The problem with all-encompassing generalizations is that even if they’re correct in some cases, they’re wrong in other cases. In our desperate quest for definitive conclusions, we often seek for black-and-white answers. When someone asks us what the best amplifier is, we have to ask them what speakers they’re using, what their budget is, how big their room is, how far away from the speakers do they sit, what are the room acoustics like, how loud do they like to listen, what music do they listen to, etc. There is no “best” but there definitely is a “most appropriate.”Few topics among audio enthusiasts have ended more friendships than the subject of surround speakers. (Ok, not quite. But still….) Should you use five (or seven) identical speakers? Should you use dipole surrounds? Bipoles? How about monopoles? And what do these terms mean?