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Matching center/rear speakers for Cain & Cain Abby

I have a combo-2-channel/HT system because I don't have the space to dedicate an area for either separately. My current system is as described below. I am planning to replace my B&W front speakers with the Cain & Cain Abbys. I have no idea what center or rear speakers might match/have synergy with the Abbys. I have a feeling, which might well be wrong, that the Cain & Cain speakers aren't often used in an HT system.....

I have tried to do a search of the Home Theatre forum, but for some reason all of the results come from the Amp/Pre-amp forum - ??

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. My budget is about $2500-3000.

Holly
oakiris
bi_amp_gurl
11 posts
 
Holly, the Cain & Cain Abby's are great for a violin solo by Jascha Heifetz, or female vocals like Ella Fitzgerald. I honestly don't think this is the speaker for machine gun/car explosion action movies. I have owned these speakers, and even a live cd like Fleetwood Mac The Dance was too much for them to handle.
restock
831 posts
 
My Cain Abby's are also used for watching movies, tv, etc. There's no reason they should not work. A sub should be heplful though. Voices do sound great and very clear. And the explosions a sub could handle.

As rear and center you could with speakers that use the same Fostex FE166E driver. The Omega Grande 6 might be something to look at. At least the match should be somewhat good....

I am not really a fan of center speakers. Mostly they do destroy imaging in my opinion. They are necessary though is your speakers are far apart, or if people sit far off center. Otherwise the Abby's do have a fairly well defined and stable center image.

Happy listening.

Rene
oakiris OP
206 posts
 
I guess I'll need to get the Abbys and see how they do with the set up I currently have. The Omegas certainly look as if they are contenders. Any other options?

Holly
restock
831 posts
 
One more thing: Looks like the Omega Grande 6 are going out of production...You might have to act fast.

Rene
onemug
784 posts
 
Here's a couple of my opinions. If you sit between the left and right speaker then you may not need a center channel. But the more you, or other people watching, sit off center the better reason to have a center channel in line with the TV to anchor the sound from wherever anyone sits. If that's the case, it's real nice to have all 3 be the same. Louis, at Omega, would be happy to sell you 3 Grand 6's you could use for LCR. You could lay the center on its side for aesthetics. I say this because I once considered buying a single Super 3 to match the pair I already have. I think they would be about the same cost as the Abbys. Rear channels are less important, but you could ask him what would be a nice match. If 2 channels up from does it for you, then the Abbys are beautiful, but make sure you figure in a sub. Good luck.
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