Hello,
While trying to watch "Finding Nemo" with my son the other day we experienced the sound drop-off issue discussed at length here in this forum.

We remedied the problem as suggested by turning the 1050 rear center speaker ON and turning 6.1 on, even though we have a 5.1 system.

Q1: However, I'm concerned about the long-term effect on my 1050 by sending a signal to a non-existant speaker ... will this harm the 1050 in the long term? I've always heard this was bad as the signal then has no where to go...

Q2: Should I decide to purchase an actual rear-center speaker, I unfortunately have no place to put it (couch backed up against the wall). I may be forced to just place it next to the existing front-center speaker ... thoughts?

[This message has been edited by USAudio (edited January 02, 2004).]

[This message has been edited by USAudio (edited January 02, 2004).]

Q1: No, it shouldn't hurt your receiver at all.

Q2: I have a similiar problem with my set-up. The solution that I use that works pretty well is to use a set of bipolar speakers running in parallel from the sixth channel. They currently sit on the floor, on either side of my futon. It works well enough in my system to get the center surround feel going. The bipolar speakers allow the sound to be less localized behind my head. It may not be the ideal set-up, but it works for me. Good luck!

Man, do I love that movie! I can't resist showing it to anybody who asks!

God, I love this Forum. I had the same problem with Nemo all last night and this morning. I thought for sure my 1050 was screwed up. The 6.1 thing worked perfectly!

Thanks to all!!!

Tom

I too had the problem with Finding Nemo. I thought it was my DVD player but now I know the real problem. Thanks to all who have helped find the workaround.

I had this problem as well. I think all 1050 owners with no rear center channel are going to experience it at some point. I have decided to add a center channel even though I too have the couch pressed up against the wall. I placed a speaker above my head firing down slightly. It may not be a perfect position but it is working fine. I don't bother to turn on the 6.1 feature unless, like Nemo, the DVD turns it on itself. This way the center info goes to my left and right speakers for 95% of my DVDs and a few use my not so perfectly placed center speaker.

I agree that adding a sixth speaker (at a minumum) is getting to be a requirement. Using 6.1 without the rear center (while it may not hurt the 1050) results in a substantial loss of surround information due to the way this information is extracted. Specifically all of the information that gets sent to the center is dropped and the remaining rear material is lowered by 3 db.

I too have positioning issues but not quite as severe as that you have described due to a split level floor plan). Our couch is against the wall at the split level. I have placed a monopole speaker firing forward into the room about two feet over my head and about 18 inches back on the split level. I leave the 1050 in 6.1 mode all of the time and allow it to turn inself on and off when a signal is present. The results seem satisfactory but I will admit to not have tested against desperado's method.

It goes against standard recommendation of direct radiating surround back speakers, but when setting up a 6.1 speaker layout with an uncooperative rear wall, I've had some good luck using a lone dipole speaker as surround back to blend it in to the surrounds. Finding just one dipole may be a bit of a trick, however, as they are usually sold in pairs.

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