4.1 HT?

The 104.2s are floor standers, each with 5 drivers, 2 woofers, two mids and tweeter located in a separate cavity in an Appolito arrangement. The 200C is a fairly large horizontal center speaker with 3 drivers, the center of which is a coaxial tweeter KEF calls Uni-Q. We sit at an apex of what is essentially an equalateral triangle formed with the 104.2s. Projection is to a 100" screen.

I've listend to Blu-rays and HDTV in 4.1 for a couple of days now. The sound of voices appear to come from the speakers on the screen, even closer than with the center channel. The real convincer was the click when the cards are dropped on the table Casino Royale: the sound seemed to come from the image of the cards. I've listened to a variety of program materials, including those that are mostly talking, Broadway Empire, Magic Flute, a Rolling Stones concert, and so forth. I think any listener, even Kal, would be hard pressed to tell whether the center channel was active or not, but I think the sound is a bit cleaner. It is true that I can't boost the center level, but I rarely do that and have not so far experienced any feeling of need in 4.1.

db

I'm with you dbphd, I have Infinity Prelude MTS for my mail speakers placed 8-9ft apart and the center image is dead solid. Not exactly small and not exactly close together. I can see that if a person sat way off center than a center would help but otherwise I just don't experience any positive benifit.

Some might find it interesting to shut down their mains and run a good quality CENTER with a sub and surrounds.

Movies and DVD tracks are mixed for the CENTER.

There have been times that I have forgotten to "turn on" the monoblocs for the mains and didn't even realize it.

If you have a good center and can run it FR, try it.

I dumped my Bose center channel after upgraded to Focal mains. It seems that as long as you're sitting between the mains the center isn't necessary as the mains can ghost it in just fine, BUT if you have people sitting outside of the mains then it won't be able to image properly. Not an issue for me as my system all but crushes those of my friends so they are happy either way.

I've replaced the KEF 200C with a pair of KEF Reference 102s that have a tweeter that matches that of the KEF Reference 104.2s. Despite warnings about mutual interference with two center speakers, I've tried both single and twin 102s, and think the twin arrangement better matches the 104.2s. I perceive the 3.1 soundstage as seamless, HF clean, and centered images firmly established. I've listened to a wide variety of DSD surround, Blu-ray films, and TV. I've been impressed with this arrangement. I bought another pair of 102s that I plan to install as surrounds to replace the Uni-Q 102.2s.

I've moved the Proceed PAV/PDSD to the living room system, and installed a Cary Cinema 11a in the media room; thus the DSD surround via HDMI.

db