What centre channel are you using?


Hi Guys!

I have  just upgraded to Atmos and will be upgrading to DTS:X at the beginning of February.
I have a pair of Golden Ear Triton Ones for my L/R, am using their in wall speakers for sides and rears, with 4 more ceiling speakers in the ceiling.

I am using the Marantz 8802A with the new larger Golden Ear centre channel speaker and I do not like the centre channel as I do not always hear the dialogue.

what centre channel are you using and how clear is it to your ears?

Stephen
128x128eternalcamper
I'm using a KEF R600C with a pair of Reference 107/2s, but that's beside the point. Timbre matching of LCR is crucial.  Or you could try a phantom center by setting the menu of your 8802A to no center speaker.  If you sit near the apex of a triangle with the LR speakers a phantom center may be a good choice, better than timbre mismatch.

This will sound like heresy to most, but I gave up on the center channel years ago. I like a lot of older movies, and got tired of having the sound only come from the center speaker. Now everything in mono is coming from the right/left and sounds great to me. And the talking is easier to understand. Just my opinion, but it's not written in stone that a center channel must be used. Try it for yourself.
No center only really works ok if 1) your processor supports a phantom center and 2) if your sitting pretty much directly centered.  Otherwise your guests are getting the short end of the audio stick...

back to the op:. I just "side graded" my old Martin Logan Ascents/Logos center to a trio of Gallo Strada 2's and a pair of Gallo TR-3D subs and couldn't be happier.  (A request was made of me, to reduce the speaker footprint from the ML monoliths to something smaller) The Logos was "kinda" timbre "close" to the Ascents, but nothing is better then three perfectly matched fronts.  Awesome.
I'm trying a KEF LS50 for center with KEF Reference 107/2s front LR and LS50s side and rear surrounds.  A round of pink noise reveals the LS50s match the big 107/2s well, and the sound for music and HT is superb.

i am a fan of full range speakers for centers. I use Klipsch KG5.5 for my center speakers behind an AT screen.