Do you ...Center Channel?


Hello,

To me it is difficult to set a center speaker in the living room. Underneath the TV would be too low. On top of the TV (LCD) would be unpractical because in may case the center channel would be fairly big and heavy.

I imagine that most of you, living in homes with a dedicated room, you have no issue. How about all the others like me, with limited space, would you have the center channel at all and go with a four speakers setup and set the preamp to 'No Center'? Or would you compromise in some other ways?
Thanks.

Regards,
baam23f

Showing 3 responses by baam23f

My system consist of 4 full range speakers. The problem with the center that I am considering (Vienna Acoustics Oratorio) is that it's shape is not the conventional rectangular box but the front side is angled toward the top so that the speaker can be positioned on the bottom of the tv without the need to angle the speaker toward the top. But that positioning would be too low according to what has been said around. The front speakers are 52" tall. And the center would sit well below. My impression is that the oratorio was designed with the HT in mind more then the MC music. So far I am listening multichannel music with four speakers.
Well, after days of auditioning I decided that 'no center' works better for me. If sitting not too off-axis the sound is indeed more pleasant because the overall sound retains uniquely the quality of the front speakers that I like. The sound seems indeed coming from the TV (I realized that my new speakers focus very well) and not from the bottom or the top of the video image. Oslo is not boxy sound as my center channel did.
The only caveat: when playing a test dvd (avia) in Dolby Digital, while simulating a center channel during speakers level test (per-pro B&K set to no center), that simulated center signal through the mains sounded few decibel less loud compared to the rest of the system. Is that normal?
Thank you for your informative inputs.
Regards,
Does anyone know if the Outlaw Audio ICBM-1 can be used without the center channel in a 4.0 configuration for multichannel music?