|   * * center spkr or identical fronts? | kjp
Mar 23, 2001 9:46 PM | | i've heard that the front 3 spkrs should be identical in ht's b/c that's how the sound for 5.1 audio is recorded? but if this is true, then why all the expensive center spkrs on the market?
and if i can't afford dipoles, should i get identicals for the surrounds too? or can i skimp a little? |
| re: * * center spkr or identical fronts? | recoveryone
Mar 24, 2001 10:12 AM | | IMO having the same speakers LCR makes it easier to match and balance the sound, but the real deal is to match the Ohms, db sensitivty, and max power of all your speakers no matter what brand you choose. IMO at least get the LR the same and the Rears the same the center and sub can be different. |
| re: Identicle is the way to go... | Ace W.
Mar 24, 2001 2:52 PM | | Identicle speakers will all have the same dispersion, imaging, response curves, etc.
Centers are not as necessary as some manufacturers make them out to be. Those TV top centers are not worth the money. Despite what many people think, it is a myth that a center is needed to make the vocals sound like they come from the center. Manufacturers are greedy and want your money, especially those Asian ones. Ever heard a good 2-channel music system? They have no problem imaging equivelent better than most 5-channel receiver based systems and they don't need a center.
You only need two mains and two identicle rears to get top class performance. Forget centers. This is actually a way to SAVE money. |
| re: * * center spkr or identical fronts? | Quagmire
Mar 25, 2001 7:42 PM | | kjp,
In an ideal situation, the front three speakers of an HT setup should be identical. Unfortunately, it may be impractical or impossible for most people to have this type of setup. Center channel speakers do in fact represent a compromise between practicality and performance. The horizontal arrangement of drivers in these speakers is merely to accomodate the speaker sitting unobtrusively ontop of your television set and is not the optimal layout for producing quality sound. The overall design goal when making a center channel speaker is usually to use the same drivers as is found in the main speakers to create a proper timbre match (sonic signature of the speaker) with the fronts. This is by far the most important requirement of the center channel speaker; not "Ohms matching or sensitivity" as some would have you believe.
Since you did not mention what type of speakers you are currently using, it is difficult to say with any certainty, what speaker you should use. But I would say this - if it is at all practical for to use the same speaker you are using for front speakers, as a center channel speaker, then I would encourage you to do so. You will have to decide whether this works for you cosmetically and if the speaker is video shielded.
As for Ace W's comments... I both agree and disagree. I agree with his statement that, "Identical speakers will all have the same dispersion, imaging, response curves, etc" and to that list, I would add, timbre match; but I do not agree with the rest of his post. It is no more reasonable to conclude that center channel speakers are just a gimic dreamt up by audio manufacturers to pry the money from your hands than it is to conclude that multichannel receiver are just a gimic also. Remember the technology was industry based long before it showed up in our homes. Movie houses were adding center channel speakers to their auditoriums in order to increase dialog intelligeability, and that's exactly it's purpose in our home systems as well. If you follow Ace's logic, then why bother with surround speakers either? All of the surround information is present in the two channel mix, so why aren't the surround speakers considered just a scam too? I could go on about the advantages of Dolby Digital and DTS over Pro-Logic, and how the lack of a center channel speaker removes a major advantage these discrete formats have over Pro-Logic... but I won't, I will just hint at it for now.
I am of the opinion that doing without a center channel speaker is preferred over having a poorly matched one. For this reason I would encourage you to wait until you can buy the proper speaker; whether that ends up being a dedicated center channel or one that is the same as your front speakers. As for surrounds, there are many different opinions on what works best. Some believe that five identical speakers work best when the system is used for 5 channel stereo music, and with the emergence of DVD Audio, I tend to agree with them. The principle behind dipole surrounds is to try and emulate the multiple speaker arrays found on the walls of movie auditoriums. They can be quite effective at this for movie viewing, but are generally not as well liked for multichannel music listening. You will have to do some listening on you own to decide which is right for you. Personally, I have taken the route of using multiple direct radiating speakers as surrounds and don't have any regrets so far. I have six surround speakers altogether; two on the right wall, two on the left wall, and two on the rear wall. Seems to incorporate the strengths of both types of speakers while minimizing their shortcomings. I like this arrangement, but it may not be for everyone. Best of luck to you.
Q |
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