Center channel speaker question
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Came across this article and would like the opinion of the members here as to whether or not it is believable http://theaudiocritic.com/plog/index.php?op=Default&blogId=1&&page=3Center-Channel Speakers: What the Industry (Even the "White Hats") Often Refuses to Tell You Looking at the market, I’ve found that nearly all center-channel speakers have a low, wide profile using an MTM—often called D’Appolito—array, with a pair of 4", 5.25", or 6" woofers flanking a dome tweeter. This style is decor-friendly, has a better partner acceptance quotient (PAQ?), and is physically well suited for perching atop a large-screen rear-projection display. While the driver layout of these speakers is sometimes called a D’Appolito array, few of them fit the criteria of the originator as to driver spacing, crossover frequency, and final response. These speakers, even the better ones, have a universal characteristic: strong, sometimes severe, lobing in the horizontal plane, which will be launched into the listening area either through reflected sound or direct radiation to off-axis listeners. Fig. 1 displays an example of a typical, currently sold, MTM center channel speaker. Lobing begins at 7.5 degrees and by 22.5 degrees is quite strong. This is a sweet-spot device! I’ve had the opportunity to test hundreds of different loudspeaker systems over the past decade. From 80 to 100 Hz upward, the best systems—and I mean best in an absolute sense—have been 6.5" two-way designs. Two-way speakers by manufacturers such as Paradigm, PSB, Polk, NHT, JBL, Boston Acoustics, and Infinity make excellent center-channel choices, often at remarkably low cost. The optimal center-channel speaker choice will usually be a good-quality, vertically deployed 6.5" two-way speaker. Good sound, even greater value. Dedicated center-channel loudspeakers are designed and marketed as horizontally arrayed, low-profile, gracefully styled accessories for large-screen television. While the inclusion of a pair of woofers improves low-frequency capability, few of them will deliver an honest 40 Hz at the listening position and, frankly, there is no need for them to do so. They offer no other performance advantage, and most lack acceptable sound quality for more than one listener. Question - Does it make more sense to use a 2-way speaker as a center channel speaker in the vertical position?
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Re: Center channel speaker question
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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 |
Vic, yes I'm familiar with the excellent material in the archives of the Audio Critic and that specific article relating to center speakers. This is in agreement with other studies of the matter, which have shown vertical configurations to be superior to horizontal MTM speakers for the center channel.
This has also been my personal experience and I've frequently suggested here over the years that a vertical center as similar as possible to the mains should be used wherever feasible.
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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: Center channel speaker question
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Joined: Sep 2010
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OP
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So - would 5 M3 v3 Bookshelf Speakers work nicely in a 1600 cubic foot room?
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Re: Center channel speaker question
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 769
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 769 |
I would still use the QS for surround.
Bruno M80s/VP180/QS8s/EP600/AVR-890 ------------------------------------ "The problem is choice..."
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Re: Center channel speaker question
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 92
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 92 |
I have always heard it best to use a vertical floorstander at center, unfortunately most (including me) don't have the room to accomodate such a design, so we compensate with these horizontal space friendly arrays. Excellent article though, in my dream system I would have a projection screen and have it high enough off the ground that I could throw in a vertical center, and all 5 of my speakers would exactly match.
M60, VP150, QS8, HSU VTF2-MK 3, Marantz SR8002, Oppo BDP-83SE, 50" Panasonic Plasma
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Re: Center channel speaker question
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
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Yes, 5 M3s would work nicely, but 3 M2s, a good sub and QS surrounds would work even better.
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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: Center channel speaker question
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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 |
The Harman papers are well-known here and have been discussed fairly often. If you mean that you propose to put a sub under each speaker so as to create in effect full-range units, then sure, the center has to be included. Note, however, that this arrangement wouldn't achieve the benefits in room mode smoothing discussed in the Harman papers and Dr. Toole's book Sound Reproduction. That requires placing the subs at locations such as the midpoints of opposite walls or in diagonally opposite corners, not under the speakers.
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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: Center channel speaker question
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,116
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Sep 2008
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Never heard of Lava subs before. The fact they market their subs by comparing them to Polk Audio models does not instill confidence. Don't get me wrong, Polk make some nice speakers and they have some models that offer excellent value but their subwoofers are rubbish.
I’m armed and I’m drinking. You don’t want to listen to advice from me, amigo.
-Max Payne
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Re: Center channel speaker question
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6,015
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6,015 |
...in my dream system I would have a projection screen and have it high enough off the ground that I could throw in a vertical center... I plan on using a 7 or 8 foot 2.35:1 AT (acoustically transparent) projector screen with 3 M80 in-cabinet's behind it. This would accomplish the same thing, no?
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Re: Center channel speaker question
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Re: Center channel speaker question
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
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Vertically oriented speakers are designed to have good of axis listening (horizontal dispersion), while horizontal speakers (most center channels) have good vertical dispersion and poor horizontal dispersion, which works well for mounting above or below sitting positions. I have done some non-scientific tests with my VP100/150 using only my SPL meter and my ears, the volume levels drop off by a db or 2 when you stand/sit outside of a narrow range outside of the horizontal center speaker. It doesn't sound odd or fuzzy just a lower volume.
Ideally your center would be the same as your mains, this is why Axiom now has the VP180 to better match the floorstanding speakers for those of us without the ability to use an M60/80 as a center.
Jason M80 v2 VP160 v3 QS8 v2 PB13 Ultra Denon 3808 Samsung 85" Q70
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