Video Asylum

Posted by KirkM on January 04, 2000 at 15:08:58:

In Reply to: is center channel necessary? posted by Jon B on January 04, 2000 at 01:58:26:

A factor not yet mentioned is the front speakers separation as compared to the with of the video screen. If the speakers are set a good bit farther apart than the screen width, then the center speaker can be valuable in anchoring the dialog on screen.

(My Klipschorns must be in the corners, so spacing is determined by the size of the room. I find the center speaker helpful.)

BTW

If you use a center, use the same speaker, or one of identical tambre. Magnetic shielding can be a problem, but I put a LaScala above a 43" by 34" screen (54" diagonal) rear projector TV. The video tubes are at the bottom and are far enough away from the LaScala. And don't put a heavy speaker on top of the RPTV set itself. It will bow the frame and distort the screen!

I built a shelf that tilts down to point the tweeter at the listener. This minimizes ceiling reflections. The result was very much improved clarity (dialog inteligibility).

If you turn the volume up in the dialog and down for the loud bits, what you really need is to improve inteligibility. Room treatments help too.