How much do I loose by not having a center channel speaker?

David R

I have a pair of RTi7's coupled to an onk 809. I just spent several hundred dollars to run speaker wires through the ceiling to the back wall for surrond speakers. I added a borrowed pair of Mk 150 for the rear speakers.

I have been trying to hold out buying anything more until I have heard a pair of LSIM 705's.

Should I just go ahead and add the CSiA6 to the center and be done with it or should I continue to wait until I can hear a LSIM system? The onk adds the center to the right left speakers and I usually sit in the suite spot. It works ok for home theater.

For music the RTi7's are better than most but not quite where I want to be.

kuntasensei

Honestly, if your mains are set up to image well and you're only concerned about one listening position, a center channel is optional. Not saying you should NEVER add one, but... it isn't necessary to enjoy your rig.

rpf65

The choice of adding the A6 or not depends are your plans. If you are happy with the preformance of the A7's, then add the CSI A6. If you already know that you would be happier with the LSIM line of speakers,don't add the A6. Save the money for whatever you think you are going to run for your front mains, and but them first. Then add the center.

You've already said the Onk can do a virtual center fairly decently. There is no sense buying the CSI A6, if you're going to the LSIM line, and sell it a short time for a loss. You'll neb\ver get what you pay for ir new. The RTIA line and the LSIM are not timbre matched.

Scooterp7

Asked this on another thread, but did not get a reply. And, sorry to thread jack, but it is somewhat related.

My question is; Any reason it would be a bad idea to use the LSIM703 as a Center, while using the same as my fronts?

pearsall001

It all depends on what your end game is. If you don't want to hear the entire soundtrack as engineerd by the studio's with all the steerng they masterfully recorded then leave out the center. If you want the whole HT experience you owe it to yourself to run at least a 5.1 channel set up. As far as listening to a HT with 2 speakers, well that's about as exciting & accurate to listening to your 2 channel system with only one speaker. You wouldn't dream of doing that now would you. So why cheat on the HT listening experience.

Conradicles

You need a good center for H/T.

Conradicles

Not everybody sits in the sweet spot when watching a movie. You need a center.

David R

Thanks for your comments. My home theater came alive when I added the Mk's and properly set up the onk.

I had one sent up with a onk 609, rti8s, csi4 and rtia7 (rear) and I am sure that i didn't have the input output right on that onk. All sent to my brothers except the 7s.

I am hoping to some day hear the LSIM's. I heard the LSI's in FRY's but the set up was terrible. The ring radiator was great but the rest was un-listenable.

David R

DSkip wrote: »

David, if you feel you're missing "something", then you could try the center out. I don't see the point since you plan on moving up the chain. How are your seats set up in your movie area?

I don't think I am missing anything for the HT. I am impressed by the A7's full range. I feel I may be missing something for music.

mantis

DSkip wrote: »

I really don't understand the center thing. You don't "need" the center at all, especially if you're in the sweet spot. This is the same concept as 2 channel stereo, where they eliminated the center channel with the intent of the listener sitting in said sweet spot. You're not losing information, and in many cases, you're probably getting the material handled by more capable speakers. If your speakers are able to "disappear" as intended, there is no added benefit to a center unless you're a good ways out of the sweet spot. If you've got a less than ideal setup, it might be beneficial.

I won't argue rears/surrounds because they can play significant roles, but I stand by my statement. People nowadays think its a MUST to have 5 or 7 speakers and a sub to run a decent HT and it just flat isn't true. Especially if you're on a budget, you should consider a more consolidated system with higher quality components. If done right, many probably wouldn't fret over the missing channels, much less a center channel. Hell, I don't even run a sub because it simply isn't needed. There's a pretty high chance that the center I just bought will be moving down the road here soon because it adds nothing to the experience.



David, if you feel you're missing "something", then you could try the center out. I don't see the point since you plan on moving up the chain. How are your seats set up in your movie area?

iof you want to talk about this more , make a thread and we can go down that rabbit hole. In short , yes you need a center IF you want to recreate a movie sound track as intended. Proper calibrated center channel in a matching system is magic.

