I Have a F3 fronts, C2 center, Sub-12, and S2s surronds in my 5.1 setup. All this is running currently with a Sony STR DG820 receiver. I was wondering if I go for 7.1 should I go with S2 or B2 for rears?

 Thanks,

I Just rearranged my living room for the 7.1 setup.   The way my room is arranged now I think it might be easier to use the S2s over the B2s.  Will there be much difference in sound between them?  Here is a diagram of the room.

Personally I would choose the B2's your going to have your rear channels conflicting with each other if you don't use direct radiating speakers for the back wall.

jdotsu:

Personally I would choose the B2's your going to have your rear channels conflicting with each other if you don't use direct radiating speakers for the back wall.

No exactly. 

With another forum member we tried both setup, 4 WSDT type speaker together and 2 WSDT for the sides with 2 bookshelves for the back.

Come to find that if your back wall is close to your seating position (arround 4 feet or so) the 4 WSDT speakers did a much better job.

You just need to understand what are the 2 back channels and it will start make sense

falcon20x:

no exactly. 

With another forum member we tried both setup, 4 WSDT type speaker together and 2 WSDT for the sides with 2 bookshelves for the back.

Come to find that if your back wall is close to your seating position (arround 4 feet or so) the 4 WSDT speakers did a much better job.

You just need to understand what are the 2 back channels and it will start make sense

So you are saying in my case it would be better to go with 4 S2s?

It is hard to say as the acoustic of the room will definitly make a difference

If you are using standard DVD I would say yes 

I am using Blurays and some HD-DVDs.  I will only use standard DVDs for very old movies and shows that will never come out on HD.   I have both sets of speakers the B2s and the S2s.  The only thing is if I go with the B2s I will have to build a shelf to put over that doorway and also put them on there side.  Think this would be a problem? 

I have 14 days to try them out before I have to return them or get charged restocking fee.

 If you have the opportunity to try both set up then you should

Let us know what you decided.

The reason I said if you are using standard DVD is because in a 7.1 digital signal the 2 back channels are not real channels. All they are is the 2 side signals mix together then split in 2 with each signal sent to each back speakers, unless you have a 6.1 movie such as gladiator but they are so few it is not even worth mentioning. This is to create a fuller sound for large rooms but if you are seating to close to directional speakers such as the bookshelves (like you would in smaller rooms) that sound will go right above you and you will be missing most of the sound

For blu ray with the new sound format it is unclear if the same practice is being used, but if you know how the sound format of the cinema version of the movies works you can only assume that nothing has change and therefore  the same thinking applies too.

I have tried both speakers and so far I notice no difference between the two.  Are there any movies out there that can help me deside between the two speakers?  I do not have Gladiator. Do you think if I can't tell a difference now I will not with a different movie? 

Thanks for any insite you guys may have.