Show me a good center speaker

anhchungdoan
anhchungdoan Posts: 760
edited February 2010 in Speakers
I am looking to upgrading my Mirage surround speaker 5.1 sytsem. I just feel the Onkyo 876 can sound better with another brand. It's the synergy thing between amp and speakers.

While I am very pleased with my Pio SC05 and 6 of Def Tech SM450s and the CLR2002, I do want a diiferent brand name and different sound for my Onkyo 876. Nothing is wrong with the Mirage LFX system . I am searching for a center speaker that can sound at least as good as and as realistic as the Def TecH CLR2002 for my Onkyo system.

Onkyo oner can chime in anytime. I do not want to add any additional external amp, so it has to be 8hm and 88/ 91db efficiency. Monitors and center speaker only, no floor standing please.
Post edited by anhchungdoan on

Comments

  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited February 2010
    Polk RTiA3 speakers and RTiA6 center speaker:)
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
  • ViperZ
    ViperZ Posts: 2,046
    edited February 2010
    It all depends on your price range... and IMHO the center should perfectly match the bookshelves.

    I just picked my new bookshelves (B&W CDM1), and these are the ones I was looking at:

    * NHT 1.5 with NHT AudioCenter-2, but AC-2 is very hard to find, so you may try AC-1
    * Paradigm Studio 20s or 40s (v2 or v3) with matching center (CC-470 I think),
    * Polk LSi9s with LSiC, (these are 4 Ohm)
    * B&W 685/686 with HTM61,
    * Quad 12L2 with L2 centre,

    And obviously B&W CDM1 with CDM-C center (or CDM-1NT with CDM-CNT).
    Panasonic PT-AE4000U projector for movies
    Carada 106" Precision Series (Classic Cinema White)
    Denon AVR-X3600H pre/pro
    Outlaw 770 7-channel amplifier
    B&W CDM1-SE fronts
    B&W CDM-CNT center
    B&W CDM1 rears on MoPADs
    JBL SP8CII in-ceiling height speakers
    Samsung DTB-H260F OTA HDTV tuner
    DUAL NHT SubTwo subwoofers
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-Ray player
    Belkin PF60 Power Center
    Harmony 1100 RF remote with RF extender
    Sony XBR-X950G 55" 4K HDR Smart TV + PS3 in the living room
  • anhchungdoan
    anhchungdoan Posts: 760
    edited February 2010
    I have 5.1 Polk RT15I for my kids system so I look for something difference this time for MOI. The Def TEch CLr 2002 is so good and I need to have some center at least that good.

    Anyone hear the ML low-end H/TMotion package? Small room 14X16, so my option is limited to momitors system . THe Motion looks cheap with push and snap in speaker connections.
  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,203
    edited February 2010
    I think I've read that Polk audio and Onkyo match up well.

    I've owned alot of center channels and they all have their own sounds. The center should definately match your L/R speakers in timbre. You can get lucky and mis match brands and get close and that's fine with me too.
    Good luck with your search.
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
  • anhchungdoan
    anhchungdoan Posts: 760
    edited February 2010
    I think I've read that Polk audio and Onkyo match up well.

    I've owned alot of center channels and they all have their own sounds. The center should definately match your L/R speakers in timbre. You can get lucky and mis match brands and get close and that's fine with me too.
    Good luck with your search.


    10/4. I know about the timbre matching but I want to start to upgrade all my 5 Mirage speaker system and I want to built the 5.1 ot 7.1 speaker system around the center speaker if I can find a center that's better than my Def Tech CLR 2002.

    love to have all the LSi series but they are 4 ohm abd 88db which mean I have to get another multi-amp.
  • superjunior
    superjunior Posts: 1,632
    edited February 2010
    danz1906 wrote: »
    polk rtia3 speakers and rtia6 center speaker:)

    +1 ^
    panasonic th-50pz85u
    pioneer elite vsx-92txh
    pioneer elite bdp-05fd
    emotiva xpa-3
    monster power hdp 2550
    sa 8300 hd dvr
    sda 2b's
    fronts - rti a9's
    center - csi a6
    surrounds - fxi a6's
    sub - polk dsw pro 600
    harmony one
  • anhchungdoan
    anhchungdoan Posts: 760
    edited February 2010
    Allright Polk fans, I will pay Frys' a visit to listen to the RTIa series with their Onkyo 876. Spec and build quality look fine. Thank you.