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Center speaker OR Full range as Center speaker?

What is your thought on this subject?

For HT setup, center speaker is very important since ~70% of the recording consists dialogue, depending on whether or not the movie is action or drama. Some say this is why center speaker is designed specifically for such purpose. Some, on the other hand, recommend to use full range matching speaker as the center. For the center speaker in a HT setup, what would you do if you had to choose between a specifically designed center speaker and a full range speaker? May I consult with A'gon members for this trend of thought.

If you had big box like B&W or Wilson Puppy, would you pursue this option? If you have HT Magnepan, would you use MG center or MG full range to hang on the wall to improve the WAF condition? If you had Thiel monitor with stand, would you use all 5 matching Thiels? If you had Definitive, would you use all full range or its specifically designed center speaker? Would you change your system around to pursue this option?

What are the pro and con of using a full range as center speaker? How many have done so, and what is your opinion? Thank you for your input.
lej1447

Showing 2 responses by lej1447

lej1447 OP
117 posts
 
Hi all,

Thank you very much for your responses. I really enjoy reading all these interesting responses. My current HT setup is a 5.2, and I do have a dedicated center. Similar to the B&W wall series, my full range speakers are the AR Phantom 8.3 series. They are ~ 4" thick, 28" long, 12" wide. Drivers are 1" titanium tweeter, 2" magalloy mid, 8" Illusion Audio TM carbon woofer. FR 45Hz-20kHz, 89dB sensitive, 50-250W power handling.

At this time, all full range speakers are mounted vertically on the wall. If I mount another full range as the center, it has to be mounted horizontally for the WAF. What this means to me is that midrange will be center while the woofer will be to the left as the tweeter is to the right, or vice versa. I listen to DVD-A & concert DVD in DTS. I am wondering if mounting the full range horizontally will have any sonically adverse affect?

How do you guys do it? I have a 42" plasma. Would you please advise me on what to do, i.e. to use the full-range center or dedicated center? Thank you all for shedding some lights on me.
lej1447 OP
117 posts
 
Chuck,
I would love to have your system, but it will take me a long time before I get up to your par. I would love to be able to experience what you described, i.e. the singer sitting on a stool playing a guitar in front of you. I recognize and acknowedge your statement regarding the difference between the rattling noise and the musical bass. In this particular case, are we still discussing the center speaker for HT and DVD-A, or are we discussing primarily 2-channel music w/ redbook CD, unless you are suggesting to improve on the 2-channel system and play movie using phantom mode?

Personally, HT setup is much more financially feasible for me and my family at this point. We have the Fosgate pre/pro and Marantz amp to drive out HT system w/ dual sub. Room is well calibrated to avoid the boom boom. Of course, there is plenty of room for improvement. However,I wouldn't spend too much more. I rather spend money on acquiring a 2-channel system in a dedicated room. I stopped by a local hi-fi store and listen to the ML Ascent i. I love all the rigs that they have. I am now in love w/ the MCintosh tube amp, Jolida tube rigs, and huge biwiring cable from that store. B/c of the Ascent's capability and the ML CLS w/ Vandersteen sub, I am now obsessed with the ML Prodigy and possibly the Odyssey. However, that is another story after I won the lotto. Until then, sweet dream is my driving factor that compels me to show up to work each morning. Any suggestion regarding the full range center speaker setup?
In the mean time, I like to thank all the A'gon members who have taken the time to provide your inputs.
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