The Def-Tech CLR 2500 Center... Thoughts?

[zachd73]

I currently have 2 systems, a HT system and a turntable/cd/mp3 system. The HT system has energy E:XLR bookshelves and Center (getting older, but still sound awesome) with a sony subwoofer (cheap, but great crunch for the $$$). I have a Marantz amp that is a few years old - can't remember the model number off hand but it has plenty of power and sounds great also for my 10x16 room (the speakers are at the end of the long end).

In my other room I have def tech BP8B speakers and a def-tech sub with a NAD352C amp. I recently upgraded from some older NHT tower speakers which were still sounding good, but I think the def techs are a little better.

Recently though it occurred to me maybe I need to try the BP8B speakers in the HT room... what do you think? Good call over the Energies? I've heard the bi-poles are particularly great for HT fronts.

If I did that and I liked them, I'd probably get a matching center speaker for them... it seems people rave about the CLR 2500 with sub woofer. That does sound pretty cool to have a second sub. I read the sticky thread on subs and how having 2 can put more bass in a room and eliminate the dead spots. Also, it just seems like a great speaker.

I guess I'd also have to hope that the energies were capable and sounded good when hooked to the NAD amp. It seems there is some kind of mojo with the energies and my AV amps... when I did try my old denon out with the NHT towers to compare them with the NAD amp with straight music.. it lost out big time... I kept the NAD and sold the Denon on craigslist as it did not make a very good 2 channel amp.

Worst case - I love the def tech BP8Bs in the home theater.. thus forcing me to change centers if the energy center doesn't sound matched. And if the energies don't work out then I'd be looking at new speakers there also!

I am having a bad case of the upgrades. Mainly, I think I'm really intrigued by the CLR 2500 center speaker and how it would sound to have a sub front and center!

Or maybe having matching fronts and center isn't important as some say??

I know this is repeated constantly to have matched fronts and center, but sometimes I wonder how much is 'truth' and how much has just been repeated so many times that people believe it when few people have probably even tried it for themselves??

I have a related question with the bi-pole def tech surrounds.. I have a huge window behind my couch where you would typically put bi-pole speakers behind your listening area. I do have maybe 1 foot of wall on either side of the window. I wonder if they could live there which would put them pretty close to the wall.. probably closer than reccomended.. but since they are bi-poles they are already designed to disperse sound in both directions so maybe they could live a little bit close to the walls?

I do love my energies, but some day I might go all out with the def-techs as I have been really impressed with them so far.