Csi A5/A6 as L/C/R?

_Noah_

Let me explain my current situation. My new TV is putting me in a dilemma. I have a CSi A5 center now sitting on top of my soon to be replaced Sony SXRD. The Center channel won't fit on top of an LCD so I bought a new stand for the TV that would fit the Center on the middle shelf. That stand is about 12" wider than my current stand which eliminates the space my RTi 8s currently reside. So from wall-to-wall I only have enough floor space for the subs (dual Epik Empires ) and the TV stand (72" wide). Stacking the Rti8s on the subs would place them way too high, and I don't think a regular set of book shelf speakers will be enough. I was thinking of losing the 8s and using two more center channel speakers as L and R. Am I crazy for thinking this way? I've never seen anyone do this before. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

rswroughneck

I'm guessing there isn't another location in the room that you could put your subs like by your seating or the back of the room, that is what I would try first.

mystik610

I wouldn't use a center channel as L/R's....especially if you're contemplating setting them vertically. It will destroy the sound-stage. I've tried placing a CSi5 vertically and the outcome was flat-out terrible. Even placed horizontally, center channels are an acoustically imperfect design that serve more of an aesthetic purpose than a functional one.

Sitting too far off axis from a center channel can causes lobing issues....ie if you're sitting directly in front of a center channel, you would be positioned directly in front of the tweeter and the two mid-bass drivers would sit equidistant from the listening position. If you sit to the right of a center channel, you will be sitting closing to the right driver than the left, and it can ruin imaging.

This will be even more problematic if using a horizontal mid-tweeter-mid array as L/R speakers, as these, by the nature of their placement, will be sitting in off axis positions.

Gulfstrings

If I understand your description, the two subs are outboard of your stand and between the stand and walls, the assembly in total now displaces your fronts. If this is correct, why not just relocate the subs and give that space back to your mains?

Good luck.

domflane

I would use a pair of bookshelves before I used two center channel speakers as L/R's, mostly for aesthetic purposes. Properly amplified, a good pair of bookshelves would be more than enough to fit your needs. I would pick up some RTi6's and be happy. A pair of monitor 5's would also suit your needs quite well if you're interested in going vintage. They have a huge sound that you wouldn't expect from such a small package.
On a side note, sound is emitted equally in all directions from a speaker driver, so imaging wouldn't be a problem from a center channel used as a left or right, especially if you set it on its side. It would be pretty funny looking though . .