[mresseguie]

Hi.

Just yesterday I was made not one, but two offers from folks to buy my Paradigm CC-570. Admittedly, I've thought about selling it recently, so I'm going to sell it in the next few days. That will leave me without a dedicated center channel. Now, we all know there are TONS of CCs out there, so there is no lack of selection (or prices!).

My question for you:

Which do you prefer - an MTM design or a four driver (2 midwoofer, 1 midrange, 1 tweeter' "3-way") design? Go ahead and be as subjective as you wish. Heck, you can even make suggestions on which CC you think is best (I will take a look). I've been eyeing a couple different CCs (3 are MTM, 2 are 3-way). Oh, yeah. I'm pretty certain I want either sealed or front ported. DIY kits are particularly attractive thanks to better pricing.

There's a really good chance I'll purchase a CC (MTM or 3-way) with SB Acoustics Satori midwoofers because I already own a pair of Adelphos monitors. Even so, I'm open to suggestions.

My HT amp is an AVA 240/3 with ~120W/ch. [I have no intention to upgrade my amp.] I've got a Rythmik F12G sub.

Thanks for your thoughts and opinions.

Michael

[milford3]

Aperion has some very good center channels at great prices.


http://www.aperionaudio.com/speakers/speakers-by-series/verus/verus-grand-center-channel-speaker
http://www.aperionaudio.com/speakers/speakers-by-series/intimus/intimus-5c-center-channel-speaker

[gab]

There's a really good chance I'll purchase a CC (MTM or 3-way) with SB Acoustics Satori midwoofers because I already own a pair of Adelphos monitors. Even so, I'm open to suggestions.

I'd go with another Adelphos monitor for your CC. Everything matches. Doesn't Bagby have an MTM version of the Kairos/Adelphos? I'd query him and see what he thinks. My $0.02

gab

[mresseguie]

Milford,

Thanks for the idea. They're just a hop skip and a jump away from me.

Gab,

Congrats on your 200th post!! Next one and you get lifted to FULL MEMBER status. 

You are correct. There is an MTM available that would exactly match my Adelphos. There is also one with a RAAL tweeter. Both of these are candidates. Selah Audio offers the Decennio MTM with Satori mids and a ribbon tweeter. It, too, is a candidate. GR Research's MTM Encore is a possible choice as well (I know it doesn't exactly match.)

I'm trying to decide whether I want to move up to a three-way center, but I don't know how much improvement I'll experience. It's one of those things I wonder about...."What am I missing?"

Selah also sells a three-way with Satori mids which is a candidate.

[gab]

I always wanted to be a member of something!

I highly recommend you hold onto your hard earned $$$ (for the time being) except for the purchase of this excellent book:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0240520092/?tag=mh0b-20&hvadid=4966831540&hvqmt=p&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_4w1ely75hw_p

The center channel is the MOST important speaker in a home theatre. You want it ideally to match your L/R and at the same height if possible. If you have an acoustically transparent screen this is not an issue. For direct view displays (LCDs, Plasmas, etc) it is more of an issue. I have a non acoustically transparent screen and mount my center channel just below the screen so the top of the CC is equal to the bottom of the projected image. I tilt it up slightly. I find this works good. It is matched to the L/R.

What Floyd says about MTM arrangements on pg 399 is summarized as follows:

"Most people use a horizontal loudspeaker system commonly configured in one of two options. The simple one, the MTM arrangement is usually found in entry-level products but occasionally in some expensive products. In its basic configuration of both woofers operating in parallel, crossing over to a tweeter - a two way design - it is not optimum because of off axis acoustical interference."

He then describes a 2.5 way method, not much improvement. He then states that the real solution is to add a midrange driver to allow the woofers to operate at a lower frequency so that acoustical interference is avoided.

So I would think a Adelphos monitor for your center channel would be the most cost effective solution and avoids the issues that Toole describes in his book. I mean even el cheapo "Home theatre in a box" solutions usually have all 5 speakers identical.

I am sure there may be others that might disagree with me, but I have used Floyds advice for multichannel audio for the home theatre and do NOT regret following his practices

gab.

[mresseguie]

Hi, GAB.

I spoke with Rick (Selah Audio) about a three-way center. He's looking into one possible combination of drivers using two 6.5" Satori mids, one 5" Satori mid, and one Scan Speak D3004/6020 Illuminator tweeter. Another possibility is to replace the 5" Satori with a Scan Speak Discovery 4". I thought about using a revelator 4" mid, but I'm trying to keep the cost down.

My center speaker will be placed directly below my LCD TV. The bottom of the TV is 11.25" above the media center. It is possible to raise the TV, but extreme care must be taken to not awaken the WAF dragon.    I could raise the TV 1/2" this week followed by another 1/2" next week.

Hey, I see 201 posts, but you're still a 'junior'. Hmmm. Perhaps it'll change tomorrow.

Michael

[mresseguie]

I see I failed to follow up here.

I sold my Paradigm CC-570 to a guy in AZ. Its for his secondary HT system.

I ordered a center channel kit from Rick Craig. It's going to have two Satori 6.5" mid woofers, one 5" Satori for midrange duty, and one Scan Speak Discovery tweeter. It's a sealed speaker. I ought to get it at/about the end of this month.

I'm looking forward to it.