Not only with the same brand but as similar to the L/R speakers as possible. I prefer and use three identical speakers across the front.
I understand that this might not fit for many people but I advise against the ubiquitous MTM horizontal centers, if at all possible.
Kal |
Markphd: "The centre speaker can be optimized for the reproduction of midrange, which is the frequencies where the voices are located.".................."And that's fine, but it fails to take advantage of the speaker specialization that the centre is designed for and which enhances the home theatre experience." Can you tell us what those 'specializations' are? What optimizations for voice distinguish it from proper main speakers and do not compromise frequency response? Unfortunately, the construction of the vast majority center speakers is faulty BY INTENT as they cater to aesthetics and convenience rather than performance. This leaves the users of those companies main speakers in the lurch, without a satisfactory alternative other an using an additional main speaker. Kal |
Elevick:
If you are trying to match R&L's that either don't have a center or the center is too much $$$, contact speakercity.com Tell them what you have and they may be able to build you something voiced very closely, even using the same drivers. They did this for my Coincident speakers before there was a center available. It was fairly cheap too. Sure. ;-) Do you really think they can clone any decent speaker you send them? I am very skeptical. Kal |
Iplaynaked: "Unfortunately, the construction of the vast majority speakers is faulty BY INTENT as they cater to aesthetics and convenience rather than performance."
Faulty by Intent? Um whatever "faulty" means. Simple. Have you ever asked why reputable companies make all their speakers, except dedicated centers, as vertical arrays? Horizontal MTM arrays (and, in fact, almost all horizontal arrays) are faulty because the create irregular dispersion in the horizontal plane. (If you do not know why, Google a bit and find out about 'Venetian blind effect.') The reason they make horizontal MTMs for centers is, despite their knowledge of its faults, they have fed the public's misapprehension that centers should be horizontal. The only reasons for the horizontal arrangement are convenience, esthetics and/or ignorance. (I am not discounting the importance of convenience and esthetics but one should know the trade-offs before choosing.) Note that some companies have changed their designs and all the new Paradigm 3way centers have the HF/MF arranged vertically. Note also that some companies, such as B&W, use the horizontal array for their less expensive models, like the HTM61 and HTM62, while reverting to proper design principles in their statement products, like the HTM7 and HTM1 through HTM4 models. Kal |
Unclejeff: Interesting thread. I do think that with an A/V system like the Anthem D2 it is easy to get past the urge to stick with the same manufacturer. If you had to, ARC or Audyssey will compensate greatly but not entirely. Also, since there are limited resources in the products using these softwares, you have to consider whether you want to use them for an avoidable issue or conserve them for the unavoidable ones. ;-) Kal |
But off-center, if I read you correctly. |
To much to read in Iplaynaked's post but he takes my comment beyond its intentions and implications.
Adding Audyssey/ARC will correct FR anomalies between the speakers, whether those are due to the speakers themselves or to the room. Otherwise, why have an option, as there is on some systems, to match the rears/surrounds to the fronts?
What should be emphasized is that these systems cannot completely match mismatched speakers and that people reading this have a wide variety of interests and goals. For some, "good enough" is good enough but, for the rest of us, "good enough" is never enough. Depending on who you are, you accept different sets of compromises. For those making major ones (completely mismatched centers, "center less tha 5" high," center behind/above/inside the plasma, etc.), the DSP EQ will help.
Kal |
I am not endorsing (or not not endorsing) Iplaynaked's list because I so not have experience with many of them but would endorse the recommendation that the center match the L/R and, if possible, not be of the horizontal MTM, WMTMW, or WTM configurations.
Kal |
Yes, they come from decent houses but, unless I went through and looked up each and every one, I cannot say anything about them, one way or the other. I suspect there are one or two that would not appeal to me. (Are any of them MTM?)
Kal |
What comment is needed? I would see if the phantom arrangement is satisfactory for you. Planar centers have not bee very successful. The best Maggie center I have hear, for example, was a pair of 20.1s angled together with the tweeters together and pointing at the listener. No place for a video display, though.
Kal |
Well, I have yet to see/hear a Maggie center, other than those paired 20.1s, that is entirely successful.
Kal |
