Center Channel Replacement?

[greeneggs7]

This is my current 7.1 setup:

Receiver: Yamaha RX-V671
Front LR: Sony SS-MF750H
Center: Sony SS-CN550H
Surround LR and Backs: Pioneer SP-BS41-LR
Subwoofer: KLH ASW10-125C

I think a center channel upgrade might help me out. Voices are often soft and not as clear as I think they could be. They also could sound more natural. I've auto-calibrated my setup and my receiver thinks that lowering the center channel -3dB is correct. I reset the center channel to 0.0 dB and, of course, voices are louder.

The center channel is below the TV as close to ear level as I can put it. Any higher would block the TV/projector screen. I don't want to mount it above the TV because that would be too high and look aesthetically unpleasing.

I've been looking at the Polk Audio CS10 because of its good reviews and ability to be pointed upwards towards the listener. I'm not sure if a new center would help out or not. There is also the issue of timbre matching which seems to be legit. Not sure if my current front setup is timbre matched or if it really matters.

It timbre matching does matter I would have to upgrade my front LR speakers. My budget is small; around $100 for a center and a few hundred for a LR pair, maybe a bit more depending on how much I could sell my current LCR speakers for.

The other problem may be my room setup. My home theater is located in a open floor plan finished basement. The TV is mounted on the front wall and the right side has a wall as well. The left side is open and the back has a partial wall where the drywall for the stairs is. You can take a look at my home theater pics for a visual reference.

So my questions are: How is my current setup? What can I do to improve my setup? Is there anything "wrong" with my current setup? What center channel and/or LR speakers would you recommend? Budget is $500 tops (I'd have to save some more), more like $300 right now. Thanks.

[bigshot]

I had the same issue you had... My theater room is very large with high ceilings. My mains and sub were capable of filling the room with sound, but my center speaker just couldn't keep up at normal listening volumes for movies.

I got a Klipsch RC-52 II on eBay for a very good place. The seller was an authorized Klipsch dealer, so it was covered by warranty. It made a HUGE difference with dialogue, and even helped with filling in the center with two channel music when I use my Yamaha receiver's 5:1 Stereo mode.

I don't know about your receiver, but mine allows for equalization for each channel separately, so I just EQed it to mesh in the center between my two mains. No problem with timbre matching.

The real trick is to get the volume levels of the various channels right, then equalize them so the sound field meshes in a 360 degree circle. The auto equalization for my Yamaha identified a bump at the crossover between my sub and mains in the low end, but other than that, it was pretty much useless.

I EQed using classical music over a period of three months. First I balanced the volume of the various channels against each other, then I EQed the mains, then I EQed the center channel, and lastly I EQed the rear channels. That took about a week or two. I spent a couple of months refining after that. The most problematic part was getting the bass to hand over evenly between the mains and the sub. I kept finding that the sub would jump out in front and I had to keep taming it as I EQed.

I've finally got it to a place where I'm happy with it, in front at least. I still want to improve my rear channel speakers.

[greeneggs7]

Originally Posted by bigshot

I don't know about your receiver, but mine allows for equalization for each channel separately, so I just EQed it to mesh in the center between my two mains. No problem with timbre matching.

The real trick is to get the volume levels of the various channels right, then equalize them so the sound field meshes in a 360 degree circle. The auto equalization for my Yamaha identified a bump at the crossover between my sub and mains in the low end, but other than that, it was pretty much useless.

I do have the option of setting the EQ for each speaker manually. I can change the band/gain, frequency/gain, and Q factor. I've never messed with these options before and am not sure what I am doing.

Do you have suggestions on how to equalize or a link to a how-to? I'm also going to try out some other preset eq settings other than auto YPAO. Thanks.

[bigshot]

Equalization is something you have to get the hang of and parallel park until you're happy with it. I did auto EQ calibration and saved that as a setting, then copied it to create an EQ setting I could fiddle with. I took well recorded classical music (it's important that the music be acoustic, not electric instruments) and starting with the mains began to adjust the balance to make it sound as natural as I could. The idea is to get all of the frequencies equal, none louder than the others.

It took about three months of careful listening and adjustment, but now my system sounds perfect at every volume level and the bass is perfectly even from the lowest notes all the way up. Also, the sound field meshes perfectly in the middle where I sit, so the sound immerses me, it doesn't just come from front and back.

It's basically just finding a balance, so it requires experimentation and trial and error. You can also do it with test tone sweeps, but you probably would want to hire a home theater guy to come in and do that.

[greeneggs7]

Woot is having a Pinnacle speaker sale this week at http://tech.woot.com/plus/pinnacle-speakers-2

Are these speakers any good? I'm interested in the floorstanding speakers and center channel; possibly the S-FIT LCR 250 for the center instead of the dedicated center channel.

I was also looking at a Polk CS10 or a Martin Logan Motion 8 for center channel replacements as well.

Does woot have a good deal I should jump on or should I save my money for something else?

Thanks.

[ZIPPO]

Originally Posted by greeneggs7

This is my current 7.1 setup:

Receiver: Yamaha RX-V671
Front LR: Sony SS-MF750H
Center: Sony SS-CN550H
Surround LR and Backs: Pioneer SP-BS41-LR
Subwoofer: KLH ASW10-125C

I think a center channel upgrade might help me out. Voices are often soft and not as clear as I think they could be. They also could sound more natural. I've auto-calibrated my setup and my receiver thinks that lowering the center channel -3dB is correct. I reset the center channel to 0.0 dB and, of course, voices are louder.

The center channel is below the TV as close to ear level as I can put it. Any higher would block the TV/projector screen. I don't want to mount it above the TV because that would be too high and look aesthetically unpleasing.

I've been looking at the Polk Audio CS10 because of its good reviews and ability to be pointed upwards towards the listener. I'm not sure if a new center would help out or not. There is also the issue of timbre matching which seems to be legit. Not sure if my current front setup is timbre matched or if it really matters.

It timbre matching does matter I would have to upgrade my front LR speakers. My budget is small; around $100 for a center and a few hundred for a LR pair, maybe a bit more depending on how much I could sell my current LCR speakers for.

The other problem may be my room setup. My home theater is located in a open floor plan finished basement. The TV is mounted on the front wall and the right side has a wall as well. The left side is open and the back has a partial wall where the drywall for the stairs is. You can take a look at my home theater pics for a visual reference.

So my questions are: How is my current setup? What can I do to improve my setup? Is there anything "wrong" with my current setup? What center channel and/or LR speakers would you recommend? Budget is $500 tops (I'd have to save some more), more like $300 right now. Thanks.

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It looks like placement is your biggest issue, it's aimed at your shins. Raise the wall mounted TV up about 5" & sit the center channel on the top shelf. Also angle the center channel slightly up towards sitting ear level.

[greeneggs7]

Originally Posted by ZIPPO

It looks like placement is your biggest issue, it's aimed at your shins. Raise the wall mounted TV up about 5" & sit the center channel on the top shelf. Also angle the center channel slightly up towards sitting ear level.

Unfortunately, your solution would only work part of the time. I could probably get used to having the TV a bit higher, but the projector screen rolls down to the very top of the shelving unit. The center would be blocking the screen.

The couch is also a recliner, so my ears will be a bit lower to the ground and more in line with the center speaker when I'm in that position.

I will try placing the center higher to see if that helps out my sound quality and see how much it gets in the way of the TV and projector screen. Thanks for the suggestions.