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Finding a matching center channel

Hi guys! I'm building a home theater and bought a pair of Focal Cobalt 816S speakers to be my front left and right. I'm having a lot of trouble finding a matching center channel (The cobalt CC800s), which is understandable given the age of these speakers.

I understand that the Cobalt line has been replaced with the Chorus line. Would a CC700V or CC900 sound comparable? I just don't want my front stage to sound worse because of a non-matching center. the speakers are far enough apart that the 'phantom center' has left me wanting...

Thanks for any advice!
wdouglass

Showing 4 responses by auxinput

auxinput
2,921 posts
 

I used to run the Cobalt 806s and center channel in my system a LONG time ago.  The Cobalts used a inverted dome titanium dome tweeter.  The Chorus uses a inverted dome aluminum/magnesium.  I have heard the Chorus a while ago.  I would agree that it is probably your best bet in matching the side channels if you want something right now.  You could try to look for an Electra CC900.  This also uses the Cobalt titanium tweeter as well. 

You could keep looking on ebay.  There was a Cobalt CC800 center that just sold on May 11 for $149 (just missed it!).  Or you could grab a pair of 806s bookshelves and use one for center.

auxinput
2,921 posts
 
If I remember right, the "S" models had a slightly better crossover.
auxinput
2,921 posts
 
It will probably lower the resale value, if you decide you ever want to sell it.  But there is no technical or performance reason why you couldn't paint it.  It's just wood finish.  As long as you don't touch the speaker cones/drivers, you are good.
auxinput
2,921 posts
 
For Home Theater and movies, the center channel is probably the most important speaker, in my opinion.  Yes, it is mostly dialog, but that is most of the audio that is tracked in movies.  The size of the driver can have a little bit of influence on quality.  Low frequency dialog, such as men's voices, can have a little more substance/solidness if you play them from the center channel (using center as a LARGE full range).  If you crossover the center and send low frequencies to left/right or the subwoofer, it can be a little less solid.
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