[dwarfed centipede]

I found this great thread about center channel speaker placement and orientation.  Thought you guys might want to look at it.  There are 2 articles that describe in detail the problems with horizontal orientation and the benefits of placing the center speaker vertical.  Article link

[Bob in St. Louis]

Yea, I've read a few articles on HomeTheaterShack about MTM's 'needing' to be placed vertically. There's pro's and con's both ways, but in my opinion the physical layout of a persons room will dictate what they're able to do. Some HT guys simply don't have the space to put some of these monster MTM's (much less an MMTMM's) stood up under a screen.

Personally, I use a single coax on a square baffle for my center channel.
I can put it vertically OR horizontally without a problem. 

Bob

[dwarfed centipede]

Haha, iv heard good things about coaxals as center channels.  I'm still deciding what layout I want to build my center channel.  I might just make it a free air layout and see how that sounds.  I'll pad the wall behind it and hope that eliminates most of the reflection. 

[Bob in St. Louis]

The point of OB is that the rear wave bounces off the front wall and reflects back to you, so I wouldn't really recommend padding the front wall behind an OB driver.
Unless your're "tuning" for a particular issue maybe.

Bob

[dwarfed centipede]

The speakers I'm using for this are sonance inwall type.  I figured this would be a good 1st configuration to try out.

[opnly bafld]

When I ran a "2 way" WTP(assive) for HT center duty I used it vertically.
Then I switched to a better "3 way" which is probably the best compromise, IMO, next to identical vertical speakers across the front.
The 3 way had basically the same MT vertically as my left/right speakers with a woofer on each side.
Many companies make their "better"/"best" centers this way.

Lin

[dwarfed centipede]

My center will look similar to your first speaker.  I'll end up tweaking this for at least a few months before I figure out what sounds best.  I might end up buying new drivers if it doesn't blend well with my tower speakers.

[opnly bafld]

Even though they were from the same company my 2 way center had a cheaper tweeter than my towers and it didn't match sonically. 

Lin

[dwarfed centipede]

so far so good on the center channel.  The mac tweeter can almost do the job by itself.  The free air sonance woofers sound normal.  No weird reflections in its current placement under the tv sitting on the floor.  I'll let you know how it sounds when I finish the shelf and put it up there.  Let me know if any of you want to come listen to it or see pictures.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Need pictures! 

[dwarfed centipede]

ok well I havn't painted the "box" yet.  So when I finish the shelf and paint that I will get pictures of both.  Maybe I'll do a before and after picture?

[Bob in St. Louis]

You're "supposed" to take photos during the build! 

Bob

[dwarfed centipede]

Well I finished the speaker and the shelf.  It sounds a little echoey close to the wall.  I moved it out about a foot, and it sounds a lot better, but still a little echo.  I rolled up a blanket and put that behind it, but that looks like ass.  Any ideas?  Should I build a bigger baffle plate?  Scott, didn't you go through this with your speakers?

[Bob in St. Louis]

Pictures 

[Scott F.]

Scott, didn't you go through this with your speakers?

Well, mine is backed right up to the wall. My center has a couple of things helping it. First is the wall behind the center is rough faced brick which really helps with diffusion. Next is my Aperion center has a switch that lets you take a little deeper notch for baffle step compensation. It really seems to help.

[dwarfed centipede]

Those are the final pictures.  I still haven't decided if I want to keep this center or buy an infinity 3-way down the road.  I noticed using 5.1 on TV sucks because every channel has a different sounds setup and they don't match.  I just switched it over to stereo so I don't have to tweak every time I change a channel.  I think this speaker sounds pretty good on movies, so I'll just use it on that for now.  Let me know what you all think.  I will gladly accept any critical or constructive criticism.  Thanks for your input.