Center Channel Dialogue

@erik_squires made some really good suggestions to try.  If they don’t work I’d recommend doing a trial of this SVS center speaker.  They offer a very generous 45-day trial period including shipping both ways so no risk whatsoever to see if it works for you in the context of your excellent system.  If dialogue isn’t clearer through this you’ll at least know your problem lies elsewhere, but my guess is this will fix your issue and at only $800 won’t break the bank either.  If you do this I’d suggest listening with the grill off, and let it break in at least 100 hours before making any firm assessments.  Hope this helps, and best of luck. 
https://www.svsound.com/products/ultra-center

I am now 76 YOA, and I have no trouble hearing my center channel. For years, I used a rather small KEF center, and it worked quite well. A couple of years ago, I did a bit of upgrading on the HT part of my audio system. I bought a new KEF Q 650c center, along with some nice Pioneer surround speakers designed by Andrrew Jones, (which sound wonderful).

Center channel sounds clear, clean, and smooth, very easy to make out dialog.

Good luck in your search. Regards,

Dan 

Your center is an excellent center speaker and I don’t think chaning speakers will improve vocals. I had an ML center and it was excellent. But the MLs aren’t very sensitive so you need to make sure the levels are adjusted.

Have you set up the levels on all your speakers using the setup in your AV reciever? My guess is your center level isn’t set right. I don't know how to set up your amp but I have a denon AV amp and the manual setup mode it goes from speaker to speaker playing white noise and I adjust each level until they are all the same volume. In your case you might want the center channel up just a little.

Jerry

@carlsbad2 

Yes, I did adjust the center level on the Marantz pre-pro to max. I also adjusted the equalizer to add more volume. It doesn't seem like a volume level issue now, more of a comprehension issue. Cupping my hands seems to direct the sound waves from the center speaker to my ears, if that makes sense. 

@soix 

Thanks for the SVS suggestion. I have one of their subs and really like it. I'll look into their center speakers also.

OP,

First of all, I am really sorry to hear the problem you are having. Second, there is something very wrong. We have had a great home theater system and a bedroom system (currently a 65” with a Sennheiser Ambeo sound bar) for at least 30 years and never experienced anything like you are. Dialog (typically 85+% on center channel) has always been really easy to understand, never difficult to understand in the least. Your speakers are good and unless completely defective cannot be the problem.

The problem has to be something very big… nothing little like your center channel angle.

When you go through the surround equalization procedure tne center is at the same volume to you as all the other speakers?

The only thing that comes to my mind is your surround processor has a faulty center channel.