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3 identical fronts or dedicated CC

I've been looking at replacing my aging Vandersteen 2Cs. I'm stuck with a plasma screen over a fireplace and currently have a Vienna Waltz Grand on the mantle as a CC.
I've been considering getting 3 identical speakers, putting the CC in front of the rarely used fireplace, considering standmounts. I'm getting some resistance with that planfrom my wife.
My budget is up to about $2500/speaker.
I've been considering Selah Tempesta or Tempesta Extreme, several Salk models, Vapor Cirrus. Philharmonics are out due to the look and size.
Ran across a great deal on the TAD inspired Pioneer EX series. I can get the S-2EX for about $5k/pr including the stands, MSRP is $8500. They won't sell me a single S-2EX for the center, but they do have the S-7EX which I can get for about $3k including the stand. It would be about 21-22" high on the stand. I know it's better to have 3 of the sam, but given the concentric tweeter/mid on these speakers, the vertical dispersion should be excellent and I wonder if it would sound just as good, if not better since the CC has 2 woofers while the S2s have one. I think it will also look less imposing that way.

Opinions?
saeyedoc
saeyedoc OP
103 posts
 
"05-23-12: Kr4
The EX center channels employ the same coaxial HF/MF units just as do their L/R partners and, as a result, are really good matches. OTOH, simply having any center in the center and farther from the side walls changes the timbre of its reflected sound compared with that of the L/R speakers. So a perfect match is impossible, except under extraordinary acoustical conditions, even for identical L/C/R.

Kal"

Good points. Your review is one of the things that got me thinking about the EXs, they were definitely not on my radar. I think it may be easier to get her to accept a CC that's <2 feet high, it won't seem as imposing as 3 towers or stand mounts. Given the excellent vertical dispersion of the Pioneer, I suppose it shouldn't be much of a problem.
I don't know why I'm so enamored of the EX series, I think the cheapskate in me likes the idea of getting a good deal. Should make resale without getting killed easier if for some reason we don't like them.
bondmanp
1,832 posts
 
All good points here. Remember that most modern home theater processers include some form of equalization. The better ones will do a decent job of minimizing the differences between the mains and the center. It can also smooth the crossover region between your smaller center and the subwoofer. Pioneer's MCACC, which is what I use, is quite good at this, IME. Without such equalization, matching the brand helps, but only identical speakers will get you as close as possible to a match. IMHO, this is more important for MCH music playback than for home theater use.
saeyedoc OP
103 posts
 
I use ARC on my Anthem MRX300, which I use as a pre/pro into a Parasound HCA2205-A amp. I use a Vandersteen V2W sub.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
If you listen critically to classical multichannel (DVDA or SACD) you need five (count em) identical speakers.

If you watch movies the center speaker should be optimized for dialog, which means far-from-flat frequency response.

Most of the stereo signal on stereo recordings is common mode (Mono). Although it is rarely done, the center speaker in a derived multichannel system should logically be superior (not inferior) to the others.
saeyedoc OP
103 posts
 
I don't listen to classical at all. Mostly classic rock, some more modern stuff, occasional Jazz. Sources are DLNA streaming from my Mac to Oppo-93, Blu-ray and DVD concerts, Pandora.
Room constraints have me stuck with Paradigm SA-15R 30s for surrounds, in the ceiling a few feet behing and to the side of the listening position.
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