Center Channel Shelf

Dr. Spec
Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
edited October 2003 in Speakers
My center channel was starting to sag the middle of my RPHDTV. I heard this can eventually impinge on the screen if it gets bad enough, so I built a shelf in about 5 minutes with a circular saw.

The end caps were cut from the same plank, 1" tall, sloping to 2" tall.

I will finish sand it and spray paint it dark grey to match the TV, but it works fine and doesn't sag at all with plenty of clearance over the TV middle. The end caps are on the strong portion of the TV frame so it supports easily.

Piece of cake and sounds a bit better too with the center now directly facing the listener instead of previously firing a bit overhead.

Doc
"What we do in life echoes in eternity"

Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
Director - Technology and Customer Service
SVS
Post edited by Dr. Spec on
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Comments

  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited October 2003
    Nice job, We are planning to buy a new Rphdtv first of the year and alot of the new Tv's have no room on top, we have a RCA 46" with the huge box like case and the top is like a large shelf if you have seen some of my pics, center channel,. wifes dolls, and antenna.. so we will miss the extra space and i have already planned a few ideas for a shelf...
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2

    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
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  • Ron-P
    Ron-P Posts: 8,520
    edited October 2003
    Did that exact same thing back when I had my RPTV. Works great. Nice job Doc.


    Peace Out~:D
    If...
    Ron dislikes a film = go out and buy it.
    Ron loves a film = don't even rent.
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  • jim_r
    jim_r Posts: 28
    edited October 2003
    Damn, Doc! You're a regular Bob Villa!!! :D LOL

    Seriously though, I do like the shelf. It's not clear from the picture, but is that center speaker sitting directly on the shelf? I also use a shelf; but, I stick the rubber feet that come with the speaker on the shelf and then put the center speaker on those feet. It sounds more clear and less muffled that way in comparison to when I put the speaker directly on the shelf. But, maybe you are going to do that after you paint it.

    (BTW, nice couple of bucks too!)
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited October 2003
    Very nice Doc.

    How did you detemine the angle of downtilt you wanted? When I set mine I just aligned the sweet spot so it was on plane with the center of the speaker. This raises another question that I have considered in the past but never took the time to research. What is the verticle and horizontal plane of a cs400i?

    Thanks
    HBomb
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited October 2003
    It does have the rubber feet under it - the camera is just so poor you can't tell.

    I determined the tilt by sitting at the sweet spot and stuffing things under the center until the drivers were staring me in the face.

    Not sure what you mean by vertical and horizontal plane, Henry?

    It honestly took 5 minutes to build and the workmanship is non-existent. No trim or rounded edges yet, etc. Just want to share the IDEA more than the execution.
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
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  • wallstreet
    wallstreet Posts: 1,405
    edited October 2003
    Sanus makes a nice shelf for tv's that don't have enough space for a center speaker. It has long adjustable back legs that sit on the back of the tv. Of course, it looks like Doc is in the business for tv center shelves. How much shipped?:)
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited October 2003
    Originally posted by Dr. Spec

    I determined the tilt by sitting at the sweet spot and stuffing things under the center until the drivers were staring me in the face.

    Not sure what you mean by vertical and horizontal plane, Henry?


    Trial and error is the most effective approach I have found to date. Great answer!

    When I say verticle and horizontal it shows just how much I really have to learn!!! but, if we took an spl meter and wanted to measure the horizontal plane we would keep the meter at the same height and move left to right noting the spl. I would imagine that +/- 30 degrees in this plane(just an assumption on my part) we would see the spl begin to fall off at some rate. The same should hold true for the verticle plane... I would imagine?

    All I'm really trying to get at is trying to establish a baseline of direct sound + reflected across the width of your sweet spot.

    Not that I'm concerned over this but for wider rooms it may make sense to add another center speaker.

    HBomb about ready for some Twin action on a beautifull Sunday ;)
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited October 2003
    Ah.......you are talking about the dispersion axis in the horizontal and vertical planes. Sure, it starts to trail off somewhere and it would be cool to see just where in both directions.
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited October 2003
    Originally posted by Dr. Spec
    Sure, it starts to trail off somewhere and it would be cool to see just where in both directions.

    I think a good baseline would be a tone at say 100Hz, 1kHz and then 10kHz with all other speakers off during the sciencefair project??? if you had a 15Khz tone we'll throw it into the mix.

    just throwing it out there but I would guess that at higher frequencies the delta would/could be more measureable meaning changes in spl would be greater over the sweep angle at higher frequencies.

    Twin
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited October 2003
    Give it a whirl, Henry - and report back.
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited October 2003
    Originally posted by Dr. Spec
    Give it a whirl, Henry - and report back.

    I'll do that but I have to get the room set up first.

    H
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited October 2003
    Looks great Dr. Spec, simple and effective always wins.

    Henry - You have too much time on your hands. Do you work out there? ;)
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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