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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
14 responses Add your response
pweg
25 posts
 
centre channel is the most important speaker in a HT. Ur ears are very sensitive to the frequencies that voices span.

if u can nail the mids and get a good sub then ur done as far as i am concerned.

i use sonus faber cremona floor standers and centre in my ht across the front and SF Minuettos at the back. Sub is from Marten. 

if i did it again i would buy cheaper bookshelf models all round ....
auxinput
2,920 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.
waterzlife
139 posts
 
Is the center channel quality- size-type of driver that important? It's only for dialog.
wdouglass OP
8 posts
 
The center arrived, and it sounds fantastic. Thanks again for the advice guys!
wdouglass OP
8 posts
 
I probably won't paint it. It doesn't match my fronts, but it kinda matches the furniture, so it'll just be a quirk of my theater room...
auxinput
2,920 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.
wdouglass OP
8 posts
 
Haha i saw it too, and bought it!

One thing to ask: that speaker is a different color then my fronts. I kind of want to paint them to be the same color as the walls in my theater (a dark orange-brown color). Is there any reason i shouldn’t do that?

edit: i just mean the sides of the case. My fronts are black, this new one is a reddish. see the link below for a reference.
http://www.villatech.fr/media/1000006998_COBALT_806_S_STYLE.pdf
loomisjohnson
1,943 posts
 
wdouglas, i just saw this on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/112418687334?ul_noapp=true
wdouglass OP
8 posts
 
Cool, i'll keep my eyes out for an S if i can find one!
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
If I remember right, the "S" models had a slightly better crossover.
wdouglass OP
8 posts
 
noted. My system is lacking a subwoofer and surrounds (all I have right now are fronts and in-ceilings), so i've got to prioritize and save my pennies anyway. I can wait a few months...

Also, what is the difference between the CC800 and the CC800 S?
loomisjohnson
1,943 posts
 
i'm still using the cobalts in my bedroom system--as auxinput states, the cc800 pops up regularly on ebay (you can use the function which notifies you when one is listed). the cobalt line (which i've always liked) does have a different signature than the chorus, which i hear as a little brighter and more treble-forward--obsessive as i am i'd wait to get the cc800.
wdouglass OP
8 posts
 
Thanks for the advice! I'm glad to know that there are options.

I Started looking for a center on the 11th, and saw that one on ebay. Decided not to buy it because the grill was a different color then my fronts. By the time i came to my senses it was sold. Oh well, hopefully another will show up soon.

If I can get my hands on a pair of 806s, they'll be pulling duty as surrounds!
auxinput
2,920 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.

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