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In Reply to: Is "proper" center speaker better than normal speaker? posted by Audio Nirvana on May 05, 2003 at 21:41:55:
True, many people site the fact that dialogue and other parts of the mix are pushed into the center channel, thus making this channel 'more important' than the rest. Naturally, this requires a 'better speaker'... and what could make a speaker better than more drivers?By most reports, however, the typical center channel speaker (a horizontally oriented speaker with 2 mid-woofers and tweeter/s) is not sonically well suited for the purpose for which it is "designed".
One of the main things for which speaker designers criticize it is that laying the speaker on its side tends to cause the sound to radiate vertically better than horizontally. Most feel that it is simply a cosmetic design made to sit on top of an entertainment system better. This is backed up by some general speaker design guidelines that specify minimizing the front baffle to reduce diffraction and extraneous vibration. That and the simple fact that having more drivers will not make a speaker sound better.
These same people generally suggest that you use three identical speakers across the front rather than two mains and a unique center channel: the sound is supposed to be more balanced and to have fewer dropouts due to different speaker characteristics (frequency range, efficiency, etc). Given the fact that more and more HT receivers are using 5-7 separate and identical amps to supply power to each channel, this latter opinion seems to hold more water with me.
Honestly, there are probably some great dedicated center channel speakers out there that match up with other speakers fine. For my money, though, if a speaker is good enough for the right or left channel, it's going be just as good for the center. What I'd suggest is get an identical speaker to your mains for use as the center. If you do go with a "proper" center channel, I'd suggest trying out a few different ones to see if they match up with what you've got now.
Hope that helps!
Follow Ups:
If the mains are good for the replication of the singing voice they should be fine for the spoken word.
I would add that the center speaker must be able to deliver the slam- bang of movies. Smaller bookshelf- style speakers may simply not be big enough. So if a main speaker can rock it can also bang as a center.
I recently watched/listened to McCartney's 'Driving Tour' DVD with 5.1 and with just the mains and sub. I liked the latter better but the 5.1 did give a sense of being in the arena. The two channel with gave me much better sound than the older speaker I use for center. I will upgrade my center to match the mains as closely as possible. At least using the same tweeter as the mains. Bill
Thanks to both of you for the comprehensive comments. It certainly makes sense. Plus it'll save me some dough! By the way, the Epos was relegated to center channel duties because the other one of the pair had ceased to function. Main speakers are JM Lab floorstanders.One more thing - The Epos is sitting upright on top of the TV, as lying it sideways causes distortion to the picture, I guess because it isn't magnetically shielded. For the best sound quality, do you think it's better for the tweeter to be on top (ie. with the speaker right way up) or below (ie. with the speaker upside down)?
I guess because it isn't magnetically shielded.Most speakers are not magnetically shielded, so no big thing there. Most magnetically shielded speakers cost a little more because they have another magnet on the back of the driver to partially negate the field... There are a few reasonably priced ones out there, though.
For the best sound quality, do you think it's better for the tweeter to be on top (ie. with the speaker right way up) or below (ie. with the speaker upside down)?
The general rule is keep the tweeter more in line with your ear... if it's on top of the TV, you might want to put the tweeter side down. That would also have the added benefit of keeping the stronger magnet away from the TV and reducing discoloration from the magnetic interference. In reality, though, you'll probably notice very little audible difference between tweeter up or down.
I should mention that using a magnetically shielded center is probably a good idea as that interference can really screw up your picture, sometimes permanently. If the discoloration remains, however, you can always degauss the TV. There are tools to do this yourself, but most (hopefully all) TV techs will be able to do it for you with the benefit of experience.
The speaker I use for center is upright directly to the right of the screen. The sub is next to that which places the sub equidistant between the mains. The equipment cabinet is then next to the sub. The mains are set out from the tv and equipment cabinets by a couple of feet and a foot to the side with the rears of the mains about 4 feet from the walls. The mains are then about 30" from the sidewalls. The new center will have to go above the screen somewhere or below but that would require the Okara since it would have to be close to the cabinet. It is not ideal for making the sonic image coincide with the screen and the cabinets probably interfere with the 2-channel image depth. That is just the way it has to be for now.
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