[Padhraig]

Hey, I have a pair of Sapphire II's and need to match those to a center speaker and four surrounds for a home theater system (7.1). I have a subwoofer, but does anyone have any ideas on matches for the surrounds? Thanks!

[bpape]

Many people use the Emeralds for surrounds to very good effect. 

Bryan

[Padhraig]

The Emeralds are wonderful, but I'm wondering if they aren't overkill given the amount of information they have to carry? ie: aren't the surround speakers more for effect than any real top-end sound duties (though I might be wrong on that nowadays)?

[bpape]

For multi-channel music, you'll want just as much resolution.  Also, one of the best things you can do for HT duty is to properly voice match your mains and surrounds.  Even cut off, they'll still have to do 80Hz well on the bottom end too.

Bryan

[Padhraig]

Thanks Bryan. So an Emerald is fine as centerchannel? (Usually those have a horizontal orientation). Also, I have Left and Right channel subwoofers that give me -3dB response down to 18 Hz (12-in. drivers). Might I still need a subwoofer for HT?

[bpape]

For the center, Mike has a matching Sapphire center channel.

You can keep the 2 subs  for HT no problem.  You'll just want to actively cross them over and feed the signal from the mains, surrounds, and the LFE channel to it via the processor.

Bryan

[Padhraig]

Now it's getting complicated: I'm getting either  a Pioneer elite 94TXH or Denon 3808 A/V receiver. Is that the processor you're referring to or are you thinking I have separate dedicated processor? This active crossing over, is it a circuit I have to build?

[bpape]

Either of those receivers will do what is required.  No additional xover required.

Bryan

[Padhraig]

Thanks again, Bryan.

[Mike Dzurko]

As always, Bryan is spot on