Horizontal Center Channel Speakers and Why They Should Be Avoided

[Billy13]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

Will not have it any other way Billy There will always be nothing short of 3 identicle speakers for fronts for me

I personally have not had an opportunity to hear the glory that is 3 matching towers like you have. I'd like to though.

I understand the whole reasoning behind it, but for most folks, it simply doesn't fit aesthetically.

I know if I had an actual dedicated HT room, I'd go this route for sure. Realistically though, in my rooms, I'd have a lot of work ahead of me to accomplish having a vertical center tower.

So for now, it is what it is.

[kenoh]

Originally Posted by Billy13

I personally have not had an opportunity to hear the glory that is 3 matching towers like you have. I'd like to though.

I understand the whole reasoning behind it, but for most folks, it simply doesn't fit aesthetically.

I know if I had an actual dedicated HT room, I'd go this route for sure. Realistically though, in my rooms, I'd have a lot of work ahead of me to accomplish having a vertical center tower.

So for now, it is what it is.

The best choice "aesthetically" is to go with a matching bookshelf, if you already have a sub!


None of the added woofers in a tower will play an important role if you cross over at 80hz, unless you run without a sub but of course some people choose that.

The most important thing is to have a bookshelf that goes below 50/60 hz and it will sound Identical if you run the center hot by 2db, to compensate for the extra out-put of towers, since they have larger cabinets to breath in.

My setup "currently" is not that bad, aesthetically I need a matching set for thhe front "which I'm in the process of doing" but any Horizontal speaker that either matches the front or isn't designed in a traditional compact center will do wonders and you will see an immediate difference in sound quality/voice reproduction then what you currently have!

[Billy13]

Originally Posted by kenoh

The best choice "aesthetically" is to go with a matching bookshelf, if you already have a sub!


None of the added woofers in a tower will play an important role if you cross over at 80hz, unless you run without a sub but of course some people choose that.

The most important thing is to have a bookshelf that goes below 50/60 hz and it will sound Identical if you run the center hot by 2db, to compensate for the extra out-put of towers, since they have larger cabinets to breath in.

My setup "currently" is not that bad, aesthetically I need a matching set for thhe front "which I'm in the process of doing" but any Horizontal speaker that either matches the front or isn't designed in a traditional compact center will do wonders and you will see an immediate difference in sound quality/voice reproduction then what you currently have!

I think my Polk CS350LS is still quite a center to be reckoned with, even after all these years.........

[kenoh]

Originally Posted by Billy13

I think my Polk CS350LS is still quite a center to be reckoned with, even after all these years.........

I'm sure it is

If you ever get around to it try switching it out to a bookshelf and see what a major difference it actually makes, I guarantee you one 6.5" woofer will throw a bigger more seamless and accurate soundstage then four 4" woofers!

Maybe you have non Bi-Polar Polk surrounds in the same series that you can use to test with? I'm just saying with a sub you don't really need a tower with all those woofers, how I know? Cause I tried it!

BTW, you have a very nice setup!

[STARKILLER--1138]

Originally Posted by kenoh

I'm sure it is

If you ever get around to it try switching it out to a bookshelf and see what a major difference it actually makes, I guarantee you one 6.5" woofer will throw a bigger more seamless and accurate soundstage then four 4" woofers!

Maybe you have non Bi-Polar Polk surrounds in the same series that you can use to test with? I'm just saying with a sub you don't really need a tower with all those woofers, how I know? Cause I tried it!

BTW, you have a very nice setup!

Agreed on both!

Haven't used a bookshelf / vertical center in years. Extremely happy to be back with it:

[marksas3]

I've decided to go a different direction than my current Mirage OMD5's & OMD C1 setup for the front stage and just picked up a brand new pair of Martin Logan LX16 for less than $500 for the pair. Now after reading these articles and these posts, i'm wondering if i should just pick a single LX16 to use as the center channel. The Motion 30 at $700 is way over my budget ($300 or less) so i'm looking at maybe the Motion 8 or 6 models, but maybe i should just pick up another LX16, any thoughts?

[STARKILLER--1138]

Originally Posted by marksas3

I've decided to go a different direction than my current Mirage OMD5's & OMD C1 setup for the front stage and just picked up a brand new pair of Martin Logan LX16 for less than $500 for the pair. Now after reading these articles and these posts, i'm wondering if i should just pick a single LX16 to use as the center channel. The Motion 30 at $700 is way over my budget ($300 or less) so i'm looking at maybe the Motion 8 or 6 models, but maybe i should just pick up another LX16, any thoughts?

Definitely the single LX16. Even with my less expensive little CB-10's, there is a huge difference in sound by using a vertical center. If you can, eventually, go LX16's all the way around.

[Stevejl]

Very informative! Thanks a lot!

[marksas3]

…so my plan for a matching Martin Logan Motion LX16 for my center channel has been foiled…sort of. Crutchfield ran out of stock, but ended up scoring a single used Martin Logan Motion 35XT for about the same price. It's not the same, but very similar, in fact i think (or hope) it will perform even better as a center since it has the larger 6.5" woofer vs the 5.25" of the LX16 and can go a little deeper.
I think i'll even like the fact that it's physically larger in appearance as well rather than having 3 identical speakers sitting close to each other.
We shall see...

[arc trooper]

i myself went with three rf-7ii's for my front stage... will never ever go back to a regular center channel again

[Macadamianut]

Good info, really did notice the improvement from having the centre speaker vertical. But unfortunately for ....

Now have a vertical centre. Its above the screen, forming a pyramid top with the mains, I know its not ideal, tweeter is too high, but it all sounds great anyways.

[cheecheung]

Hi, I've owned the B&W 683 s2 with the HTM61 s2 for nearly 4 months now and after many attempts at adjusting the dialogue for the centre speaker I am simply not happy with it. The audio is too low and when I turn the volume up it becomes less clear. I sit roughly 6 feet away from the speakers. Also when I say I turn the volume up, it is not to the point where neighbours start complaining or my windows start vibrating.

I know my neighbours do not complain since I'm viewing at like 4 in the morning.

From reading posts here, getting another L or R speaker will solve the problem however based on my circumstances at the moment it would not be practical.

Would getting the CMC2 s2, the larger 3 way speaker that matches the new CM10 s2 solve my problem?

If not then any other solutions?

I would appreciate any help. Thanks

[Macadamianut]

Have you calibrated your speakers as per big daddys sticky?
Ater doing so, I have had no problems with hearing dialog.

[cheecheung]

Originally Posted by Macadamianut

Have you calibrated your speakers as per big daddys sticky?
Ater doing so, I have had no problems with hearing dialog.

Hi, do you have the link to his sticky? All I did was use the auto calibration setup that came with the Denon X4000 receiver, the audyssey set up.

[rpatt]

Originally Posted by cheecheung

Hi, do you have the link to his sticky? All I did was use the auto calibration setup that came with the Denon X4000 receiver, the audyssey set up.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=38765
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=159948
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=95710