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Better center channel
#392675 05/04/13 05:24 AM
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brwsaw Offline OP
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I'm about to order a new center. My current centers been good, has aluminum drivers and generally sounds good but its now the weekest link.
I would like to know which center would be better for my room.
The VP180 is the mate to the M80's but some would say the design of the VP160 has the edge over the VP180.
There are very few reviews online for either model.
We no longer move the loveseat from the sweetspot which is 3 meters from the front my current center.
A larger family room/HT is always on my mind. I just want to avoid another upgrade.
Thoughts?



Re: Better center channel
brwsaw #392679 05/04/13 07:59 AM
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The VP180 has a unique configuration which I've not heard. Based on general acoustic principles and what I have heard, I prefer a tweeter over mid-range configuration for the widest and smoothest response. If the VP160 has an advantage in this respect, it still applies to listeners in the central "sweet spot", since off-axis sound still gets reflected there by room surfaces and should be as uniform as possible.


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Re: Better center channel
brwsaw #392680 05/04/13 08:10 AM
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I wonder in the DSP will be upgradeable to include either of them.



Re: Better center channel
brwsaw #392685 05/04/13 11:21 AM
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I have M60s , not M80s, but I LOVE my VP160!


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Re: Better center channel
brwsaw #392688 05/04/13 12:19 PM
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I think the DSP will support the VP180. Not sure about the 160.


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Re: Better center channel
Ken.C #392699 05/04/13 02:19 PM
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I have the LFRs and the VP160 included in the DSP box and it kicks a$$.

Re: Better center channel
SBrown #392703 05/04/13 03:25 PM
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brwsaw Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: SBrown
I have the LFRs and the VP160 included in the DSP box and it kicks a$$.


I really want LFR's but I can't justify the cost.
I haven't heard them and thats probably a good thing.
Some day...
Think I'll wait to see whats anounced next month.
Outriggers are still at the top of the list.

Re: Better center channel
brwsaw #392706 05/04/13 03:55 PM
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Originally Posted By: brwsaw
I'm about to order a new center. My current centers been good, has aluminum drivers and generally sounds good but its now the weekest link.
I would like to know which center would be better for my room.
The VP180 is the mate to the M80's but some would say the design of the VP160 has the edge over the VP180.
There are very few reviews online for either model.
We no longer move the loveseat from the sweetspot which is 3 meters from the front my current center.
A larger family room/HT is always on my mind. I just want to avoid another upgrade.
Thoughts?




There are reviews around for both, not on their own individually, but usually integrated with the entire L/R, center, surround speaker arrangement.

Anyway, you really can't go wrong with either. With them you are getting in to the design of a full-range center speaker which with today's BR lossless movie soundtracks, to me, is almost a must. The best test of this is when you have one of these large centers for awhile in use and then re-connect a smaller version, then you will almost immediately wonder why you didn't make the change earlier. I certainly did.

Others who are more versed in the design aspects of these speakers could probably speak better than myself about them however, the VP160 design of the tweeter on top of a smaller mid-range theoretically provides a slightly better "off-axis" performance whereas the VP180 horizontal speaker array is for a more linear vertical response. These differences are subtle so, when making your choice, like myself, it is just a matter of size, weight and space limitations which in my case, because of the considerably large depth of the VP180 and even though I have the M80s as "mains", the VP160 was the more practical choice for my particular set-up.

Last edited by casey01; 05/04/13 04:13 PM.
Re: Better center channel
brwsaw #392707 05/04/13 04:09 PM
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Space is one of my considerations. With either speaker I will need a new TV stand. I've designed a few for both and don't really like any of them.
I have to work around the TV too. It sits on top of the stand in front of a window.
I'm going to loose the drawers and I'm not too exited about it.
The M80 sit outside the 96" windows frame and the TV and stand cover about half the window. Theres 13" between the stand and the M80s, just enough to swing open the doors.
I like the TV height so the center will need to be lowered.
I think I'll pass the speaker dimensions to the builder and see what he comes up with.



Re: Better center channel
brwsaw #392708 05/04/13 04:43 PM
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