Re: Phantom Center Channel
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654 |
Paul, if I followed what you did, let me suggest that a better test is to simply set the center speaker to "none" and then in effect you'll be playing 4.1(rather than just stereo)compared to 5.1.
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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: Phantom Center Channel
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 738
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 738 |
Good point John. That should yield more accurate results.
pn
paul
Axiom M80, VP180, Qs8, EP500 Epson 3020 Rotel RB-880 Denon AVR-990
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Re: Phantom Center Channel
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 505
aficionado
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OP
aficionado
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 505 |
Paul, if I followed what you did, let me suggest that a better test is to simply set the center speaker to "none" and then in effect you'll be playing 4.1(rather than just stereo)compared to 5.1. I should have picked that up. That is what I wanted to know.
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Re: Phantom Center Channel
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 859
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 859 |
I have run my HT in 4.1 for the past year now. First with M3's and now with M80's. Both do a wonderful job of providing what appears to be a center channel. It does waver some when I move to the sides but then I adjust the balance to equal things out and it does fine. That being said, I do plan to get a center channel soon. I think that with certain movies and programs, it is difficult to hear dialoque for whatever reason. I'm guessing that a center channel will help in these circumstances. Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in. Carry on.
M80's(2), VP150, QS8's(2), M3's(4)
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Re: Phantom Center Channel
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,458
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,458 |
Running a phantom center offers the advantage of your center image matching your Left and Right speakers perfectly...since the sound is produced by those speakers. If you sit dead center and you're the only one in the room, it can work well. As John wrote, don't do this in stereo, but rather surround mode with the "center speaker" set to "none" on your receiver and it will perfectly divide the center channel material equally between left and right.
This works well under some circumstances, but has more disadvantages than advantages.
If you DON'T sit dead center, or there's more than one person in the room, the phantom effect won't be centered in the audio image. A center channel speaker locks that material dead center with your TV. Having a separate center channel also allows you to modify the output level in comparison to the other speakers... many here bump up the center to improve intelligibility, for instance. And matching the side speakers in tonality is not an issue if you are using three speakers across the front that are designed to b used together.
::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
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Re: Phantom Center Channel
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 505
aficionado
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OP
aficionado
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 505 |
Are you saying that 4.1 is different than a stereo setting? I have my 2309 set to stereo right now as all I have is a pair of bookshelves. I would think that the center channel is split between the left and right the same as it would be in a 4.1 configuration.
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Re: Phantom Center Channel
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420 |
If all you have is a pair of speakers, then running in stereo should be the same as 4.1.
Jason M80 v2 VP160 v3 QS8 v2 PB13 Ultra Denon 3808 Samsung 85" Q70
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Re: Phantom Center Channel
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 738
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 738 |
I remember back in 1999 I attended a show here in SW Ontario put on by one of the high end audio video stores. They had a key note speaker, Ian G. Masters. Now I remember reading articals from Ian since the early 80's in Sound and Vision Magazine. Like Alan Loft, his articals were always informative and intersting.
Anyways, Ian said back then that a center channel speaker was not only not required, you actually shouldn't have one. To be honest, I didn't really understand the reason why, something about the couch being too long.
OK, so I missuderstood Ian back in 1999, he ment if you're going to use a cheap center speaker, you shouldn't have one. See the following article, very interesting for those wondering about a center channel speaker and if it is necessary. http://www.hometheaterfocus.com/blogs/blog/archive/2006/05/15/100530.aspxBTW, I tried to watch a movie this afternoon in 4.1. Ummm, na, not the desired results. Music, and concerts, sure, sounds really good. And it wasn't horrible, but I really did miss the VP150 for clarity on dialogue. I love my VP150, please don't ever take it away from me! LOL paul
paul
Axiom M80, VP180, Qs8, EP500 Epson 3020 Rotel RB-880 Denon AVR-990
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Re: Phantom Center Channel
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,928
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,928 |
Thanks, Paul, you just justified my purchase!
Half of communication is listening. You can't listen with your mouth.
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Re: Phantom Center Channel
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 738
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 738 |
Sure, anything I can do to help.
paul
Axiom M80, VP180, Qs8, EP500 Epson 3020 Rotel RB-880 Denon AVR-990
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