Heresy, I know, but I am not in a position to purchase an Axiom for my center channel speaker. I am mostly a audio guy, but am setting up a "value" HT. Can anyone make some affordable suggestions for a center channel that will blend reasonably well with my L/R main M3s?
Or, what should I be looking for? Same x-over, same SPL, etc?
If i could afford it, that would be ideal. But I can't, so I am soliciting other ideas. As I said, heresy.
You need to have your center channel timber matched with your left/right mains. Otherwise I would not use a center and just use phantom mode on your receiver.
I'm with Randy - another M3 or nothing are both much better choices than something you can get for less than a FO M3.
If you can't afford at least another single M3, I would wait and save up until you can, this is the only solution that will provide you with an all Axiom front sound stage.
Cgilker!
BTW. Welcome back after almost 4 years!
I just echo what's been said. Save up for another M3 or VP100, or simply use the phantom mode on your receiver. That'll sound better than a mis-matched center speaker.
Another vote for the M3s. I ran three M3s across the front for a while and it was magical!
I'm still running an M3 center, and that's with M50s as mains. And....Still works great!!
It may take a little longer and require a bit of extra saving; but it's worth it!
Thanks bugbitten, it has been awhile since I've been here. In the past, I have received excellent advice / counsel.
And while an M3 would be a perfect solution, I can't afford it, as I have said. Nor would an M3 fit (size-wise) where I need it to go.
So, apologies again, but perhaps I am on my own here. Can someone point me to a discussion re: timbre-matching?
Soundsaround sells a "no-name" two-way center channel for about $90. The paper-drivers certainly won't be timber-matched to your speakers but you can give it a try and if not satisfied, simply return it.
I would definitely go with the phantom center as well. You have nothing to loose trying this first. If your budget is that tight, then it seems to be waste of your hard earned money buying any centre you can afford just to have one. What will having a cheaper centre that is not designed to play with your mains add to your system?
Order the M3’s set them up and if you can borrow a centre from a friend. Then flip back and forth (between phantom and centre) to see which you prefer or if timber matching is an issue for you…it might not be.
As for timber matching, basically it's speakers that have the same sound characteristics, designed to be used together for seamless soundstage.
Good luck
Would it be possible to use two M3's as a centre channel and put them on each side of the tv? I don't have room in front of the tv hence why I bought the vp150 but I'm thinking if I put the M3's to each side would sounds not seem like they are coming from the front channel?
Daniel,
That would have to do as well with how far apart your mains are, if your mains are 7 feet apart, and your 2 parallel M3s are 3 feet apart, it will probably work very well. And look very cool to boot!
I have mine around 24" on centre apart, and they sound wicked....I have to admit I have thought about what M2s would sound like quite a bit...but I think i'll stick witht he M3s since they sound great, only reason I would get M2s would be because they look the same (woofer wise) as the M22s.
The way I did it was to use the pre-outs on my receiver to go to the audio in jacks on my TV. Then I (kind of) level matched the TV speakers to my other speakers. It didn't sound great, and I wouldn't recommend it for music listening, but at least I had some sort of a center channel.
Well the M3's would have to be 42inches apart as that's what my tv is. That's 3.5ft apart, my M50's about 7ft. Somehow I kinda get the feeling that they would be too far apart and too close to the the M50's. It would save me a bit of money over the vp150.
Daniel, if you put a center channel speaker directly at each side of the TV, the effect is to have the sound appear to be coming from the center of the screen for a listener in the center. As the listener would move to the side the center image would move with him, but wouldn't go out farther than the center speaker on that side.
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Well the M3's would have to be 42inches apart as that's what my tv is. That's 3.5ft apart, my M50's about 7ft. Somehow I kinda get the feeling that they would be too far apart and too close to the the M50's. It would save me a bit of money over the vp150.
The speakers on either side is no different than original speakers on the TV itself when they are built on the side like some sets have. No worries.