Center Channel Subwoofer

rhulett

Just received my first svs subwoofer late last week(pc+20-39) and now have an idle cht-15. My question is has anybody ever hooked up a subwoofer for the center channel alone? I'll admit the cht-15 is overkill, but I'm never quite happy with the csi40. It just always seems a little lacking(even after eq-ing with the receiver.

Some movies sound better than others, but the center speaker doesn't seem to have the depth that rti70s do.

Also, I seem to notice that very recently the center channel has a certain noise about it with certain voices. Almost like a crackle. I don't know if something is broke because its not all the time and it just seems to be with certain voices.

Thanks for any input.
Rob

Whadyasay

Ideally, whatever really low frequencies are being sent to the center channel should be handled by the main subwoofer if that speaker is not rated to handle those frequencies, so there's no real need for a sub hooked up specifically to the center speaker. Same goes for all other speakers. Center speakers are a funny thing....as they are usually shaped differently than the mains and are placed on top of or below a TV, or at least not placed with the same attention to nearby structural influences as the mains. It's like stepping into the batter's box with two strikes already. the ideal center speaker would probably be identical to the mains, on the same stand/mount and with the same distances from nearby walls or other objects. Since this won't fit into most people's HT configurations, we try to do the best we can with what makes spatial sense. If you are getting crackling, I'd check the connections and the wire itself, and if it's not that, I'd look into getting a better center speaker. This might take a lot of auditioning.

EricH

The CSi40 is a fine center channel speaker. Though the 70's have a more full, complete sound (due to almost 3 times the cabinet volume) I would imagine that if you placed one of your 70's on top of your tv, you would be dissappointed with the sound as well.

For an experiment, try putting the speaker on end, and see how it sounds. Every center that I've had so far sounds better on end, including a CSi40. I just can't leave 'em that way. The top of my RPTV was already starting to droop slightly.

wingnut4772

Try an LSI9 for the center. It rocks!

Early B.

Hook the sub up to the center channel pre-out on the receiver, set the center channel to "LARGE," then kick back and listen. Post your results.

If that doesn't work, consider an amp to power your center channel (fronts, too).

Not sure why the Csi40 isn't working out for you. Could be the lack of power in the receiver. What kind of receiver do you have?

rhulett

I have a yamaha 5790 receiver. I played with cht-15 last night hooked up as you said, and it made a big difference. There seems to be something about the yamaha that the crossover bass info just doesn't seem to be as loud. The LFE info rocks thru the svs, but stereo and non LFE just seem to be lacking.

I may play around with settings and run left and right preouts to the svs, set everything to small except the fronts and disable the subwoofer in the receiver and see what that sounds like. Can you combine the L/R preouts into one cable going to the subwoofer? Or would that cause problems.
Thanks for the input
Rob

Early B.

The LFE info rocks thru the svs, but stereo and non LFE just seem to be lacking.

Check your subwoofer settings in the receiver for stereo mode. You may simply need to make some adjustsments there.

Glad to hear you got great results with a sub on the center channel. I've been wanting to try that experiment for a while.

VR3

IMO...

EVERY channel should be full range. This is the ONLY way to enhance the experience to the fullest, a subwoofer gives off a omnidirectional signal, but there is no way a subwoofer firing in the front of the room can give you the bass from the rear like two or four full range surrounds would...

Each channel should be full range, and then have a LFE sub with it...just my opinion

Early B.

EVERY channel should be full range.

Hell yeah!