Center Channel above or below TV

J_Kennedy

I'm trying to figure out how to place a CSi A6 with my Panny 50" plasma that is sitting on a media stand. The plan to use the top shelve underneath the TV got thrown out when I went with the A6. The shelfs are a shade under 20" wide compared to the 24" width of the A6. My Onkyo 805 is going to barely slide in.

My first thought was to find a stand large enough to accommodate the pedestal which has about a 14" x 28" footprint, and set the TV on it and the center speaker under the TV. However, that means getting/building a stand that will sit on top of the media stand and high enough to allow about 8-9" clearance for the CSi A6.

Then I came across a bracket designed to attach to the back of the TV where a wall mount bracket would attach, and hold it above the TV.

The problem with the later is the A6 weighs about 20 lbs and is BIG and I don't know that it would 1) be stable 2) look very good.

The stand on the stand idea may be the best, but now I need to come up with a good looking and stable solution.

Any ideas?

avguytx

Mines above the plasma which is mounted on the wall. But, I have (3) LCR's and are inwall speakers so that's a different matter. With my last RPTV, it was above the TV slightly tilted downward towards the listening area.

J_Kennedy

The problem with this one is that it's about 8" h x 24" w x 14" d. That's pretty big to mount for the obvious stability reasons, but also for appearance.

The more I think about it, the more the under TV idea sounds better. I just need to find a way to put a "shelf" under the the TV that can hold the TV and keep it stable.

I have a neighbor that builds custom cabinetry/furniture etc. that I could get to build something nice.

jazzisnumberone

TV placement (on top)IMHO is the best place for a center channel. You can make several adjustments from there. Just my opinion.

zx_toth

Nothing better than to find out by actually trying both ... temporarily set it up so that you watch a section of a movie with it above than replay that section and have the speaker below.

If you can discern a big difference in sound quality if you are a true home theater buff aesthetics would not be a factor after you've heard the better one.

When you have your friends over would you rather them say "Man your home theater sounds AWESOME!!" or "Man your home theater looks good but the sound from the center channel seems lacking". Id say the first one for me However I can understand if you have a flat panel mounted on the wall it would be a bit difficult to mount it above ... still play with it and see what has the best SQ.

My setup is NOT optimal for the center channel, so I am one to speak huh?, my center speaker is TOO LOW and it sounds like people are talking from their groins. I need a new center speaker that fits in the upper drawer not the lower drawer (as now is the case).

Zsolt

zx_toth

Some people seem to place their center speaker in front of the TV, as long as the TV has enough clearance over the center speaker so that the image is not blocked. I dont think it looks bad ... concealing it is more aesthetic.

BDI Furniture has a nice AV furniture stand that could accomodate a CSiA9, The Avion 8529. The center channel drawer that is 35" wide! With the drawer in it only gives a 7 inch clearance however the center drawer can be removed to allow for 8.5" vertical clearance.

http://www.bdiusa.com/avfurniture/avion/BDI_Avion_flyer_CRA.pdf

Not the cheapest solution but it would accomodate your big TV and Big center speaker.

Zsolt

J_Kennedy

The Avion gives the same set up that mine does, except that mine only accommodates 19.5" but it also has the panel up higher so the center would be even further away than mine would be, especially if I had a "shelf" to set the TV on. But most good centers are built where you can point them up to the viewer face so it should'nt be a big deal being lower.

As far as above, I understand trying it, but you have to picture this. A 50 flat panel on a pedestal, not on the wall, setting on a stand. So 3.5" wide at the top of the screen, then try to put a 8"h X 24"w X 14"d 20lb center speaker hovering above it. LOL A shelf on the wall might do it, but I'm not so sure.

I may try to have someone hold it up and just see. Otherwise, I think under, where it'll be close to straight on to our face and only 6"-7" below the display area of the screen, will probably be the way I go. I can also slide it back enough that it'll be flush and slightly out of sight without being blocked.

I'm thinking too much about it. I'll wait until it gets here and go from there.

zx_toth

You should definately take some pictures while you play around with the center speaker configurations and give us your impressions of the sound quality, I think that would be very interesting.

Yes picturing the center speaker on a shelf precariously placed above a 50 inch plasma screen is a slightly worrisome image

But you are correct in saying many center speakers allow for some angling of the speaker so that regardless of where it is placed it can be angled to fire at the audience rather than over or under their heads.

Like I said I look previously I look forward to using the drawer above in my BDI stand, as currently I am using the lowest drawer, though I have the speaker angled up it is not ideal.

Zsolt

devani

I also have my center placed below the TV...I find the sound less appealing compared to above configuration...currently we are looking to buy a house and when we get our own place, I would place my center above the TV...

J_Kennedy

Well the CSi A6 center came in today. Whoa, it's a behemoth, a good looking behemoth but I knew that.

I'll see what the wife says about a shelf big enough to place it on behind and above the TV on the wall. Otherwise I build or get a stand/shelf to set the TV on and raise it about 10" so there's enough room for this thing underneath. It's a solid 8" tall without any feet on it.

20hz

I have debated the above-below location for my center many times, one thing that I did is my mains are 1/2 way up the side with the tweeter being even closer, a good sounding center will have a good off axis response, I tried a tweeter below the screen but I think I got cancellation (so that did not stay there).
I want to set one up below with a A/B switch so I can hear the differance.

triguy3

I just moved my Surround bar from beolw my DLP to above. HUGE improvement in the latter. I got a tv bracket from Polk that the bar sits "in". The 25lb speaker actually sits on the TV. Your center is too big for that type of setup.

IMHO try to get a "floating" shelf deep enough for your center attached to the studs. Ikea, home depot come to mind http://www.wall-shelf.cn/hidden-bracket-shelf.htm

reberly

I started with a Center Channel above the tv for awhile with the tweeters angled down to my listening level but found I liked the center channel at the same level as the base of my tv and pointed in a straight line at my listening level to sound awesome.

The LSiC sits perfectly between the left/right feet of the base of my Panasonic 42'' plasma. Im sure it could look better but I'll go for sound over looks for now.

Face

The center should be at the same level as your mains.

For me this creates two problems. The center blocks some of my component rack. I'm now more focused on two channel than home theater, and would rather have less objects between my mains. So the center is going above my TV as soon as I can have someone help me install the mount.