having all 6 speakers in the system the same; for timbre equalization. BUT if money is an issue; a less expensive route for the surrounds is adequate (although I would keep the front center equivalent to the front mains; in my system my 3 fronts are the same). I noticed a fuller rear surround sound by adding the rear centre. But is it worth $850? All depends upon how far your money goes.

I can't have a center rear speaker the way my house is laid out, (you'd hit your head on the speaker!). I LOVE the way the 1050 sounds in 5.1

Thank You guys for all the help and advice,I went and bought a pair of JBLPRO studio monitors,they come with an 1''tweeter and a 6''woofer.I had them install,and I only paid 475.00.once again Thanks for the advice.eurorom

Great! Gotta love it whenever ya get a bargain! Be sure and report back your impressions!

I am ready to upgrade my surrounds to match
the brand and timbre of my front soundstage (NHT). I am considering ordering 3 surrounds
to take advantage of 6.1 on my 1050. I need some advice. My current two surrounds are about 6 feet up on the sides of our seating area. If I get a rear center, due to room restrictions, I would not be able to match the same height. (no cathedral in this room, just a standard 8 footer). I can only place the center surround positioned one foot or so higher than my side surrounds. Would this be undesirable placement? An obvious solution would be to raise the other two speakers to match the height. This would bring them all up to about 7- 71/2 feet. Is this also undesirable?

Thanks!!

I don't think it would be a problem to have the center surround somewhat higher than the side surrounds. I ran some surrounds that way for several months.

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

My suggestion would be to leave your surrounds at 6ft high,then just install your rear surrond center at 7.5ft;just make sure you calibrate all your speakers with your meter at the same level,forget about THX this 6th speaker makes all the difference in the world.Better sound field,better wrap around and sounds come from all around you(on the movie Sream 3 i hear voices and sounds all around,a very real surround sound,rear left,right,back...awsome)

Thanks, Gonk and Eurorom, for your thoughts
on my surround speaker placement...I appreciate your time!