What's Your Favorite Center Channel

loragland

What's the best center channel you have owned? I currently have a Csi 40 as my center. It has been a faithful anchor to my home theater, but I am wondering upon completing my new theater room if there is a center channel that would better suit a larger crowd. Dialogue can sometimes get barried even when all speakers are properly calibrated. Maybe my room acoustics are affecting my sound right now, in fact I'm sure of it...but I was just wondering if either the Csi 5 or some other center channel may be a better choice for feeding a larger room. Thanks fellas

VR3

I have not found a single center channel I felt was worth its asking price.

Infact, I think center channels are the absolute worst value in Home Audio in every way. They all suck equally. No matter the price point.

I think a pair of bookshelfs work better for the center channel job. Same price, and you can use them for something else if need be.

engtaz

Monitor 5 not M5jr

MikeC78

A phantom center.

Gaara

Wow I thought I was going to be the oddball, phantom center is the best center I have ever heard as well.

Jared

wingnut4772

Phantom channels are great until you are sitting off center..or have guests.

Midnite Mick

I have read this before but I don't fully understand what a "phantom" center is. I am curious as with my smaller room and now with the Usher's it may be a better choice for me vx. the LsiC.

Thanks,
Mike

Gaara

Mike,

A phantom center is when the center channel information is sent to the left and right speaker in mono and therefore it sounds as it is coming from exactly between them. I never liked centers much because with my setup the center was always 1.5-2ft above the main speakers and sounds just didn't sound right.

The benefits of a phantom center is you save money on the center and sometimes can save money by not having to spend the extra money on an amp to power the center. You use your 2ch speakers and amp instead which in most cases will be nicer then the center speakers, and therefore you get better sound quality. You also don't have issues matching the center to the L/R as the L/R are the center. This means that tonally there is no change panning across the front soundstage, and there is no sudden change in height. In my case my tweeters are about the center of the TV, so the center channel being played by my L/R speakers plays exactly in the middle left and right and top and bottom of the set, much more natural then coming from above the set.

The downside of a phantom center is mainly that you have to be exactly in the middle to have it work. If you are off the left or right with a mono sound being played by both speakers your ears will think the sound is coming from the speaker closer to you. If you are a little left or right then the sound pulls in that direction, and therefore it sounds like the center channel is a little to the left or right of the set. If you are far right or left, like right in front of the speakers, your brain will think the sound is coming just from that speaker, and will ignore the other (Hass Effect?). Another downside is that with a dedicated center most of the vocals are played through it. The sound may get congested with the L/R doing double duty. This also generally eliminates the ability to pump up the center channel with soundtracks that you can't really hear what they are saying.

I think that about covers it.

Jared

Midnite Mick

How is this set up via the processor? Is it simply a matter of removing the center from the speaker setup and the processor will automatically take care of everything?

Thanks,
Mike

Gaara

Mike,

From my experience it was that simple, just set center to no and you are all set. I would imagine your pre would describe the process, or if you have a test disc like avia you could try it and use the test disc to make sure the center channel is being played by the L/R speakers.

I use a phantom center with my Gallos, I used a LSiC like you have for a short while, but much preferred the phantom center. I will admit it takes a little getting used to, it does sound very different then what I was used to.

Jared

RuSsMaN

Cs300

Early B.

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »

I have not found a single center channel I felt was worth its asking price.

Infact, I think center channels are the absolute worst value in Home Audio in every way. They all suck equally. No matter the price point.

I think a pair of bookshelfs work better for the center channel job. Same price, and you can use them for something else if need be.

Damn, Sid, them is some strong words.

Gotta admit, though, you have a point. After going through about 10 or more center channels over the past few years, I settled on a pair of bookshelf speakers. Better clarity and wider soundstage. They don't necessarily need to be timbre matched, but calibration is essential. The secret is to place both of them next to one another at ear level.

louthewiz

Cs400

20hz

it took me a year to find something .
I got a Kef 90 , the off axis response is great (you dont have to angle it ) .
The voices being from the dead center is best , (not from a few speakers) .
I A/B compared it to a polk cs300 , the cs300 sounds incredable on the verge of amazing . but off axis (stand no straight in front) I heard a deley coming from the other 5.25" and aiming seams to be a concern if you want the best sould from the polk .
If I did not allready have the polk monitors as satalittes I would use 2 cs300's , its a amazing speaker .

Knucklehead

Cs350

mantis

There are many good quality center channels.

Rule is to match what ever speakers you have. With proper calibration and placement , most center channel perform well. Whats funny is I read all these other threads on how people are not happy with there center channel speakers , I have set up so many different center channels I couldn't even tell you a general number. never once did I feel the center channel that was correctly matched to the given system I was working on didn't do it's job.

polkfarmboy

Martin logan motif and polk csi5

mdaudioguy

Using the same exact speaker as my left and right mains is working well for me. I realize not everyone has the space for a tower center, but it sure does create a seamless front soundstage.

Edit: Why have we resurrected a 2-yr-old thread for this??

disneyjoe7

Bigger is alway better IMHO.

warren

Csi 5
Mirage OS3-CC
Polk Rm 202

helipilotdoug

CSi A6

mystik610

Early B. wrote: »

Damn, Sid, them is some strong words.