David R

mantis wrote: »

iof you want to talk about this more , make a thread and we can go down that rabbit hole. In short , yes you need a center IF you want to recreate a movie sound track as intended. Proper calibrated center channel in a matching system is magic.

I definitly would like to add a center but if the LSIM's are significanty better for music I would like to match the timbre of the LSIM and not get the CSiA 6.

mantis

David R wrote: »

I have a pair of RTi7's coupled to an onk 809. I just spent several hundred dollars to run speaker wires through the ceiling to the back wall for surrond speakers. I added a borrowed pair of Mk 150 for the rear speakers.

I have been trying to hold out buying anything more until I have heard a pair of LSIM 705's.

Should I just go ahead and add the CSiA6 to the center and be done with it or should I continue to wait until I can hear a LSIM system? The onk adds the center to the right left speakers and I usually sit in the suite spot. It works ok for home theater.

For music the RTi7's are better than most but not quite where I want to be.

I suggest hearing the LSIM's , they are probably the best sounding speaker Polk ever made IMO. I use to think that of the LSi's until I heard the LSim's . I very impressed with what I heard and I would be proud myself to own a full 5 or 7 channel system.

With the RTi7's , you really can't buy a new center channel that will match correctly. I suggest building a full matching system. If the Lsim's are on your mind , then hold out till you can hear them. This is a issue many times with polk as it is with other brands of speakers. I'm no fan of buying anything without a proper demo first.
Now if you can check out the RTia series , you will be surprised how much better this version of the RT series is over all older models. This is not a bad place to be as if you can get a RTia demo , it might be something you might enjoy.

Maybe a forum member will have a system you can go check out. There is a LSIM demo program , I'm not sure if it's still in effect as I wanted to hear the LSIM707's or LSIM705's.
Good luck with your quest.

Monster Jam

If you never had something, can you lose it?

tonyb

I respect Phils view on this, but to each his own. By not having a center channel, your not losing any information as the receiver re-routes it to the front left and right.

I ditched my center long ago and never missed it and that was an SRT center. If your front speaks image well and are placed properly, good speakers can make you think the sound is coming from the center. This is purely a personal preference thing. You can try it without, if it doesn't float your boat, get the LSIM center. Not like they aren't going to make anymore.

leroyjr1

David R wrote: »

I have a pair of RTi7's coupled to an onk 809. I just spent several hundred dollars to run speaker wires through the ceiling to the back wall for surrond speakers. I added a borrowed pair of Mk 150 for the rear speakers.

I have been trying to hold out buying anything more until I have heard a pair of LSIM 705's.

Should I just go ahead and add the CSiA6 to the center and be done with it or should I continue to wait until I can hear a LSIM system? The onk adds the center to the right left speakers and I usually sit in the suite spot. It works ok for home theater.

For music the RTi7's are better than most but not quite where I want to be.

Are you referring to the rti a7's or rti70's? Owned the RTiA series and was disappointed with music playback. IMO the LSiM's are a big step up for music and HT. I myself have tried running without a center and it didn't last long. My system sounds much better when running a center.

B Run

I'm a firm believer in center channels for HT. I don't use one in my living room setup because we use it for music or basic tv shows that aren't important to hear in 5.1. However if it's a movie or video games I won't watch it unless it's in the Theater Room. Depends on what you watch and your personal preferences.

jbooker82

Yea but having each speaker cover less area allows it to focus on a dedicated area. Kind of like having a speaker with multiple drivers. The less frequency range each driver has to cover the better.

Face

When listening to a movie without a center, it can sound nice, but the tracks are downmixed and are of lower quality. A timbre matched center is the way to go if you want the highest quality sound and most coherent soundstage.

David R

leroyjr1 wrote: »

Are you referring to the rti a7's or rti70's? Owned the RTiA series and was disappointed with music playback. IMO the LSiM's are a big step up for music and HT. I myself have tried running without a center and it didn't last long. My system sounds much better when running a center.

I have the rtia 7's.

ROHfan

When I started using my SDAs in the HT I stopped looking for a center. Previously I had used a CS2. Using just the SDAs sounds like I am running a center anyway.