THX® Surround EX™
Dear Gary: I am a big fan and avid reader of your magazine. I noticed recently that you have been reviewing a couple of DVDs with the new Surround EX, like The Haunting and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. I just had my Lexicon DC-1 upgraded to the new THX Surround EX. I was wondering if the rear channel speakers would sound better with dipoles or direct radiating speakers?
Paul Willen Jr.
Movie Sound Editor Perry Sun Comments:
We have been using bipolars for the back surround (BS). Personally, I prefer using either bipolars or direct radiators, as opposed to dipoles. If you’re currently using direct radiators for the side surrounds, you should probably stay with the same for the BS. If you have a THX speaker system, note that the recommendation is for dipoles to be used with the BS, though THX is planning to certify a line of monopole speakers in the future for the BS. If you elect to use dipoles, be sure that you have the proper side-wall interaction that will be needed for dipolar speakers to be effective.
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