Center Channel hard to hear

peekobi
peekobi Posts: 58
edited November 2008 in Speakers
When my home heater kicks on every 10 minutes or so, it is hard to hear my center channel in the evenings. (It is only 7 or 8 feet from where I sit) I don't want to turn the whole volumn up but I'm just wanting some louder or clearer dialogue.

I currently have the CS245i and have increased the volume of my center channel, but it is still hard to hear the dialogue. Would upgrading to the CS2 help here or is more "tweaking" needed with my amp settings?
Reciever Onkyo TX-SR708

Center - polkaudio CS245I
Mains -- polkaudio RT600I's
Sides -- polkaudio RT35's
Rears -- polkaudio RT25I's
Sub ---- polkaudio PSW-350

TV: Panasonic TC-P50GT30 HDTV
Blu-Ray Player Panasonic DMP-BDT215

Common sense ain't that common!:loneranger:
Post edited by peekobi on
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Comments

  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited November 2008
    pics?

    Is the center tilted twords your ears or shooting over your head (or into your knees)?

    Is it close to any reflection points? (wall floor or ceiling)

    Do your other speakers sound ok? (if you turn the center to "off" or "none" in your reciever is the dialog any easier to understand?)

    Do you find this with all movies or just some?

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • ViperZ
    ViperZ Posts: 2,046
    edited November 2008
    When I upgraded from CS245 to CS400, the difference was amazing!
    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
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  • peekobi
    peekobi Posts: 58
    edited November 2008
    Is the CS400 and the CS2 the same speaker?
    Reciever Onkyo TX-SR708

    Center - polkaudio CS245I
    Mains -- polkaudio RT600I's
    Sides -- polkaudio RT35's
    Rears -- polkaudio RT25I's
    Sub ---- polkaudio PSW-350

    TV: Panasonic TC-P50GT30 HDTV
    Blu-Ray Player Panasonic DMP-BDT215

    Common sense ain't that common!:loneranger:
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  • adam2434
    adam2434 Posts: 995
    edited November 2008
    Before upgrading the speaker, make sure there isn't a problem with your level calibration or the speaker itself.

    Are your speaker levels calibrated with a SPL meter?

    As an experiment, you could play the receiver's test tones to determine if all the channel levels match "by ear".

    You may also want to verify that the tweeter and both drivers are working properly.

    If you decide to try another center, I recommend trying to find a used CS400i, which was the TOTL match for your speakers.

    The CS2 is from the current Monitor Series, and is not an ideal match for your speakers.
    5.1 and 2.0 ch Basement Media Room: Outlaw 975/Emotiva DC-1/Rotel RB-1582 MKII/Rotel RB-1552/Audiosource Amp 3/Polk LS90, CS400i, FX500i/Outlaw X-12, LFM-1/JVD DLA-HD250/Da-Lite 100" HCCV/Sony ES BDP/Sonos Connect. DC-1/RB-1582 MKII/Sonos Connect also feed Polk 7C in garage or Dayton IO655 on patio.
    2.1 ch Basement Gym: Denon AVR-2807/Klipsch Forte I or NHT SB2/JBL SUB 550P x 2/Chromecast Audio.
    2.0 ch Living Room: Rotel RX-1052/Emotiva DC-1/Klipsch RF-7 III/Sony ES BDP/LG 65" LED.
    2.0 ch Semi-portable: Klipsch Powergate/NHT SB3/Chromecast Audio.
    Kitchen: Sonos Play5.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited November 2008
    adam2434 wrote: »
    Before upgrading the speaker, make sure there isn't a problem with your level calibration or the speaker itself....

    You may also want to verify that the tweeter and both drivers are working properly...
    +1
    If a tweeter goes out your center speaker will sound muffled, and the voices will sound drowned out.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • gtu2004
    gtu2004 Posts: 620
    edited November 2008
    ben62670 wrote: »
    +1
    If a tweeter goes out your center speaker will sound muffled, and the voices will sound drowned out.

    +1

    from my personal experience I had a few weeks ago with the LSiC, if the tweeter isn't working, the speaker sounds worse than $10 speakers.
    Onkyo 805, RtiA5s, Csi5, Rti6s
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  • peekobi
    peekobi Posts: 58
    edited November 2008
    adam2434 wrote: »
    Before upgrading the speaker, make sure there isn't a problem with your level calibration or the speaker itself.

    Are your speaker levels calibrated with a SPL meter?

    As an experiment, you could play the receiver's test tones to determine if all the channel levels match "by ear".

    You may also want to verify that the tweeter and both drivers are working properly.

    If you decide to try another center, I recommend trying to find a used CS400i, which was the TOTL match for your speakers.

    The CS2 is from the current Monitor Series, and is not an ideal match for your speakers.

    The tweeter is just fine. I cranked up the center level from +4db to +10db.
    I had calibrated with a Radio Shack SPL meter several years ago, but I'm not really sure I know what I'm doing.
    Reciever Onkyo TX-SR708

    Center - polkaudio CS245I
    Mains -- polkaudio RT600I's
    Sides -- polkaudio RT35's
    Rears -- polkaudio RT25I's
    Sub ---- polkaudio PSW-350

    TV: Panasonic TC-P50GT30 HDTV
    Blu-Ray Player Panasonic DMP-BDT215

    Common sense ain't that common!:loneranger:
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  • LandShark
    LandShark Posts: 130
    edited November 2008
    I had the exact same problem although I do have Tinnitus(ringing in the ears). I had the CS1 and upgraded to the CS2 and it was a world of difference. I have Monitor 70 mains so the CS2 is built to match these...BUT if you do decide to choose this speaker it's awesome.

    TV: Samsung LN40A550
    Mains: Polk Monitor 70's
    Center: Polk CS2
    Surrounds: Polk OWM3's
    Receiver: Onkyo TX sr705
    BDP: Sony S350
    Subs: Velodyne VRP1200 and VRP1000
    Monster Power Conditioner EP IR 2450
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  • brody05
    brody05 Posts: 329
    edited November 2008
    unplug the amp end of the cable and put a battery on the end (+ve and -ve), hold it there and make sure all the drivers push out while doing it, this will tell you if they are all in phase.

    Check you cabling for the same thing ie all +ve and -ve going to right spots.
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