4.1 VS 5.1 - No contest

McLoki
McLoki Posts: 5,231
edited January 2006 in Speakers
While waiting for a shelf to come in to mount my center channel on, I was running my 5.1 system as a 4.1 system with a phantom center. I thought everything sounded fine.

When the shelf came in I moved from a phantom center with my front LSi15's to my LSiC about 6.5' off the ground pointed slightly above my head at my seating postion. (Need to elevate the rear of the LSiC more)

I was not expecting that much of a change, but I was really shocked at how much more clear the dialog in movies was with the center channel running (even though it is not as nice a speaker (LSiC vs LSi15) and not located as well. (LSi15's are about ear level, LSiC was mounted very high and pointing slightly over my head)

There was really no comparison. Based on this (limited) test, I would say it is well worth the money to run with a center channel even in small rooms where you can sit in the sweet spot.

Any idea why there was this much of a difference? I expected it to be better when sitting off to the side, but this was front and center in the spot all my speakers are calibrated to.....

Michael
Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
Post edited by McLoki on
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited January 2006
    McLoki wrote:
    Any idea why there was this much of a difference?

    Maybe because there's no powered woofer vibrating the center channel speaker.
    Never Forget
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited January 2006
    PolkThug wrote:
    Maybe because there's no powered woofer vibrating the center channel speaker.
    ? I don't get it? - are you referring to the LSi15 (non-powered woofers) or the SVS 25-31 cs+ (non-powered sub)? And why would it make a difference. (I will apologise up front if that was supposed to be funny and I just missed it....)

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited January 2006
    I meant the woofer in the Lsi-15. I thought they had a powered woofer.
    Never Forget
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited January 2006
    PolkThug wrote:
    I thought they had a powered woofer.
    LSi15 is an unpowered 8" woofer, LSi25 is a powered 10" woofer.

    I have heard the 25 before and I am sure they sound nice once you get the bass under control, but I thought it was very hard to dial in the correct amount of bass.


    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,779
    edited January 2006
    I do!! I do!! Pick me! pick me!!

    Most DVDs, unless you select a stereo mix are done in 5.1 - removing the center makes the mains do it but the mix dosnt change...

    IE: It wont be as clear in 2.1

    (Thats my understanding)
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • SKsolutions
    SKsolutions Posts: 1,820
    edited January 2006
    It sounds like the fronts were spaced toward the corners where they should be...if you have a center. I'm waiting for a new LSiC also, so I've got my fronts fairly close to the screen. I'm not unpleased with the result. Dialog is fairly center and not distracting, but my stage is narrow for 2 ch. Placement with this LSi series is more important than I'd thought, but for now they are almost bookend-ish to the TV. I am waiting eagerly for the center so I can move them apart a bit. Love these tweeters, but they sure want to be in the middle of the floor. Think I might invest in a saw-all and start cutting down some walls.
    -Ignorance is strength -
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