Re: Sierra .5?
Originally Posted by
merrymaid520
azanon,
I have to disagree that having sierras for surrounds would be unnoticeable. I recently had classic 170's for surrounds and just bought 2 sierras to replace them. Granted, they are most noticeable when playing multi ch music, but if you are a blu-ray fan such as myself and have the receiver/processor capable of playing the newer lossless codecs, the difference is definitley noticeable. The newer codecs carry more detailed information for the back channels and sometimes they reach fairly low for surround material. Having smaller less capable speakers back there will result in you missing out on some of the content the film mixer intended us to hear/feel. You need to experience this before assuming there is not a difference.
In conclusion, I believe a sierra .5's is a great idea mainly for surrounds to match the costlier sierra 1's.
I'm sure I'd miss out on all kinds of rear channel information if I didn't have a VTF-3 Mk. 3 to handle sound below my crossover of 80hz! Yeah, I completely agree with you, if you're not using a sub, then you definitely want a LOT more back there than a HTM-200SE. But I can only but scratch my head wondering why your not crossing at 80hz (or higher) with blu-ray lossless audio and letting a sub handle that low sound that you're afraid of losing with mounted mains. I'm happy with the 80hz since it is THX recommended, and I always use a THX mode (ie: select 2 THX), with the only exception being those rare 7.1 lossless audio tracks. I like THX Select 2 for everything else, including lossless 5.1, because it expands the sound to 7.1 and supports my ASA configured back rear speakers.
If there's one thing I'm not missing much of, its low sound from any channel, including LFE. Thx VTF 3.3! In one of the threads at the top of the list Dave notes that one of the major design goals of the HTM200SE was to be able to accommodate the 80hz cross effectively. He says he succeeded and I agree with him.
My rear lossless information sounds tremendously detailed with the HTM200SE. Its possible that they do better with the "details" than the classic 170 did/does. Again, on surround duty only, including lossless quality, I just don't see room for improvement that would justify the cost in my mind. The only room for improvement I see in my setup would be any of my front speakers.
Again, I'll admit if a Sierra 0.5>HTM200SE and its at least as small as it, then I'll probably get one for my center channel since I'm very space limited there.
Last edited by azanon; 04-06-2009 at 07:21 AM.
Sierra-1 - Mains+Center
Surrounds - HTM200SEs (x4 in back, and x2 Atmos)
Sub - SVS PB-2000
Receiver - Onkyo TX-RZ1100
Oppo Darbee Edition Blue Ray
Sony 4K blu ray player