Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Do you really need a dedicated center channel

I'm actually using dual M2s (one above and one below the display) in my setup and am very happy with it. Its really whatever you have the room for.

I get the feeling that the primary reason for having separate "center channel" speaker designs is that "the screen gets in the way" if you try to have a vertical center channel. As a result, the available space is wide but not high, the desired speaker orientation is different.

As a result of the horizontal orientiation, (as Andrew and Ian covered in the seminar) the design needs to be different in order to let the horizontal speaker behave similarly to the other vertical speakers despite being... well... horizontal.

Another advantage to a matching center if using bookshelf speakers is that most brands bookshelf speakers cost less than their corresponding center.

Dean. That was a bonus with the M2s. 2 to anchor the sound on the screen, they play lower AND at about the same cost as the vp100.

Vic, sure a vertical center identical to the mains or at least as similar as possible has definite advantages in creating a uniform front sound field.

Yes, if the only place that the vertical center can reasonably be placed is the floor, I've found that it works quite well. A suggestion would be to tilt the speaker slightly backwards so that the tweeter points toward your ear level.

If vertical space wasn't limited I would have the same speaker as my fronts (M60's). I did find much better intelligbility when I turned my VP150 upside down, since the drivers were more on an angle to my ears where I sit.

My friend has Pardigm Monitors and he tried a phantom center, but I can tell there is a slight hole under the TV, it doesn't image it well enough since he has his fronts somewhat farther apart. Bottom line, some situations a center can help if its matched properly.