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Do I need better center ch speaker-dialog unclear?

I currently have a PSB Image Series C9 center channel. I had though this was a decent enough speaker, but have grown increasingly frustrated. For example, today I was watching the new release of Chariots of Fire that has the DD 5.1 track. Maybe it is just the big echo-y ancient rooms they shot the film in, or maybe it wasn't miked well, but I cannot discern much of the dialog. There are many other movies I have had the same problem with.

Not being satisfied with the intelligibility of dialog in movies, I recently upgraded to a seperate 5-channel power amp, using my Sony DA4ES receiver as pre-amp. I do not use any soundfields or such, just straight DD or DTS. This helped the clarity vere minimally.

This not having helped all that much, I next upgraded the speaker cable to one of Paul Speltz' Anti-cables, which have received great reviews. This, again, may have helped just a tad, but I am still having the same problem with dialog.

I am now down to the point of nothing left, that I know of, other than to consider upgrading the center speaker.

So, does anybody have any other tips short of a new speaker?

If not, can anyone reccommend a significantly better center speaker that would integate at least decently with my Legacy Signature III front mains? I can't now afford to go with one of Legacy's centers.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
mtrot
dcrookham53
57 posts
 
Try setting your center to small(not fullrange) and your
fronts to fullrange, if you haven't already.

Try and position the center at ear level, or as close as possible, angle the speaker on the horizontal plane if you have to.
theo's avatar
theo
2,664 posts
 
I agree with swampwalker, also what cables are you using?
You may want to try a silver based cable and maybe gain a little speed to possibly clarify the dialog. Also the other suggestions for relocating the ctr spkr are good ideas.
avguygeorge
2,300 posts
 
I use a Lowther single driver center speaker with a DX3 driver. You can't imagine how clear dialog is from this speaker. I live in an apt-(no sub) and never crank it so dialog intelligbility is important to me.
mtrot OP
804 posts
 
Thanks for all replies.

The speaker sits on top of my Mits RPTV. I have the center speaker set to "small" in the receiver. I have the speaker angled down toward seated ear level. I just intalled a run of Paul Speltz' AntiCables, which has helped just a little.
timf
237 posts
 
You could always try removing the center channel temporarily to see what is gained or lost. Just a thought.
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