Mismatched speakers - Klipsch

[Jello]

I am currently running all Klipsch speakers from a Yamaha V1800 amp in a room about 16 X 25. Because I live in an apartment, I started out with the cheapest in the Reference line namely RC-10 and RS-10. I decided to upgrade my front speakers and found a super deal for some RF-83. Now how important is timbre matching if I rarely turn the sound up loud? I thought about getting the matching center RC-64 but HOLY! that monster is huge and I really don't have room for it. Will I notice a big difference upgrading the center channel? I do have a few SACD's but mostly watch movies at low volume (Blu-ray of course). My main concern is to hear dialog better as the 100's of concerts have affected my hearing a bit. I know all about DRC but don't like it. What other center channels can I get that are timbre matched or is that just for purists?

Cheers

[Lapse of Reason]

You really should be okay. At least listen first and see if it makes a difference to you. Ideally you should match, but you are at least using the same brand and line.



*** I just looked up the differences of the center speakers after reading below, and they are right. If it was maybe one step up my above comment would apply, but you are going from small to huge on your mains. You need to bump up the center too.

[H9k_]

It is important.
Here is some info for you : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timbre

http://www.hometheatersound.com/letters/2001_01.html

"Speakers, more than any other piece of equipment, sound different from one another. You want your surround system to have a cohesive and consistent sound. For example, in particular, you don't want your front left and right speakers to have a distinct sound, and then the center channel to sound different. Vocals, as they move from one speaker to another as the actor moves across the stage would sound very odd as a result. Timbre matching, therefore, generally refers to matching the sound of each speaker."

The bigger issue for you is that you have "monster fronts" and a tiny center. And that is what it will sound like. Even from the Rc-52 to rc 64 there is audible difference espessialy on female voice. The rc 64 is also way more open and natural sounding and not so mutch of that "sound comming from a box" sound that smaller centers usualy\always have.

The center channel in a multichan setup is THE most important speaker where about 80% of the sound is comming from and is the channel that is "always" active.

Why would you want high quality from RF 83 then low quality from the center?
Imagine a plane going accros the soundstage and it sounds like a plane in the left chan then a angry bee in the center and then a plane in the right chan.

And if sound quality is important for conserts and sacd i would imagine you would want singers voice and instruments to sound the same.

Also how loud is loud?

[crazyBLUE]

Well put ! good post - good ADVICE !!!!!!

[Jello]

Thank you very much H9k_
You have convinced me to go and get the matching center RC-64...I guess I'll have to do a wall mount on the TV to do it so I don't block the view
I consider loud to be when the neighbours complain

Cheers

[Jello]

Wow what a big difference...I don't have a problem understanding dialog anymore. Movies sound so good that the wow factor is there all the time...especially the ones with uncompressed PCM or HD sound.