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Center channel

Since I did a 6.1 setup, my wife has complained that she has trouble understanding the dialog of certain cable movies that are in 5.1 or 7.1. I have a handsome KEF Reference 204/2C center speaker sitting just outside the media room, the metal frames that used to support in the garage, and a spare pair of Clear Day Shotgun speaker cables. So I think I’ll reinstall the 204/2C center channel, using an Ayre A7e integrated to drive it. The Bryston SP3 processor has a balanced center output. The 204/2C was designed to match the big Reference 207/2s, but seemed to blend seamlessly with my 107/2s. I’ll see how it does with high-passed KEF Reference 1s augmented with HGS-15 subs. The 204/2C is rear ported with a 6.5” center Uni-Q driver and two 6.5” drivers to either side, so it could run full range but more likely I’ll declare it small in the SP3 menu. It’s about 3.5’ long and weighs nearly 80 pounds! I hope for an attractive setup that sounds as good as it looks and satisfies my wife’s complaints.
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fiesta75
1,378 posts
 
I tried for almost 20 years and about $100k in various electronics and speaker arrangements, finally gave up last year and sold all my surround sound stuff. The sound coming from different locations was cool during movies, but the clarity and detail was aways missing. Exactly what your wife is describing, hard to understand all of the words. In my opinion, nothing beats a good 2 channel system for EVERY type of listening. Good luck. 
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dbphd OP
1,630 posts
 
The answer to your question, miller carbon, is that she did not.  Only the input of the Ayre KX-5 preamp that is set to by-pass invokes surround.  The DX-5 DSD can go directly to the preamp via balanced analog or through the Bryston SP3 processor via HDMI that returns balanced analog to the preamp.  The QX-5 Roon endpoint goes directly to the preamp via balanced analog.  Cox cable goes to the SP3 via HDMI and is always in surround mode.  IIRC, she has never complained about dialog when a disc is played in 6.1 using the DX-5.

The 204/2C is now inplace and looks very handsome, but it is not yet connected.


 
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
If your center channel has good enough woofers, I would recommend setting it to LARGE.  I have found that male voices have a deep bass/texture that actually comes out better through the center channel.  It's more cohesive.  The subwoofer has timing issues and those types of sounds are generally not crisp enough when coming from the subs.

Also, try bumping up the calibrated level on the center channel 1 or 2 clicks in the Bryston SP3 speaker setup.  This can have a significant effect on how well you hear center channel dialogue!  I have needed to do that even after a individual speaker calibration using a db meter.
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
Well what about a BIGGER speaker like every HT (Guru) say to use, but VERY few seem to use it? I'm asking a serious question here. WHY do people insist on doing exactly what the "Guru" say to NOT to do and then wonder why there is a problem with a HT center channel?

The center channel on HT is the largest speaker. It's not a mater of weather it matches the decor. It's probably why most folks have never enjoyed a 3 speaker set up. It was set up WRONG...

Speaker manufactures are the problem and consumers (Wanting to match decor) are the not saying "Look stupid the book says BIGGER".
WTF. Why are you, mister salesman, trying to sell me that little thing.. IT WON'T WORK... It has to be BIGGER according to Mr. Dolby. Who is the maker of the silly 5.1 system anyway? The speaker guy or the gear guy? If your bound and determined to do it wrong, don't use a center speaker at ALL, It will sound better, all in all.. 

Regards
erik_squires
16,212 posts
 
Just FYI, one weird thing that has happened in Netflix recently is that a lot of movies coming over as 5.1 are actually missing the center channel. They split it to L and R and the C signal itself is muted.  If you have a receiver capable of DD 5.1 AND can apply a matrix, like Neo6:Cinema then that problem is fixed.

My processor however will not allow me to apply any sort of matrix processing once the input is detected as 5.1.
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