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In Reply to: Home thaeter heresy? posted by rico on July 29, 2004 at 07:56:04:
No not really. You did not mention what you had for a center channel. I doubt that it is another Maggie, as it would block the TV ;-).On older, pre 5.1 material, I usually run it in Stereo, which sounds better. But if you have a center speaker that is in the same league as the others, then it can be a good experience. Problem is that most people (including me) cheap out on the centre. To match what I have in the rest of the system, I would have to spend well over $1000, just on the centre!!
Follow Ups:
It's a Maggnepan CC-3, their third (and finally successful) attempt at a center which is a good match for other speakers in their line. It is postioned above and behind the TV, in an arc with the right and left front 1.6's. It is powered by the same amplifier (NAD 963) which powers the rest of the system. It is aimed directly at the sweet spot.
You may well have tried this, or space limitations may be an issue, but can you move the centre to the same plane as the fronts?That said, your speakers are good enough that you can get rid of the centre channel. I have heard a 5 channel setup that worked, but the DVD player and processor were VERY expensive. I have also found that multi-channel is much easier to screw up.
Having conducted much experimentation over the years I have always preferred having the "hard" center speaker in an arc with the left and right fronts, that is all three being equi-distant from the sweet spot. I have also fiddled with time delay on the center.After three days with the "phantom" center I still prefer it. And now I have discovered that pure stereo music recordings on lp, cassete tape,laserdisc, and DVD sound very convincing on either Dolby Pro Logic II Music or (even better) DTS ES Music. As you know, these codecs simulate a 6.1 channel mix from plain old stereo. Heretofore I had always preferred stereo music recordings in pure stereo but now with a phanrtom center these matrix codecs are very convincing on stereo movies and, now, on music as well.
Clearly you have tried a lot of different combinations. I don't doubt that your findings of going without a centre is better. I have found the same, especially on older material. I have also experimented with various combinations & I have concluded to get the quality in 5.1 that you can get in 2 channel, you have to spend a LOT MORE money. A good processor is hard to find, even if you spend big bucks.In the end, do what works for you & forget what the "experts" say you should do. It is only by experimenting with your equipment in your room, will you find what works.
Something I have always done. It may be that my conclusion is a function of my room or the Maggie dipoles or the slightly (slightly) different timbre of the CC-3 and the 1.6's (or a combination).Anyway, I convinced a pro audio/video ISF guy, totally convinced of the need for a "hard" center, to experiment with a 'phantom' set up.
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