Speaker auditioning tips; 2.1 vs. 5.1 for music

[syrdave]

Hi,

I will be un-boxing my new Ascends tomorrow night. I've got 3 Sierra's along the front, and a pair of 170SE's for surrounds. The right & left fronts will be on TP-24 stands. The surrounds will be wall mounted.

I will auditioning another internet direct company's speakers as well. Those fronts are towers.

My sub is a Hsu VTF-2 MK 3. Receiver is a Pioneer Elite VSX-01txh.

I anticipate my use to be 75% music.

Are there any auditioning tips I should be aware of? What's the difference between music 2.1 vs 5.1? (Besides 3 speakers...)

Thanks,
Dave

[curtis]

Do you have an SPL meter? Use it to make sure you are listening to the different set of speakers at the same level, and that the sub is calibrated for each set as well.

Other than that, have fun with it.

[Quinn]

In addition to level matching with a spl meter, I recommend using a piece of music that you aren't familiar with so that you are listening to how each speaker presents the piece and not judging which sounds most like how you are used to the piece sounding. That doesn't mean forgo auditioning with familiar music but do mix in some unfamiliar too.