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What Center Channel are you using in your Home Theater?

Hi all you Home Theater enthusiasts out there. I am looking for your help and experience!

I am using an all GoldenEar set up in my HT, with Triton Ones for my front L & R

their XXL center channel

with their in-wall for sides and rears, and even have 4 Atmos speakers in my ceiling, with an additional center channel above my XXL in the ceiling.

The reason I have put a 2nd CC in the ceiling is that I just do not hear the dialogue very clearly from my XXL on the floor.

Look, I have heard many times that one has to have the same matching speakers for the front BUT I really watch a lot of movies and believe that I were to get a really clear center, I would be ahead of the game as the dialogue would be clearer, and I could then hear the voices better than what I have now.

I am an "older" gentlemen, (now those 2 words really bother me, but I may as well be as honest as I can with all of you), so what I want is to hear the dialogue as well as possible. As my HT is dark, I am really not as concerned if the speakers do not match as no one will "see" them, we only "hear" them.

What would you suggest that I get? In your opinion, what are the best center channels out there now?

Steve

PS

I am upgrading my front L & R to the GoldenEar Triton Reference shortly, so now is the time to get a new CC if possible.
I am using a Classé 5300 to push my front 3 channels + my rears.
128x128eternalcamper
eternalcamper's avatar
eternalcamper OP
18 posts
 
Well, hello, and good to hear that you are a GE lover too!

My room is 14.5' x 23'

Have put in a raised 2nd row just under the projector at the end of my room with a 128" screen

I have a Marantz 8802A with 2 amps, a 5-channel Classé + a 7-Channel Emotiva

I have my front L & R just in front and a little in from the side walls, my centre on the floor, with 4 atmos speakers in the ceiling, and 2 sides + 2 rears that are all built into the walls. I have 4 subs, 2 behind a false front wall, in the corners, and the other 2 subs in the rear corners of the room. I have installed a 12th inwall speaker as a 2nd centre channel just above my other CC. At this time, I do not like my centres, as I do have a challenge in hearing the dialogue clearly.

No room treatment!

Steve
soix
9,606 posts
 
Is the center speaker located on the floor angled upward so it points toward your head?

erik_squires
16,152 posts
 
Intelligibility comes from tonal balance and early reflections. 

Are you using room correction? 

What kind of flooring do you have? 

Best,


E
erik_squires
16,152 posts
 
Also, ahem, I use my own center channel, the design is free of charge:

https://speakermakersjourney.blogspot.com/2016/03/introducing-lm-1c.html

I encourage every Audiophile to build at least 1 pair of DIY speakers in their hobby lifespan. 

Best,

E
12blistn
35 posts
 
It's my understanding that the closer to the corners you have your speakers, the more increase in bass you'll have and muddy the sound of your room.  You didn't mention your ceiling height, but I'm guessing you have your front LRC positioned the way you do because of the size of the screen.

What I would try before replacing my center, is repositioning your front speakers and subs disregarding how they affect your picture to see if you can get the sound right first.  Try using just the single XXL center and get it off of the floor to ear height or up a little and pointing toward ear height.  Move the subs out of the corners.  Also, I bet those T Refs will sound a lot better a little farther out and away from the side walls, too.  If the clarity improves, you might want to get an acoustically transparent screen and/or replace the false wall.

Depending on how well the T Refs do, I'll bet Sandy will come out with a matching center like he did with most of the Triton series.

My HT setup is in my living/family room/kitchen and the acoustics are pretty bad.  I'm hoping to get a better room for it soon.   
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