The Weakest Link = Center Channel speakers

witchdoctor · « **on:** 23 May 2004, 07:59 pm »

I just came back from the Stereophile show at the Hilton. Nice gear.
Every HT demo I heard was weak in the middle. I heard Martin Logan's driven by Macintosh, Paradigm driven by Anthem, Tetra driven by Sunfire, etc. Every system had a weakness re: the center channel compared with the front L & R speakers.Moral- Purchase the same speaker for front L, R, and center channel duties.

pjchappy · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 May 2004, 08:03 pm »

Or, just don't use one. . .I prefer the center image you can get from a well set-up 2-channel system.

p

rosconey · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 May 2004, 08:58 pm »

i agree with pj-
i havent used a center in over a year.
i like it better without one

Marbles · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 May 2004, 09:14 pm »

What do you guys use for MC SACD/DVD-A?

You NEED a center channel if you want to listen to these formats correctly......

pjchappy · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 May 2004, 09:25 pm »

2-CH SACD. . .that's all I've done. . .

Are there any players that redirect the center (for SACD) to the front? B/C when I get money

I will likely go 4.1 vs. 5.1.

p

bubba966 · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 May 2004, 09:47 pm »

Quote from: witchdoctor

I just came back from the Stereophile show at the Hilton. Nice gear.
Every HT demo I heard was weak in the middle. I heard Martin Logan's driven by Macintosh, Paradigm driven by Anthem, Tetra driven by Sunfire, etc. Every system had a weakness re: the center channel compared with the front L & R speakers.Moral- Purchase the same speaker for front L, R, and center channel duties.

In my opinion the center channel is the most important speaker in a HT/MC setup.

And, it should match the mains in all aspects. Cabling, amplification, everything.

I had a better center channel speaker cable than my mains for a few months (until I had the spare $ to build the mains cables). And even though the speakers & amplification was the same for L/C/R, it sounded like I had different speaks on the mains than I did for the center.

Now I've got the same cables for the mains as I've got for the center, so it's all good again.

witchdoctor · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 May 2004, 11:15 pm »

I agree, the CC is critical. I can't believe the ridiculous designs and how big the CC has gotten. Granted for a family style set up a small apeaker on top of the TV is fine, but in the 50K + systems I heard today it really
destroyed an otherwise stunning system. Some of these CC go for 2K+++ , save the trouble and get matching speakers up front!

ctviggen · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 May 2004, 09:47 pm »

I don't know -- I use Linn 5140s for my R/L speakers and Linn 5120 center channel, with different amps, and don't notice a difference. Pans seem great. Dialog is clear and intelligible. However, I don't do surround music, preferring two channel.

I'm moving to VMPS RM40s in the front and an RM30 in the center channel. I'm going to biamp the RM30, but the RM40s won't be biamped.

If I had room, I'd have three of the same speakers, but this allows me to spend more money on two channel and less on home theater, as I get much less enjoyment from good HT than I do from good 2-channel.

witchdoctor · « **Reply #8 on:** 24 May 2004, 09:58 pm »

I guess for dialog it's OK. The demo's I heard were with music.

kingdaddy · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 Jun 2004, 11:23 pm »

Eagles "Hell Freezes Over" DTS 5.1 disc kicks the crap out of the center channel, all the kick drums are directed to the center. And you I agree the center speaker on most are anemic at best; I'm building a new one my self. I guess most of you guys don’t listen to music concerts or movies in 5.1, too bad, you don’t know what your missing.

byteme · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 Jun 2004, 12:28 am »

Gotta agree with Bubba on this. While the image may be great only using mains you are missing out on information that is ONLY sent to the center. Anything you listen to that has discrete coding you're missing.

I've got Odyssey Lorelei mains which image awesome and really belt it out. One night I tossed in LOTR - Two Towers and watched the whole beginning without realize I didn't turn on the amp that powers the center! I realized it when there was no dialog. Hell Freezes over, as mentioned, is my standard demo track for how well a center can handle the big stuff. The Odyssey Nemesis sounds like what Witchdoc experienced. While it's very good it's NOT a good match for the Lorelei. I found an Usher 616 center which is spot freakin' on with them and doesn't even break a sweat on Hotel California. If you're looking for a beefy center that sounds as good as it looks and can really play when set to large - that's your center!

Ears · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 Jul 2004, 12:54 pm »

I agree that you need an equal speaker to your mains for a cc for ht, and not some supposedly purpose built cc.
However, I do not like multi channel music in any way shape or form as it sounds unrealistic, most of the time imo.

My stand mounted center has the same drivers as my mains and surround speakers, and can be easily moved out of the way for two channel redbook or hi rez.

michael w · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 Jul 2004, 04:05 am »

byteme;

With most processors when you setup the speakers and select "no center" all the center channel information is sent to your main speakers so you aren't really missing anything.

I would disagree that the center is the most important.

The mains take precedence.
Get those right and you can get away with a less capable center but it doesn't work the other way around.

Overall I'm not a great fan of most current implementations of MC music, most are more than sonic showing off with the Eagles disc previously mentioned being one of the most toxic examples.