Hey Y'all,
I've upgraded my ICs and speaker cables slowly as I've gotten my system together. I've found that, yes, the most important cables are the front three but I also noticed that when I matched the rear channel ICs with the fronts and center, the surround effects came alive. Any and all surround effects are so real and at times can be startling. With that experience, I've decided to match all 7 channels, 2 subs included, as best I can with the same cables. I have identical ICs for every channel including the subs. I also, until very recently, have had the same speaker cables for the front three speakers and had plans to buy the same cables for the rears. I've recently acquired a pair of significantly more expensive speaker cables for an in home demo and it would be very expensive to try and match the rears with such a costly cable. I will look into buying the level below the cable I'm trying out now for the rears, but even that may be too much money. I also plan on adding the same speakers for rears as I now have in front, again to match the surround sound field and make it more involving. I guess what I'm saying is if you can match all the channels, I think it makes for a more exciting surround sound experience. But, since you will be listening to 2ch music much more then watching movies or playing surround music, you can get away with what you have in mind. I would still not skimp too much, you will definitely enjoy the surround more with as good a cable as you can afford........John
I've upgraded my ICs and speaker cables slowly as I've gotten my system together. I've found that, yes, the most important cables are the front three but I also noticed that when I matched the rear channel ICs with the fronts and center, the surround effects came alive. Any and all surround effects are so real and at times can be startling. With that experience, I've decided to match all 7 channels, 2 subs included, as best I can with the same cables. I have identical ICs for every channel including the subs. I also, until very recently, have had the same speaker cables for the front three speakers and had plans to buy the same cables for the rears. I've recently acquired a pair of significantly more expensive speaker cables for an in home demo and it would be very expensive to try and match the rears with such a costly cable. I will look into buying the level below the cable I'm trying out now for the rears, but even that may be too much money. I also plan on adding the same speakers for rears as I now have in front, again to match the surround sound field and make it more involving. I guess what I'm saying is if you can match all the channels, I think it makes for a more exciting surround sound experience. But, since you will be listening to 2ch music much more then watching movies or playing surround music, you can get away with what you have in mind. I would still not skimp too much, you will definitely enjoy the surround more with as good a cable as you can afford........John