The Benefits of a Center Channel
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- Опубликовано: 26 авг 2024
- Trying to decide if you should add a center channel to your home theater? Check out this video and find out the reasons why you should add one!
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I kinda figured that's exactly what a center speaker is for, because that's exactly what my phone sounds like my prime needs. Either that or i need a way to isolate only the EQ bands that affect only the voice/dialog so that i can hear the voices clearly without having to turn my phone down every time the soundtrack kicks in.
Ive just started experimenting with my system in a smallish sized room. When I say small its not large enough to sit too far off the center axis, maybe 2 or 3 feet off center max. Im using a set of Golden Ear Triton Ones and their "Super Center" Center. Recently Ive been toying around with not using the center and im finding I enjoy my system even more without it. Voices seem more realistic playing out of two Massive Towers than playing through the smaller Center with its horizontally splayed drivers.The sounds seems more expansive not being so heavily anchored to the middle. Im still experimenting but im starting to think a center Isent as nessasay as one would think or was made to believe. At least in my setup.
I’ve heard others say that as well. If you have really good left & right speakers and don’t move far off access I can definitely see that being the case. Also with good left and right speakers, a decent amp, and processor you can bi-amp which isn’t a feature that most center channels offer.
I had a tiny centre speaker and the guy at the hi-fi shop said it was a Waste of money, got to go big, so i bought a 3 way B&W speaker to go with my 3 way floor standing B&W left and rights and the sound improvement was immense, don't scrimp on your centre!!
Thanks for commenting!
I think for front firing speakers or speakers with a more focused directional imaging a center channel is essential. You did a great job of showing the benefit and setup. I just actually removed my center channel to test imagining with my new Omni Directional Ohm Walsh 3000's which many owners stated no need of center channel due to great sound stage and imaging of these speakers. I will comment back after being away from a center channel for a while. My gut felling it will work but a true matched center as you indicated adds that sweet spot with more definition especially for HT and high quality Blue Ray Audio.
Definitely let me know how that experiment turns out, I'm really curious. How far away do you sit?
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Sadly he or she never did get back to us.
Exactly what I wanted to know, thanks 😎 I am hoping it can also improve the singing vocals in music and movie soundtracks too?
It won’t work for music or movies mixed in stereo because only the front left and right speakers play unless you’re using an upmix mode or something. It will work for 5.1 or spatial audio mixes.
Thanks for this. Really just have a musical set up but was curious if I wanted to invest in other channels.
Got a cheap set of Panasonic surround speakers for dollars to experiment. The impact on dialogue kind of scared me but this really helped.
Happy to help!
Excellent video with explanation of the need for a center channel.
Thank you 🙏🏾
I can never hear the voices properly and I crank the volume but then everything is too loud even though I have left and right Klipsch speakers. So now I am buying center channel and my receiver has a connection for it too.
and a lot of detail in human voices so you want that speaker to be VERY GOOD with a variety of drivers, it is easily the most important speaker in your home theater
Great comment, thanks!
And great job on your video I love home theater!
Thanks!
Nice video👍
Hi. I have a Sony ht A5000 soundbar with an S center out port for center channel connection to some compatible sony tvs with S center in ports. If I buy a center channel speaker and connect it to my soundbar's S center out port will it work? If it work how do I do it and what cable do I need? Please help.
Just use a set of full range speakers as center .. or go a bit crazier like I did.
Put a magnepan mg2 on it’s side..
Have you tried vertical? Ideally I think the center should match the dispersion of the LR speakers.
Good intro to center channel speakers. I have old ears & damaged hearing so the cc is very important to me for HT. Can you make a video talking about the pros/cons of various cc designs ? I.e. 2-way vs 2.5 vs 3 way, concentric drivers, cross-over designs and levels, horns, etc, etc
Great topic! I've added to my list of video ideas!
I still have my SS-CN5000P center channel from Sony, i love how it sounds, i changed its original wire plugs for banana’s and the speaker improved the sound quality.
Nice! Keep enjoying it!
"and the speaker improved the sound quality."
Let's rephrase that to "and I flet like the speaker improved the sound quality."
The difference in electrical signal transfer between banana plugs ans direct connection cannot be measured, besides our ears are terrible measuring devices. Do a double blind test and see.
Great video thanks
so if i always watch tv from the center i don't need the center channel, I tried it on my 683 but then I sold it
If it’s just you and you sit in the sweet spot then you should be fine with a 2 channel setup.
Hello sir. i have samsung T 670 soundbar so should i buy this speaker for dialog clarity. will it be good ?
wake up everyone. even bell labs determined that stereo channel needed a minimum of 3 channels. we all know that for most speakers have one row in the center where it sounds find while everything else gets center drift smooshed to the side.
2. channel stereo became a default only because of bandwidth limits but it's always been broken
it makes no sense that we have a jazz mode, arena mode and even a mono mode but no 3.x mode
Great video, and not 27 minutes long. Well done :)
Thanks 🙏🏾
Not 26 min either. Or 45. Or 32.
