Optimized Center Channel

@traubr my recommendations on moving your center channel was as a means to prove proof of concept, figure out if the center channel itself was the issue or the placement or the amplification.  For sure realize that wouldn’t be the long term solution for you.  Sounds like you have already identified it’s not the center channel or the amplification, I would have been surprised if it was.  From a streaming standpoint, the Kaleidoscope is a fantastic option but it’s not a replacement for Apple TV or Roku if you want to watch content that is for streaming only, example being Ted Lasso or Smoke the  Kaleidoscope Isn’t an option that I’m aware of.  It actually replaces a Blu-Ray or 4k player.  It provides a way of streaming movies with the same quality as you get with physical media.  It doesn’t allow you to use streaming services like Apple TV + or Netflix or Disney Plus.  You buy the content, mostly movies from their library and it’s a digital copy that is equal to the physical media quality you would get.

@sunshdw looks like you are quite knowledgeable on the  Kaleidoscope, is my understanding of its capabilities correct?  Hoping I’m actually wrong, if it supported Netflix and other services, delivered it in a 1 bit to 1 bit conversion, uncompressed, now we are taking, would be awesome but I think the compression starts with the streaming apps / services.

I would try borrowing a 3-way center channel from Paradigm, model 70C.  This is a size that should fit where your Kanta Center is now, without necessitating any rearranging of components.  Dial in tonal profile using your AVP’s PEQ that smooths any deviation between the Kanta No 2 voicing and the 70C’s…then listen to some soundtracks.  I think you will be pleased with what a center channel can do that eliminates the phase cancellation that comes from 2 way MTM designs, no matter their cost.

You have a very common issue once you expand from 5.1. Also think Marantz HT receivers make this worse. You can always raise the gain on the center channel, but that can lead to it being out of balance, when panning dialog will change the volume. 

Almost all HT receivers have "dynamic range" adjustment. Find the setting and play with it. What it does is change the DB difference between the lowest sound and the highest sound. All multi-ch movies are set to be played at "reference volume" at this volume the dialog will be crisp and clear, but it will also be shaking the walls when any action happens. To compensate for this, you adjust the dynamic range. You will get the dialog volume boost, it will balance the lowest low and highest high out. Mine is set to low most of the time, have no dialog issues at all. 

Also when doing room correction, you can select the volume to adjust to. Reference volume is default. That will set it all up to be played at a loud volume. Reference on a Marantz receiver is "0DB" My volume is usually in the 30's when watching a movie. 

@sunshdw Yes, I agree the cost of the UMIK is $79.  If you go through the "put it in your cart and pay" process, there is the tariff and shipping to deal with.  Been there, done that a few times with the changing tariffs.  Amazon et al sell it for $139, which is the same cost as buying directly, except you save shipping time from Hong Kong.

@mm1tt77 Yes I am versed in KScape, it's a fantastic product. You would correct that in the cases of a stream only movie or TV show so, no, the KScape wouldn't work. 

KScape isn't an app based product like an AppleTV. Meaning you don't loads apps onto it in order to access content, they are direct to the content. Here's a link to their store if you want to look around at what movies and tv stuff they have.

https://www.kaleidescape.com/movie-store/

You can rent or buy whatever they have so functionally it works like Apple+ or Prime or whatever else. 

There's a lot to it and I could go on and on but I'll spare the boredom :-)