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When is a mismatched center OK?

Hi all, 

I'm going to go listen to some speakers in the next 30 days and need your advice.  My goal is to improve my 2 channel experience but I have to be cognizant of HT also.... and my primary problem is as follows:  For many of the speakers I like the center channel is freaking huge.  (Looking at you Paradigm Persona!)  I don't have room for the standalone style center.  I could reconfigure my rack if needed but like the way mine sits today.   I could shop down market a bit where the centers are more reasonably sized (Founders instead of Persona,) and likely still be pretty happy.  

I recognize that ideally you don't want a mismatch, but.....What I'm wondering is if you stay within the same family (Example:  Focal Sopra 2 with Aria center) , would your timbre match be solid enough to get by or would you create a potentially glaring mismatch?  

Any first hand examples appreciated.  

Thanks, 

Eric 


128x128mtbiker29
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,515 posts
 
If your system images reasonably well a center channel is not necessary.
My 2 channel system doubles as a theater. No one ever tells me I need a center channel. If I spend any money it will be to improve my 2 channel system.
james633
1,000 posts
 
I would just run phantom center which runs the center channel through your mains. If you sit in the middle you don’t need one as the mains image well. 
Phantom center is typically better than having a center as the mains are more full range. 
The center channel only helps for people that sit off to the side. If you have a lot of guests it helps. I find guess I have don’t care about audio anyway…
cissado
113 posts
 
When I changed my Paradigm Studio CC to a Paradigm Signature, I caught the bug and upgraded my Studio fronts to the Paradigm Persona 3fs. My intention was to replace the Sig center channel with a Persona B speaker but I absolutely don't need to. It's pretty darn good. My space is a 40 feet long open concept. Crystal clear dialog anywhere in the house. No issues at all mixed with the Personas. I have zero complaints in that department.
I do have room correction,  so that may help. 
Good luck.
soix
9,429 posts
 
I don't have room for the standalone style center.
I’d either make room or do the phantom center thing.  Nothing worse than a compromised center channel IME.  Best of luck. 

mtbiker29's avatar
mtbiker29 OP
167 posts
 
@cissado thank you, that’s exactly the type of feedback I was looking for.

My music listening is often by myself but movies are either 2 of us or 4 of us. You can see my very wide couch in the pic of virtual system so yes @millercarbon there is some off axis listening. I already have space for center so that’s not the issue, the issue is keeping it small when the mains you like are only paired with giant centers.

I'm assuming everyone advocating the use of your two channel setup are 2.1 only?  So what happens with sources that are 5.1 or better?  
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