Thread: Center channel speaker question

Originally Posted by harshness

I have a theory about having lots of drivers in a center channel speaker and how it creates phase cancellation nodes. It is particularly bad with some models and just noticeable with others.

If I thought I could get away with a single driver, I'd do it to avoid dead spots. For now, I have an M&K two-way center channel and it works pretty nicely.

I found a 3 way center channel speaker tonight and hooked it up, but it sounded crappy - so I'm back to a 2 way.

My main problem is solved with loosing the audio on the center channel - so now I need to tweak things until I'm content.

Originally Posted by harshness

I have a theory about having lots of drivers in a center channel speaker and how it creates phase cancellation nodes. It is particularly bad with some models and just noticeable with others.

If I thought I could get away with a single driver, I'd do it to avoid dead spots. For now, I have an M&K two-way center channel and it works pretty nicely.

Back in the old dolby pro-logic days, I had a Denon AVC 3000. I also had a Sony CRT rear projector. I attempted to hook up two smaller KG-3 Klipsch speakers for the center. Denon actually recommended this combo at the time and provided two center channel outputs. The speakers were about 50 inches apart and I ran into exactly the problem you mentioned. It turned out that there was a big center channel null right at the video sweet spot on my couch.

This was before dedicated center speakers, so I ended up opening up the KG3 and rotating the horn 90 degrees. I then laid the speaker on its side under the screen and had no further problems.

Originally Posted by bebop

My problem right now is that my center channel never really gets that loud. I basically have to setup my Onkyo SR606 to 'All Channels Stereo' to get good sound, especially when I watch movies or regular satellite shows. I tried other speakers and this one is much better from what I had available.

It sounds like your speakers haven't been calibrated. Did you run the Audyssey auto calibration? I didn't see where you had said that you had run it. It usually does a very good job. It did on mine. I double checked it with my SPL meter, and it was so close, it wasn't worth changing. The only thing I changed was, the Audyssey tends to set all the speakers to "Full Band". I changed that, because I use a subwoofer. Some people like to add a bit more volume to the center channel too, since 99% of the talking comes from it.

You really NEED a center speaker that matches your main front speakers, meaning same brand and same series. Example: if your fronts are Polk Audio LSi speakers, you want an LSiC center. Not an RTiA center, even though it's a Polk speaker. It's fairly critical that the front three speakers timbre match, so panned sounds across the front don't sound funny. Ideally, all the speakers should match, but not as critical if the rear ones don't match the fronts.

I have a mid level sub - but I don't use it that much.

Why? Does your fronts have better woofers than the subwoofer? Just curious.
Glad you have it working better. Good luck!

Sounds like you came out well. Personally, I've come to believe the center is very important, perhaps the most important speaker in the system. It will be driven the most, for dialog and casual TV viewing. I also have a 7.1 system, and I went with an all new matched Klipsch set, and Onkyo 805. I was stunned by how much better the audio became, especially the center- and I thought I had a decent center beforehand.

Kinda makes listening to old recordings a new experience.

Originally Posted by jvc

It sounds like your speakers haven't been calibrated. Did you run the Audyssey auto calibration? I didn't see where you had said that you had run it. It usually does a very good job. It did on mine. I double checked it with my SPL meter, and it was so close, it wasn't worth changing. The only thing I changed was, the Audyssey tends to set all the speakers to "Full Band". I changed that, because I use a subwoofer. Some people like to add a bit more volume to the center channel too, since 99% of the talking comes from it.

You really NEED a center speaker that matches your main front speakers, meaning same brand and same series. Example: if your fronts are Polk Audio LSi speakers, you want an LSiC center. Not an RTiA center, even though it's a Polk speaker. It's fairly critical that the front three speakers timbre match, so panned sounds across the front don't sound funny. Ideally, all the speakers should match, but not as critical if the rear ones don't match the fronts.


Why? Does your fronts have better woofers than the subwoofer? Just curious.
Glad you have it working better. Good luck!

Speakers had been calibrated just fine. It was an issue of only utilizing the high frequency part of the center channel speaker and not the low frequency part. Once I jumpered the high and low freq together on the + and - side, the full sound came through like it ought to.

Glad you mentioned the calibration though, because now that I've redone some of my speakers, I should run it again.

My front/center speakers don't 'match' brand, but they are similar type and wattage, so I don't NEED it. It sounds great now and I'm not going to spend hundreds more for matching brand/type speakers.

I don't utilize the sub very often because of the others in my home that enjoy sleeping without the bass kicking in so much. The other speakers provide enough bass for normal listening, and I crank on the sub when everyone is up and we want it loud. Thnigs would be different if I were single or at least didn't have kids. But it's well worth it...

Originally Posted by navychop

Sounds like you came out well. Personally, I've come to believe the center is very important, perhaps the most important speaker in the system. It will be driven the most, for dialog and casual TV viewing. I also have a 7.1 system, and I went with an all new matched Klipsch set, and Onkyo 805. I was stunned by how much better the audio became, especially the center- and I thought I had a decent center beforehand.

Kinda makes listening to old recordings a new experience.

I did, thanks navychop. Nice to have some others to bounce off ideas and see if there are better ways of doing things.

I agree about the center channel speaker, hence trying to improve things. I don't have a good setup for 7.1, so I'm back to 5.1. I don't have many sources that I listen to that would utilize the extra channels and a bad layout to get them in a good spot.

Maybe one day I'll feel like upgrading to all matching speakers, but I've spent too much on the home theater this past 1 1/2 years as it is.