Surround speaker upgrade


Hi Guys

I recently upgraded my home theater. I had an all Focal system.  Now I have Wilson Audio Sophia fronts a Wilson  Audio Watch center and 2 JL audio subs and Focal Cobalt surrounds.  The weak link in my system is the focal surrounds.  So I would like to upgrade them..  My room is about  13x20.  I guess the ideal would be to find a used pair of Wilson watch surrounds ? (Easier to say than to do, finding them are not so easy, thought I had found a pair but were sold out from under me)

I am not totally sold on the Wilson surrounds or should I be.  There are dipole, bipole,  front firing etc etc  Do not really know the advantages of different types of surrounds (or explain why I should not use front firing speakers for surrounds)  Can any one give suggestions as to good quality surround speaker that would fit my system   Would like to keep the cost in the $1500 to $3000 used range if possible.

Thanks for all and any input

Norm L


norml4721

Showing 2 responses by norml4721

Thanks for the input Erik.  I did not think that there was going to be that much difference in the fronts or center when I upgraded but their is.  especially on the bottom end.  The Wilsons are that good.   The JL Audio subs used to stand out in my system now I hardly notice them   I am a Focal guy and have been for decades.  The Cobalts are middle to lower end of the Focal line up when they made them.  Even if I went to Electra,s in the Focal line(Step up from the Cobalt) it would be an improvement   I am hoping that it will make a difference to upgrade my surrounds      

Hi Erik

Thanks for reply.  My pre/processor controls the crossover to my subs in the movie mode at 60Hz My fronts each have a 10 inch woofer and my subs are also 10 inch the JL Audio subs and Wilson audio woofers are very tight when pushed  A t the introduction to terminator 2 intro when they have the DTS intro you can actually feel the sound I am not kidding the room vibrates,  The processor allows me to select crossover manually as well if I like, and when listening to music in direct mode I have the subs control crossover at around  between 40 and 60 Hz

My surrounds have a 6.5 inch mid woofer or maybe its 5.25 I forgot its been a while  They are very efficient as well as the center and the Wilson fronts are just the opposite the gobble power. They are 4ohms and at certain frequencies can dip to 3.  So the power amp is pushing about 30 amps for the fronts at 225 watts.  Its a good thing that the processor can set the db level for each channel   other wise the center and surrounds would dominate and I would barely hear the fronts  I understand that the Wilson surrounds are much like the fronts with respect to power requirements

Any way thanks again getting carried away

Norm L