Per byteme's recommendation I auditioned and subsequently purchased an Usher X-616 center channel Saturday afternoon. Based on the due diligence he exhibited while researching main speakers, we both selected Odyssey Loreleis, I was confident that the Usher X-616 would be a winner in my system. IT IS! Thanks byteme.
Special thanks to Stan and Carter Tracht, Usher’s US distributors, for bringing an X-616 to my home so I could audition it in my system. The center we used was Stan’s personal center and therefore fully broken in. They also brought a pair of Usher CP-6311 floor standers, priced at $2,100, to see how they matched up against my Loreleis. Those impressions will be posted under a separate topic.
I run Redbook, DVD movies and am especially fond of DVD video concerts. For this reason, I expect more from a center than crisp dialog. DVD video concerts channel a great deal of musical information to the center. IMHO a center must be musical, deliver a good timbre match to insure a seamless transition across the front and keep up with the mains from an SPL standpoint. Obviously my first choice would be three identical speakers across the front, but the size of the Loreleis prohibits this in my setup. Fortunately Stan and Carter offer a GREAT alternative in the Usher X-616.
The System Used For The Audition Includes:
Home Theater Receiver:
Denon 3802
Mains:
Odyssey Loreleis driven by an Odyssey Dual mono
Rears:
B&W P5’s driven by the Denon 3802.
Sub:
ACI Titan IILE via the Denon's LFE output.
Bass Management:
Per Stan’s suggestion, all speakers were set to large with the sub crossed at 80 in the Denon’s bass management system.
My Impressions:
The fit and finish is excellent. Period. Each Usher is finished with 7 coats of lacquer. Stan’s center is a metal flake silver while mine is a glossy black that a Baby Grand would be proud to wear. The same attention is paid to the wood side panels. The X-616 weighs in at about 48.5 pounds.
I would define the timbre match and transition across the front as seamless with the Loreleis.
The acid test for my center is to crank up Joe Walsh’s nylon string intro to HOTEL CA on the Eagles, HELL FREEZES OVER DVD and not hear the center gag when the conga and kick drums join in. The X-616 didn’t break a sweat at levels that would drive Beethoven from the room.
Movies? No problem. Dialog is crystal clear. I’m willing to bet that my neighbors across the street could hear the Lobby Scene from the first MATRIX. Great dynamics and again the X-616 wasn’t even breathing hard.
Warranty:
Three years, with lifetime on the drivers. Per Stan, should you ever blow a driver, at anytime, he will send a replacement at no charge. I assume the customer pays shipping.
The Company:
Usher’s been in business for over thirty years and based on what I’ve heard I would expect them to be in business as long as they want to be.
I was very impressed with Stan and Carter. I would do business with them again in a heartbeat. IMHO they’ve picked a winner in Usher from both a sonic and business prospective. I believe that the X-616 is a fantastic value when matched with the right pair of mains.
Jeff
