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Do you ...Center Channel?

Hello,

To me it is difficult to set a center speaker in the living room. Underneath the TV would be too low. On top of the TV (LCD) would be unpractical because in may case the center channel would be fairly big and heavy.

I imagine that most of you, living in homes with a dedicated room, you have no issue. How about all the others like me, with limited space, would you have the center channel at all and go with a four speakers setup and set the preamp to 'No Center'? Or would you compromise in some other ways?
Thanks.

Regards,
baam23f
markphd
667 posts
 
The purpose of "stereo" is to create a holographic image. (Otherwise, mono would do just fine.) So if your left and right fronts are set up properly, they will be creating a centrally located image if that is what was recorded. There would be no need for a centre because the stereo effect would be producing an image in between the fronts. Of course you have to be sitting in the sweet spot and you must not be using a discrete mutichannel source.

Also, if you have good full range fronts, you do not need a subwoofer.
slikric3000
638 posts
 
Nope I dont have a center ear. 1 speaker for each ear is all I can handle.
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,670 posts
 
Markphd, I find your answer simplistic since the inventors of stereo (which means solid) found that it required a minimum of three channels across the front but, due to the technical limitations of the media of the time, only two were used in the commercial applications. There is a need for a good center channel, even if one sits in the "sweet spot," because the center signal information limits the spatial resolution to the sides.

This is not to say that 2channel stereo cannot be impressive and satisfying.

Kal
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,670 posts
 
05-29-07: Slikric3000 wrote: "Nope I dont have a center ear. 1 speaker for each ear is all I can handle."

I miss your smiley. Otherwise, this is a common and silly idea.

Kal
shadorne's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
shadorne
7,467 posts
 
OTOH, creating a phantom center when there is a discrete center signal creates inevitable phase/time errors in the process. This is noticeable even on-axis but mostly with music sources.

Really? How?
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