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neil74
Contributor I
February 22, 2017
Question

2 Play 1s (stereo pair) - What next? 2 more play 1s, sub, play 5?

I have 2 plays 1s in my kitchen diner (25-30 ft x 12 ft approx), I was surprised for the size at how good they sound and am very happy with them.

I am looking to add to the same room (sightly rushed by the price rise tomorrow!) and am considering the following options:

1 - A sub. Expensive and a one trick pony to an extent. I do though have a couple of good spots where I could put it.
2 - A play 5. Cheaper than the sub and offers some flexibility but I do not think I could place it centrally between the 2 1s without compromising where the 1s go. I could place it up the other end of the room from the play 1s (which is generally the end that I sit) but I fear the 5 would over power the 1s?
3 - 2 more play 1s for a 2nd stereo pair. Obviously the cheapest option and I could effectively place them so that each of the 4 would be pretty much in a corner.

Thoughts appreciated.
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    17 replies

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    neil74Author
    Contributor I
    February 25, 2017
    That's where I am thinking of putting it, running some trunking so I have power and putting it on the window ledge effectively opposite #3.
    neil74Author
    Contributor I
    February 25, 2017
    All 4 set up (with 4 in the bottom corner) and I think getting the extra ones is a mistake.

    Sitting at the end of the room that I do the 2 nearest to me stand out and kind of drown out 1 and 2.

    May have to play around the fader between the 2 or maybe even consider a different position for them all, overall though, I do not think I am getting the full benefit of 4 speakers and maybe should have gone with another option like a 5 or sub. With Amazon's generous returns policy I always have the option to return them or just use them in another room.
    Kumar
    February 26, 2017
    I do not think I am getting the full benefit of 4 speakers and maybe should have gone with another option like a 5 or sub.
    Adding more than a stereo pair to a room does nothing in the ideal listening position for the existing pair, and can even dilute the sound quality. What the addition can do is provide a more even coverage across a remote part of a larger room so that music can be heard every where without it being too loud anywhere - as it would be if just one speaker/speaker pair is set up at one end of a large room.

    If you want better sound quality in the existing limited listening area as just now, then the Sub or a 5/5pair is the way to go. The latter depends on whether the existing set up is a 1/1pair.

    I am repeating myself:)
      neil74Author
      Contributor I
      February 26, 2017
      Play 1s on their way back to the good ship Amazon. Play 5 purchased.

      The Play 5 is very very nice even if paying £70 more than last week did hurt a little!

      Testing the best layout for it, currently have it like this (below) but considering that I may not even need the 1s or could move one of them to another room.

      Kumar
      February 26, 2017
      paying £70 more than last week did hurt a little!

      Should you then not have it close to where you do your listening? At location 2, presuming you face that way. And keep a 1 unit in the far corner for when you want music across the space.
      neil74Author
      Contributor I
      February 26, 2017
      There is not really enough room for the p5 at 1 or 2. I could put the P5 on the breakfast bar (4 on my older diagram)
      Kumar
      February 27, 2017
      What about placing it vertically? Best sound is obtained when you are facing the speaker although for listening to music in background it doesn't matter that much.
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