Gotta admit, though, you have a point. After going through about 10 or more center channels over the past few years, I settled on a pair of bookshelf speakers. Better clarity and wider soundstage. They don't necessarily need to be timbre matched, but calibration is essential. The secret is to place both of them next to one another at ear level.

Screen should be at eye level, tweeters should be at ear level.

Easier said than done unless you have an acoustically transparent projector screen.....in which case using an identical third tower as a center channel would be the absolute best option.

The whole purpose of a center channel is to keep the dialogue affixed to the center of the screen no matter how far off axis you're sitting. If the only seating positions in your listening area are smack dab in the middle of your L/R's (the L/R's are an equivalent distance from the listening position, forming an equilateral triangle) then a phantom center would work....but really in any room with more than one listening position, this is less than ideal. If you're sitting even slightly off axis, the center channel dialogue will favor the speaker you're sitting closer to, and the sound-stage will fall apart in my experience. The dynamic range of your L/R's will also be affected, as they'll be tasked to convey two channels of information.

The construction of a center channel is less than perfect acoustically, but is the best solution for 98% of people out there....unless you enjoy watching movies by yourself and have on solitary listening position perfectly centered in the room, or if you're on of the very few who have an acoustically transparent screen.

As far as the 'best' center channel....I think that largely depends on what you're using as your mains. You want a center channel that shares the exact same drivers as your towers, as this will make the front sound-stage blend seamlessly. A third tower identical tower is the best option if that's feasible. If you can fit a bookshelf or a pair of bookshelf speakers that would work too....some people like laying a bookshelf horizontally...ruins imaging in my experience, but others like it.

vmaxer

I use a CS1000P and love it, I also have used a CS400i that did very good. I guess it depends a lot on the rest of the speakers used.

kevhed72

CSiA6 with a dedicated amp powering. Right now I am using only one channel of the amp, but I am going to try bi-wiring the center eventually.

(on a side note I found most TV stands/cabinets do not have good center speaker placement built into the design unless you want to spend $$$$)

bsoko2

My mains are 2.3 TL's and the center is a Aperion Intimus 6c. Blends with mains real well and has a nice SQ.

nhhiep

it depends on your L/R speakers, but since I have Rti8s. my favorite is CSi5. this thing is pretty loud and clear. it's pretty much a Rti8 in a smaller box. Center with 2 6.5" speakers is as big as they can get, until you move up to some DefTech with a sub built-in

renowilliams

loragland wrote: »

What's the best center channel you have owned? I currently have a Csi 40 as my center. It has been a faithful anchor to my home theater, but I am wondering upon completing my new theater room if there is a center channel that would better suit a larger crowd. Dialogue can sometimes get barried even when all speakers are properly calibrated. Maybe my room acoustics are affecting my sound right now, in fact I'm sure of it...but I was just wondering if either the Csi 5 or some other center channel may be a better choice for feeding a larger room. Thanks fellas

I have the same center channel and I have been very pleased with it.

Drunkcaballo

kevhed72 wrote: »

CSiA6 with a dedicated amp powering.

I have never used another center than the CSiA6, but kevhead is right about running a dedicated amp. When my B&K got here I hooked up my fronts to that and the center was left on my XPA-3 by itself. Wow what a difference. I know everybody on here loves Emotiva's but the next upgrade Im doing is getting rid of mine or retiring it to surround duty. They dont have the beans to get the RTi's to their potential...well at least not the multichannel Emotiva's...unless its dedicated to one speaker.

Tony M

All of Polks centers that I've owned or still do are really high quality to me. The CS400 is one I've heard and liked ALOT.

But I did like a Paradigm cc-370 I owned for a few years. That thing was realy nice. I still own a Paradigm cc-170 that is really nice to.

I've owned a Klipsch giant center that was all you could want in one also.

But the best has been that Paradigm cc-370 for me.

Bernal

POLKAUDIO LSiC

01) DENON AVR-4308CI: Advanced 7.1 CH/5.1+2 CH/ 3.1+2+2 CH A/V Home Theater /MultiMedia Multi-Source/Zone Receiver with Networking and WiFi/170 watts x 7 channels
02) SUNFIRE Grand Signature - Bob Carver's
03) OPPO BDP-83SE Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio
04) OPPO DV-980H 1080p Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI and 7.1CH Audio
05) DENON DVD-2500BTCI: Blu-ray Disc™ DVD/CD Digital Player/Transport
06) HITACHI P55T501. 55" HD1080 Plasma HDTV
07) POLKAUDIO LSiC (Center speaker)
08) POLKAUDIO LSi15 LEFT (Front speaker)
09) POLKAUDIO LSi15 RIGHT (Front speaker)
10) POLKAUDIO LSiC Vertically (Surround speaker)
11) POLKAUDIO LSiC Vertically (Surround speaker)
12) POLKAUDIO LSif/x LEFT (Surround back speakers)
13) POLKAUDIO LSif/x RIGHT (Surround back speakers)
14) VELODYNE OPTIMUN SERIES 12"(High Output Digital EQ SubWoofer 2400W/1200WRMS)
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=98096 (Not updated)

playback

Boston Acoustics VR-12 9yrs and still the best I've heard.