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Do I need a center channel?

Hello all. I wanted to ask this question again, a little differently.

I listen to 80% 2 channel / 20% HT. I have a very solid center image off my two channel. When I watch HT I'm generally alone and sitting right in the sweet spot. Will I gain anything by adding a center? I would just like to know if a well integrated 3.0 system will preform better than 2.0 system for a solo user?
128x128michaelkingdom
don_c55
1,025 posts
 
Absolutely not! Stereo playback of home theater beats phony 5.1 surround sound every time.

Why should all the dialog be in the center???

5.1 is also crap in most spots in a theater, why bring that home!
willland's avatar
willland
846 posts
 
I do agree with Don_c55 about not needing a center speaker for movies especially for solo viewers sitting in the sweet spot. A quality system with a phantom center can sound really good for movies as well as music. But, a well executed 5.1,7.1,7.2,etc. system can sound as good or better for HT, IMO.

"Why should all the dialog be in the center???"

Because the screen is in the center.

Bill
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,808 posts
 
I'm like you, Michaelingdom, and all I have is a 2 channel set up and it works just fine.
james63
534 posts
 
If you sit in the middle, no.
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mattkimb96
107 posts
 
Don't think you would gain anything and depending on your amplification and center channel speaker, you could end up taking a step back.
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