What is meant by "bright" speakers?

Nightsbane

I am currently looking for a new center channel to replace the cs1. I have monitor 50s for the front.

I am considering a csi3 or a cs2.

The cs2 is currently too large for my space, which is why I am considering the csi3. Some say it is "brighter", and I'm not sure what exactly they mean. To me the vocals of the cs1 are too muddled, and it is already to flat and localized as it is. It sticks out like a sore thumb in movies.

I haven't been able to find a good description of "bright" to help me decide if it's the right choice for me.

steveinaz

Bright usually means more forward (or accentuated) in the upper midrange, lower treble.

Erik Tracy

Nightsbane wrote: »

I am currently looking for a new center channel to replace the cs1. I have monitor 50s for the front.

I am considering a csi3 or a cs2.

The cs2 is currently too large for my space, which is why I am considering the csi3. Some say it is "brighter", and I'm not sure what exactly they mean. To me the vocals of the cs1 are too muddled, and it is already to flat and localized as it is. It sticks out like a sore thumb in movies.

I haven't been able to find a good description of "bright" to help me decide if it's the right choice for me.

Must be cornhulio eh?

I have a CSi3 and I would characterize it as 'open' or with 'sparkle'

Its a good center for smaller spaces.

Nightsbane

It's one of those things I guess you really need to hear to tell the difference. Unfortunately there are no good home audio stores within a hundred miles of where I live.

I almost bid on a CS2 just now, but I still have no idea how I would make it fit. It would have to be placed high above the tv, making it probably sound off, since it woult be quite a bit higher than the fronts.

I don't want the center to sound off too much if I go with csi3, but I rarely hear voices out of the sides with any movies, only effects. In fact watching harry potter with the kids last night I was shocked to find that almost all sound came out of the center channel with that movie. any forward effects went through the center, and very little through the fronts. Most of the time only music came through the fronts.

I want clear and crisp vocals that don't sound muddled and harsh like the cs1. The cs2 is too large. At this point unless someone can recommend the csi3 I will have to look to a polk alternative, which I do not want to do.

mhardy6647

Speakers with flat HF response will likely sound bright in a typical room in a typical home.
Vintage Altec horns have profoundly enhanced midrange - and deliberately so - but I wouldn't call 'em 'bright' as much as 'forward'. I associate brightness with excessive HF content... again, due to the size and reflective surfaces in most typical rooms, speakers with flat HF response in an anechoic environment are likely to manifest this "brightness".

Erik Tracy

Nightsbane wrote: »

It's one of those things I guess you really need to hear to tell the difference. Unfortunately there are no good home audio stores within a hundred miles of where I live.

I almost bid on a CS2 just now, but I still have no idea how I would make it fit. It would have to be placed high above the tv, making it probably sound off, since it woult be quite a bit higher than the fronts.

I don't want the center to sound off too much if I go with csi3, but I rarely hear voices out of the sides with any movies, only effects. In fact watching harry potter with the kids last night I was shocked to find that almost all sound came out of the center channel with that movie. any forward effects went through the center, and very little through the fronts. Most of the time only music came through the fronts.

I want clear and crisp vocals that don't sound muddled and harsh like the cs1. The cs2 is too large. At this point unless someone can recommend the csi3 I will have to look to a polk alternative, which I do not want to do.

I just did ???

tcrossma

Nightsbane wrote: »

I am currently looking for a new center channel to replace the cs1. I have monitor 50s for the front.

I am considering a csi3 or a cs2.

The cs2 is currently too large for my space, which is why I am considering the csi3. Some say it is "brighter", and I'm not sure what exactly they mean. To me the vocals of the cs1 are too muddled, and it is already to flat and localized as it is. It sticks out like a sore thumb in movies.

I haven't been able to find a good description of "bright" to help me decide if it's the right choice for me.

Just to clarify something here....

A center speaker is supposed to be localized. Dialog and other sounds tied to the screen are supposed to be coming directly from the center.

I do not doubt that you aren't getting the sound out of that speaker that you want, either because it is damaged or just not up to the task. But I'm not sure a less localized sound will be rectified with another speaker choice.

Nightsbane

Erik Tracy wrote: »

I just did ???

sorry, some weird lag caused your post to show up after mine.

I guess I may just try it out then. No amount of wishing will make the cs2 any smaller ha.

I realize I am going to know it is coming from the screen, as intended, but it sticks out, covering up other sound because it sounds so damn awful. After hours of testing I couldn't really determine if it sounded awful because it's broken, or because I don't like it. It seems that it would be best to get something else, and either sell/send in this one.

lectronicjunkie

I've got a black CSi3 up for sale if you decide to go in that direction.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98512

NJPOLKER

It is when you need sunglasses on your ears.