Importance of center speaker (and timbre matching)

jarros

Hey guys. I'm looking to expand my current system to 6.1, so I've been looking for a center channel speaker to replace my current center, which will be moving to the rear center position. I'm currently using RM6005 satellites, and I've noticed that the vocals are a tad bit thin at times with the small 3" drivers in the center channel.

I found a pretty good deal on a Polk CSi30 ($90 shipped), so I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on how this would sound in my system. I guess I'm not too concerned with timbre matching, and I would like the vocal tracks to be fuller. My system is used almost exclusively for home theater. Thanks in advance!

Jared

KLD2246

Hey, I am in the same boat as you. I have the RM7200 and want to move my current center to the rear and add a new center so I am looking as well. I am going to call Polk today and ask them. I will pose a question to you also. I have a 55 in mits diamond and it stands pretty high. No where for the center to be located but on top of the tv. Should my front sats be the same height or should they be lower. I have all three, L, C and R on the tv but someone told me I should spread the L and R out further. I can do this but they will be lower based on the speaker stands being lower. If you have an answer, would like to hear it.

jarros

Yeah, I can help you. The distance between the fronts should be the same as the distance you sit from the TV. This will help spread out the sound and give you a stronger surround sound effect.

For speaker height, I think the goal is to get the speakers at ear level when you're seated. It shouldn't make that much of a difference if the fronts are a foot or two below where the center is.

Good luck with your search for a center channel! I think Crutchfield has the RM3600 (the center for the RM7200 series) in stock now for $150 plus shipping. You might want to check that out.

Jared

Larry Chanin

Originally posted by jarros
I guess I'm not too concerned with timbre matching, and I would like the vocal tracks to be fuller. My system is used almost exclusively for home theater.

Hi Jared,

Perhaps you may find this thread interesting.

Is Timbre Matching Overrated???

Larry

RawDeal

Share the wealth! Unless it's a one of kind Ebay thing or something, where did you find a CSi30 for $90??


As to your question, I can't help you with any personal experience, but I've read through A LOT of posts about Polk center channel speakers and everyone who has commented on the CSi30 has really liked it so I think that, by itself, you'd be very happy with as a center channel. I haven't heard the RM6005's so I don't know how well it will match with those.


A couple of suggestions depending on what you mean by "thin". Small satillites can sometimes suffer from a bit of gap at frequencies just above where the subwoofer kicks in. If you're noticing it mostly on male vocals, this might be the problem and you might consider turning up the cross-over frequency on the sub.

If by "thin" you mean that dialog sometimes gets overpowered by the background, you might check that output to the center channel is high enough. Movie vocals are (usually) highly concentrated in the center channel so if the level is set too low, you'll loose a lot of the dialog.

jarros

Thanks for the replies!

I found the deal on the CSi30 at the HomeTheaterForum.com classifieds. I was the first to reply (and said I wanted to buy it), but I was out for a few hours and he sold it to someone else. Bummer.

I guess my main concern about getting a standard center speaker (as in NOT a compact center like the RM series) is that the speaker might overpower the rest of my system or stand out too much. I know I can adjust the individual speaker levels, but I'm wondering if it might still stand out.

I've narrowed it down to replacing the center channel, as that is the speaker that reproduces the majority of sound in movies, and most of the vocals are played through this channel.

RawDeal, by thin I mean what you first described. On some male vocals, I can hear where the speakers are missing lower mid frequencies. I believe the crossover on my sub is at a huge 200Hz, too. If I can get a center that'll reach a little lower, I'd like to bring this down to 150Hz, and maybe even 100Hz (although that might not make the rest of my speakers too happy).

Anybody have a center channel they want to get rid of?