How much space to leave for center channel

[Uniquely]

Sometime over the next few weeks..... I plan on modding my entertainment unit so that I can position my center channel under my screen instead of above it. To do this I will simply be moving the shelf that is above the tv down lower, and placing the TV directly upon that shelf (with some additional support of course) and then I will have the space below that shelf for my center. I can also build some supports to set on top of the side towers to raise the bridge that goes over the top of the unit..... to increase the total amount of usable height I have for the tv and the center. (see pics in gallery to get an idea of what I am talking about)


How much height would you guys recomend I leave below the tv for a future center channel upgrade? I don't want the tv to go any higher than necessary.... because I'll already be taking it a little higher than I prefer... but I don't want to severely limit my future center channel choices either.

[Hammie]

That's hard to say. I went from a 7 inch high center channel to a 13 inch high center channel.

I understand that you probably do not want to leave too much space as to make your center look too small, but you don't want to go too small as to limit your upgrade path.

I think that it looks like you are limited to the top of your entertainment cabinet.

[Uniquely]

Yeah..... I know it's a real stumper of a question... especially since I don't really have any particular center channel choices in mind. I was more or less looking for a reasonable size range one usually finds in decent mid-range center channels. My current is about 8" tall.

I plan on doing this regardless.... as I am just not happy with the sound with the center on top. At first I thought it was just because I was used to having it below... but even after giving it a few months... I am still not happy.

It's an easy enough mod to do, as that shelf has metal threaded sleeves in side it, so I just need to drill some holes down lower to reposition that shelf. Even though it probably wouldn't be needed... I'm going to put some legs under that shelf in each corner for good measure.

[acritzer]

It looks like you angled your center down...did you angle it right at your head position? It's hard to tell the distance involved, but is it angled too far down? Did you re-calibrate?
I have a set up kind of like yours and have my center on top. After giving it some time I think it works great.

[Steve]

I'm guessing you don't have a particular speaker in mind yet for an upgrade.

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by acritzer

It looks like you angled your center down...did you angle it right at your head position? It's hard to tell the distance involved, but is it angled too far down? Did you re-calibrate?
I have a set up kind of like yours and have my center on top. After giving it some time I think it works great.

Good point. Play around with the angle of the center speaker.

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by acritzer

It looks like you angled your center down...did you angle it right at your head position? It's hard to tell the distance involved, but is it angled too far down? Did you re-calibrate?
I have a set up kind of like yours and have my center on top. After giving it some time I think it works great.

It's angled down as far as the bridge above it allows; the rear of the speaker butts up to the bridge above it. It's still angled slightly above the listening area. I did recalibrate.... but in it's current position, there is really no way to get it angled to the sweet spot.

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by fireman325

I'm guessing you don't have a particular speaker in mind yet for an upgrade.

I've toyed with the idea of getting the Klipsh RC 64.... or even locating an older C7.... but nothing firm yet. I'd like to get all new fronts at some point.... but convincing the wife of that when these are only about 18 months old would be an extremely hard sell.

[acritzer]

Originally Posted by robinandtami

It's angled down as far as the bridge above it allows; the rear of the speaker butts up to the bridge above it. It's still angled slightly above the listening area. I did recalibrate.... but in it's current position, there is really no way to get it angled to the sweet spot.

Fair enough. I just know when I set mine up I was surprised with how little angle actually ended up with the speakers pointing at my head. My impression was that more would be needed, but after checking with a laser pointer I discovered it was less.

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by acritzer

Fair enough. I just know when I set mine up I was surprised with how little angle actually ended up with the speakers pointing at my head. My impression was that more would be needed, but after checking with a laser pointer I discovered it was less.

I guess I could try just raising the bridge a bit to try for more downward angle.... that thought hadn't occured to me until just this moment. In it's current spot it is 5.5' above the floor, and 6.5' from the center listening area... so any way you slice it, it's a pretty steep angle.