Yup, them varmints be correct - Dolby 5.1 dogma used to be that all speakers be
identical. Now they've backed off a little to say that they should be from the same manufacturer and "voiced alike". Go to Dolby's
"Knowledge Base" for current dogma. Then go to
THX FAQ's and click on selection 7.
Print 'em out. You should be able to 'cipher out the similarities and find your "happy place".
NHT almost always =
MORE than reasonably good sound on a budget. Even though your satellites are all NHT, what you've got is a hodge-podge that needs some standardization. Don't those 1.1's have the angled front baffle? If so those are fairly directional - stereo speakers actually. Your "sweet spot" is going to be a one seater. These speakers don't have a dispersion pattern that is well suited for HT soundtracks. You don't want to be seat coveter do you? Give the good sound to the PEOPLE!
IMHO you need to purge all. If I had that same minestrone I'd look on eBay under "Completed Items" and see what my present stuff was going for, then decide whether or not to list it at auction.
What's saveable? MAYBE your center channel, although this was not originally a "dedicated" center. You might be able to find same-sized drivers in a newer NHT model, but in the end you'll never tonally match this center with other speakers in NHT's current lineup.(They've changed drivers.)
First off, audition some Sub/Sat's (If that's what you've got the space/budget for.) at some places that have
NICE listening rooms.
Bricks can't be thrown at me through the Internet, so I'll go ahead and say it:
Look at towers with side firing woofers, along with a center and 2 surrounds from the SAME CLASS OF SPEAKER AS THE TOWERS, AND from the same manufacturer. If you're cramped on space you may decide to forego the sub at this juncture, saving you that expenditure (for now).
Or you COULD work some sat's around the Yamaha sub, but I've got a feeling you'll be happier if you get a matched set once and for all. "No wire hangers! EVER!" - Joan Crawford. (The same applies to Yamaha sat's.)
Find a high end store that will let you take a demo set off the floor for the evening. You may have to pick them up late and guarantee you'll have them back by 10:00 am the following day. I weaseled two consecutive weekends of sub auditions - and then dutifully bought from that merchant - who cared enough about my satisfaction to let me test drive.
Wait for a few more responses, and then don't read this tripe more than 2 or 3 times: Get out there and listen, and that should convince you that you want to see a tangible return on your FAT new reciever. Yes R_B, we remember you: You've got a spankin' new 4802 and you need to let 125 ponies x 7 out of the gate. You are limiting your potential with this mis-matched speaker array. Send those nags to the glue factory before your Denon gets it's feelings hurt. Better yet those speakers are a great start for some whole house tunes.
