[pugs]

Well I almost ordered my speakers tonight, but then I started to come up with more questions which are:

1)  LRC or RM30C?  The concerns I have with the RM30C are horizontal dispersion and the fact that my mains will have to be over 90" apart.  

I have a 11' couch.  I want people sitting on the extremes to get the good sound.  I'm would like to know between the LRC and RM30 C, which has the best horizontal dispersion to all seats of my couch.  With the RM30C, one extreme end of the couch will be about 6' laterally from the tweeter.  My listening position is about 10' away from the center speaker.  Aslo, is the orientation ( vertical) of the mid on the LRC more favorable for horizontal dispersion than the RM30C mid (horizontal)?

One other issue is that if I get the RM30C, the mains will have to be over 90" apart because it would have to fit between my equipment racks.  That's probably not a big deal, but it is a limitation.

2)  I can't decide between the ribbon dipoles or dipole SE.  Has anyone heard either of them?  The ribbon dipoles are over $1000 more than the dipole SE.   Which has better vertical dispersion?  I'm a little concerened that the ribbon dipoles won't sound optimum if they'replaced above the listening height.  I'm also concerned that the dipole SE don't have any of the same drivers

I would appreciate any opinions or comments about these two situations.

[RickRichardson]

My HT room is 14 X 24 with the TV and speakers on one of the 14' walls.  

See my photos at
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=260

In my using the RM30C as a center, I made sure to angle it down at the primary listening location by using multiple pieces of 1/2" grey foam to form a wedge on top of my 65" TV.  To mask the layers, I cut triangular pieces of foam for the sides, which makes it appear as if it is a large foam wedge. See the photo of the center speaker.  

My speakers are 103" apart- see photos- and I am able to get a good stereo image from the L&R or use them as part of a 6.1 HT system.  When using the center channel, I notice very little difference in the dialog for movies or DVD's moving from center to side in my listening area.  I did a quick test using your specs - 10' distance to center and 11' wide listening area.  The prime center area has better depth to the audio image, but the side areas - 5.5' off center- have excellent clarity and intelligibility.  The illusion of the sound coming from the characters on the screen is excellent from the sides, even to associating speach to individuals in different places on the screen.  Remember that the critical information on dialog is mostly coming from the ribbon mids, not the tweeter.  The array of three mid ribbons does a great job of giving you the dialog information.  

In stereo mode, you will find that the primo sweetspot is in the middle, where the 3D imaging and tonal quality is the best.  This is just the nature of two channel presentation.  Moving to the side of your 11' couch is going to move the image and loose some of the tonal purity.  An alternative is to try three channel processing, using your center speaker or finding some DSP mode that you like.  With todays good processors, you will get a large number of options to choose from.  The different modes will differ in how much weight is given to the center vs. the front speakers, and therefore will give you a different audio image - bigger, more forward, etc.  The advantage to these options of using the center channel for music is most are less sensitive to listener location than straight stereo.  In the end it is a matter of personal preference coupled with the atributes of your system/room acoustics.  

My preference for using the RM-30C as a center is based primarily on its excellent ability to give clear and understandable dialog, as well as its seemless integration with the RM-30M front speakers.  My ears are getting old and I don't want to miss anything.

[bubba966]

I've not heard the RM30's yet.

But as a strictly MC guy, get matching speaks across the front. The LRC isn't going to match the RM30's as well as an RM30 will.

There's nothing worse than having great mains, and a wussy center that doesn't come close to matching the mains. (I'm not saying that the LRC is wussy, just that it's not an RM30 and therefore will be lacking in comparison to the 30's)

[pugs]

Thanks.  I was thinking that with the mids configured horizontally on the RM30 C, the mid dispersion might not be as good as the vertical mid on the LRC.  What do you think about that?

[bubba966]

From what Brian's said about the dispersion patterns of the drivers he uses in his speakers I don't think you'll have any problems at all as I seem to recall him recently stating no vertical or horizontal dispersion problems with the midrange drivers he uses in his ribbon speakers.

Therefore it shouldn't matter much which way the midrange is orientated.

[ctviggen]

In my system, I'm going to have an RM30C just like Rick's (although I'll have RM40s on the sides).  Initially, I'm going to put the RM30C just on top of my RPTV and matching stand, on some rubber isolators I've been using with my current center channel (although I'll need more of them, because the RM30C is way bigger and heavier than my Linn).  So, mine will be sitting flat.  If I like this, then I'll keep it.  My current CC also sits flat, so I'll have a direct comparison between cone and ribbon speakers.

[cinema&sound]

I would pair the ribbon dipoles with the 3 RM30s

OR
Another 2 RM30's.

If you are going to purchase RM40 use those as the Left / Right

[Rory B.]

The Large Ribbon Center will probably work better with the QSO626R, RM1, and RM2. If I buy a VMPS speaker it will probably be a set of RM1s with Megawoofer. Therefore an LRC would be right for me.

[renard]