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I am trying to simplify my sytem for a new, smaller space.I am a bit confused about phantom centers. Is that a setting on an SSP ? Or does the term describe the effect when you pump two channel stereo and the voices nonetheless naturally seem to come from the center?
Basically, if I sell my SSP, will I have a phantom center or just stereo?
Lastly, would it make sense to use the dvd player's internal SSP and go with two front channels and two rear channels?
The system is high end for music (vandersteen fives front, audio researdh amp/pre, denon 3910 dvd player).
I tried two channel and I did not miss my center speaker so much, but I sort of missed the rears in some films.....
Follow Ups:
In my mind you can get excellent results from stereo with movies. Don't get me wrong, surround is nice & I really enjoy it with action movies, but if watch dramas, the surround can be dispensed with.If you are in a small space you can also get along fine with stereo for movies.
The center was added to "tie" the dialogue which is mono to the screen. But with a correctly set up system with speakers that image nicely you can by without it, as rico points out.
Just for the record, I do use surround, cause I watch lots of action movies. I also use a center, because that works in my space better than without.
Regarding use of center channel, is the dialogue any clearer or more distinct with a center channel plus L and R stereo speakers across front?And how does this compare to a phantom center in terms of clearly hearing dialogue?
What I am getting at is that with my stereo TV, dialogue seems to sometime get drowned out. My wife and I have both noticed it, but when we go see films in a movie theater, the dialog is easy to discern.
townsend
I agree with blue_z. it is the quality of your setup that matters.If you are using your TV speakers to watch movies then that is the problem.
There are old movie theatres with properly set up Stereo that sound wonderful. The point with stereo is not just two speakers, but when set up correctly, the speakers should "disappear". This is where all the audiophile talk comes regarding "imagining". When I used a stereo setup only, I could hear people walking BEHIND the two people talking in the foreground! Discerning speech was not a problem.
So that leads us to the next question, what is your current setup??
Sony 32" color TV + Panasonic DVD player. Since this set up is in built-in cabinet, close to corner and on same wall with fireplace, it is not possible to add separate stereo system due to space limitations.Upstairs in my music listening room, I have a NAD T 751 surround sound receiver, a pair of Monitor Silver 5s speakers, and a Marantz DV-8300 "universal" DVD player.
I plan to upgrade my DVD player in the next year or two to one that "upconverts" and has the latest version of HDMI (1.3?), and then add a display device. I am sitting out the display issue for now, awaiting the 1920 X 1080 plasma, and will wait further for prices to become more reasonable.
I can't decide whether to buy a center speaker or do the phantom center, hence my question. I can't really have rear speakers in a room so small (it's essentially an upstairs bedroom).
townsend
You are talking about the upstairs system, correct? The room is so small that you can't have rear speakers, correct?I would say, just go with stereo, set up so the two speakers appear to "disappear." The down side may be that the listening position may not allow for this, in which case go for the center to "anchor" dialogue to the screen.
The other option is grab a speaker from another system & use it as the center to test what works for your situation, before buying a dedicated center.
Thanks for your advice.Yes, I am talking about the upstairs system, which is set up in a "spare" bedroom (approximately 11' by 12').
I do have an older Boston Acoustics speaker I can set up and test as a center speaker, before committing to purchasing a dedicated center speaker.
townsend
If you are going to set levels, remember you need a sound pressure meter. Radio Shack has one that is not very expensive. Just please don't tell me you can set the levels by "EAR" because NO ONE CAN! You need a sound pressure meter.
Seems like the wife is telling you that you need to upgrade the home audio system.The quality of the electronics and speakers can have as much effect as the configuration (phantom versus "physical" center). With tube amps and dipole L&R front speakers, 99.9% of dialog is quite clear in my setup.
Perhaps the midrange (voice) frequencies are suppressed (or too much bass and treble) in your setup?
BTW a large video screen between the speakers will adversely affect the sound. Not just imaging, but also tonal! I was testing out what a 50" diagonal LCD/DLP rear-projector TV would "sound" like by using a piece of plywood stood up between the speakers. Besides having a flattened image, a saxophone recording seemed off-tone on a few notes.
Regards
After many years with a "hard" center I experimented and decided that a phantom center is the way to go in my all Magnepan home theater. Since my pre/pro overlays a 6.1 soundtrack when it "sees" Dolby or DTS 5.1 material, I am actually using a rear center phantom as well (i.e., four speakers and six channels). I find that the phantom center provides for smoother frontal pans and that the entire system sounds less "mechanical".
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