center channel question

leroyjr1
leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
edited May 2008 in Speakers
With the center channel doing majority of the work in HT, Why is their only one speaker used. The fronts and rears each use two speakers.

What is your thoughts on using two center channels for a more balanced sound, and has anyone ever ran a two center channel setup and how did it sound?

Thanks
Post edited by leroyjr1 on
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  • maximillian
    maximillian Posts: 2,144
    edited May 2008
    Dolby Surround only has one center signal. This signal is meant primarily for voices and for other sounds that come from the front-center of the scene. So it doesn't make sense splitting this signal in two.

    Running two center speakers off the same channel signal can create interference between the two speakers. If you try to separate the two center speakers to compensate then you will lose the center focus of the sound and it will sound odd. it might sound OK in a VERY large room.

    An alternate thing to try is running a phantom center, i.e. the L&R channels carry the center information. Some people prefer this setup.
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  • cabolton13
    cabolton13 Posts: 72
    edited May 2008
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    With the center channel doing majority of the work in HT, Why is their only one speaker used. The fronts and rears each use two speakers.

    What is your thoughts on using two center channels for a more balanced sound, and has anyone ever ran a two center channel setup and how did it sound?

    Thanks

    you should try and pm scottvamp he is or was using 2 cs400 he would be able to answer your question
    MY SYSTEM

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  • Kchill
    Kchill Posts: 262
    edited May 2008
    maximillian wrote: »
    Dolby Surround only has one center signal. This signal is meant primarily for voices and for other sounds that come from the front-center of the scene. So it doesn't make sense splitting this signal in two.

    Running two center speakers off the same channel signal can create interference between the two speakers. If you try to separate the two center speakers to compensate then you will lose the center focus of the sound and it will sound odd. it might sound OK in a VERY large room.

    An alternate thing to try is running a phantom center, i.e. the L&R channels carry the center information. Some people prefer this setup.

    Wow Max, what magazine you work for?
    Retired Onkyo 520 (returned broken HK 247)
    Now a Pioneer 1018
    CSi3
    2- RTI10's
    2- R50's
    2- Fxi3's
    Onkyo 250W Sub
    Polk psw-10

    "Inch by inch lifes a cinch, yard by yard life is hard"
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  • maximillian
    maximillian Posts: 2,144
    edited May 2008
    Kchill, not sure if you were trying to be facetious. Any knowledge I have comes from the many very knowledgeable people on this forum, and a result of me spending way too much time here. I do not work in the AV industry, and only recently got into this hobby.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited May 2008
    maximillian wrote: »
    Dolby Surround only has one center signal. This signal is meant primarily for voices and for other sounds that come from the front-center of the scene. So it doesn't make sense splitting this signal in two.

    Running two center speakers off the same channel signal can create interference between the two speakers. If you try to separate the two center speakers to compensate then you will lose the center focus of the sound and it will sound odd. it might sound OK in a VERY large room.

    An alternate thing to try is running a phantom center, i.e. the L&R channels carry the center information. Some people prefer this setup.



    The center channel would not be split it would be playing the same. Same as a center channel with four woofers like Polk use to make.
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