[Mr Peabody]

I can agree matching surrounds aren't as important as your center matching your mains but I can't agree matching surrounds aren't important at all or highly recommended.  I had the same brand surrounds but from a lesser series and thought it pretty good, I recently got new mains and center, then added the matching surrounds.  This is the first time I've actually had all five speakers match brand and line.  It was well worth the investment and the improvement was noticeable even from when they were all from the same brand but not same line.  It's hard to put the experience into words but when all the speakers match you are more inside the sound.  When they don't match it may or may not be something that stands right out but when you hear all the speakers match you will know things are right.

[Bob in St. Louis]

The man is wise.

[ddafoe]

Thanks for the info.  I'm putting together a 5.1 system now as we finish our basement and with all of the $$ I've been spending I've been contemplating scaling back on the surround speakers.     I figured that would be one area I could cut back on some and not notice a big difference.   Since I'm only going with two surrounds I suppose then I should at least get two speakers that blend as well as possible with the fronts...

[Mr Peabody]

Have you already bought your electronics?  If not, maybe we can help suggest an area or brand that might save some money.

[ddafoe]

I've purchased the amp (NAD T 955) and processor (Emotiva UMC-1).
My new (dedicated) room is ~11 x 17.   I'm trying to setup a good quality 2 channel system and a decent 5.1 system in the same room.

In my previous audio/video (multi-use) room I was using a M&K 150 Center with Revel F52s across the front and older Energy RVSS speakers for the surrounds.  I had integrated my electronics and was using a Sunfire TGA-5400 with an older Outlaw processor along with a nice Adcom GFP-750 preamp (with HT Bypass).    Both the Revels and M&Ks can suck power and my room was very large, thus the Sunfire.

Now that I've decided to get back into 2 channel I plan to just use the Revel's for 2 channel and didn't want to spend the $$ to get a matching 5.1 system of all Revel speakers.   So my plan is to get a mid-priced 5 speaker system for watching movies.   My plan so far is to go with Klipsch speakers as the reviews of the Reference II speakers have been good (especially for movies) and they do NOT need much power thus I save on an amp.    Many people say the old Heritage series are great too for movies.

So, I was thinking of either a Reference system based around the bookshelf RB-82IIs for Left/Right or a Heritage based system based around big Cornwalls.   The Reference bipole like surrounds (e.g. RS-52II) are actually pretty pricy which is why I was thinking of just going with Reference bookshelves for the surrounds.  The horn tweeter is a match here either way I think, but I lose out on the bipole like setup.   If I go with the Cornwall's for the Left/Right I would have to match with the smallest Heritage speakers for surrounds which are Heresys which are still large floor standing speakers, thus I was thinking of using Reference speakers but those are two different lines and I'm assuming sound somewhat different.   

The more I think about this, it would have been easier and maybe even cheaper to have just bought (used) Revel's to match the F52s.   But I want to sink my $$ into the two channel system and I think speakers meant to play loud and crisp may be better suited for my movies.   

[Mr Peabody]

If you want to match the F52's now is the time, the new Performa line is rolling out and you should be able to find a deal on the center and S30's.  I bought my S30's in white and paid around half price for the pair.  Take a look at the S30's they are a very cool speaker especially designed for surround duty, you have a choice of bipole or dipole, they can be mounted right on the wall or ceiling if 7.1.  Another money saver may be to get the F32 center opposed to the F52, the 32 is smaller but would be voice matched still.

I hope you are talking used for the Heritage, a Cornwall III is about $4k, with that you might as well get the Revels.  If I were you I'd go with the Reference Klipsch series, the sound is more refined and you can match all 5 speakers.  You would have a sub, you could use 5 Heresy's.  They sort of look like a floor monitor. 

Also, do you really want two sets of main speakers in the room?

[ddafoe]

OK, good to know, I didn't realize a new Performa line is coming out.   About 2 months ago I almost purchased a used C52 center for $1200 on Audiogon but I got thinking it was a lot for just a center, although that was a very good/fair price.   If I go with the Klipsch Reference speakers, $1600-1800 will buy all 5 speakers open box.    Yea my wife has been on me about trying to place two separate speaker systems in such a small room.

At least the Reference RB-81IIs are not that large and would fit OK with the Revels.   The Cornwall's are massive and I'm not sure how to make them fit with the Revels and have the Revels sound good.   Yes, for sure I would need to go used as they are not cheap.
I've always wanted a pair of Cornwalls for some reason even though I cannot imagine they will be near as good as my Revels for critical listening.

[Mr Peabody]

That's funny, I would like to have a pair of Cornwall as well, if I had a room to put them in I'd sure try to find a good set used.  Before I bought Revel I was looking for a set but couldn't find any, I even had an Academy center.  Now that I have the Revel I see them occasionally on Craigslist.  I just have no room not even for a 2nd system.  I think there is something about a 15" high efficiency speaker that just appeals to our wild side

[Mr Peabody]

I should add I do have a 2nd system with Heresy III and using an Emotiva sub for the octaves below 50Hz, I have the Heresy biamped with a Bryston 3bst on the 12's and a Parasound hca750 on the horns.  The system could cause hearing damage and hits hard.

[Bob in St. Louis]

The system could cause hearing damage and hits hard.

I'll be the judge of that.