Thanks
Greg Anthony?
Sooo At the end of the day do you really need a center channel speaker yes or no? I just need a simple answer im currently building my 7.2 .4 system and i dont have a center channel yet i was wondering is it really important?
For the system you're building the answer is Yes!
What about dali zenzor pico vocal? Is it good as centre speaker to buy ?
ok, but what about the negatives/disadvantage?
Why you speak only about the benefit of a center speaker?
I read many negatives of the center speaker. Example the left and right speaker become quite, not in use.
I hear only the center speaker and it is not so powerful like the left/right tower.
PS: I do sit usually at one place, thanks audyssey I hear the voices right (from the middle of my TV).
For this video I decided to focus on the advantages. As far as the center channel "taking over" the front sound stage. The easy way to reduce/eliminate that problem is to lower the center channel volume in your AVR/processor or raise the volume of the front left/right. The other disadvantages I hear about are from folks who prefer a 2 channel setup and if someone is decidedly 2 channel there isn't much you can do to dissuade them.
As usual another great video: question do think that getting a big center speaker would be overkill for klipsch RB61-11'S?
I don’t think so mainly because you can turn the volume down in your receiver settings if need be. But given that the center is so important for dialog having a good one is important.
Please help ,I have the polk T30 center channel ,but the sound is so weak ,WHY , the volume is 12 db
Try different a speaker wire and ensure the connections are solid. If that doesn’t solve it, try a different a different speaker connection on your Avr such as front left. If it’s nice and loud you’ll know you have a bad center channel on your Avr. If neither of these work it could the Polk. Contact customer service.
Great explanation! What would happen if I just hooked up a good center speaker without any other parts of a home theater system? Especially if my main objective is to make to make the dialogue stand out?
You would need to set your receiver to send all the audio to the center channel otherwise you’ll only hear dialogue but not necessarily the soundtrack.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist i guess if the chosen centre speaker was bi-ampable, couldn't they connect the left and right channels to the top and bottom plugs of the centre speaker and set it as a stereo system? But these days you can get really good sound bars which are designed as a 1.1 system, centre plus subwoofer and some sound really great.
You’re right if you connect left and right channels to the bi-amp ports of a center you will not get left right sound.
For movies the centre speaker seems to be vital. But can it be true for audio? For listening music?
If you're listening to 3 or 5 channel music, yes! But most music is recorded in 2 channel so the center is typically not used.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist
Thank you very much for taking your time and answering it, mate.
Sweet spot doesn't seems like its one person setup 🤔set in center don't move around that thing confused me my pioneer advance settings works on three positions what about the two seats behind? Do I have to double distance two feet more manually is this a solution.
First determine listen to it from the rear seats. Then you can increase the distance settings in your AVR and re-listen in both the rear and fronts. If you like that any better, keep it that way or change it back. Another thing you can do, re-run the auto calibration and place the mic at least once in the rear seats. Then determine which set up you like best. Hope this helps
Vertical center channel that matches across LCR. Thoughts? :)
It could work but if you have a wide seating arrangement the "sweet spot" maybe more narrow when compared to a horizontal center channel.
i am using a sound bar Sony ST-5000
but for some of the movies i play in old blu rays movie like The matrix or new some movies in Apple TV, the dialogue volume is so weak. So i always get complaints about the sudden Loud explosion sound because i turned up the vol. so high just to hear some dialogue. is there a way to fix it? or its really depends on the movie and how it is recorded??
That's a nice soundbar! First thing I would try is go into the menu and turn the volume up on the center channel if it has one.
If that doesn't work try to find a dialog enhancement menu item. That should prioritize the dialog.
Hopefully one of these methods will work for you.
I got whaferdale diamond 220 as l/r speakers. And old satellite speaker as center speaker. What center channel you recommend for 200e?
Unfortunately I haven't heard a Wharfedale so I really can't say. But it's best to match the manufacturer and from the same speaker line as well so I'd probably go for the Diamond 220c or something like that.
How is Klipsch RP-600C vs RP-400C?
Unfortunately I haven’t tried them so I can’t say.
Do you have any tips for a center speaker with extremely clear dialogue? I am sick and tired of quiet dialogue and mumbling hollywood movies
My main advice is to go into your AVR or processor and turn the level/volume up on the center channel. That should help!
Hey, which one would be better between the RP600C and RP404C? Better to have two bigger 6" drivers or its better to have for 4" drivers? Thanks!
I haven't tried the 600c but here are my thoughts. If you have a wider seating arrangement I'd go 404c with the 4 drivers but a more narrow seating arrangement 600c.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist cool, thanks!
I just sold my center channel because my set up sounded so much better without it.
Interesting, what do you watch/ listen to?
There’s no dialogue in these new movies, other than LOOK OOOOUT or RUUUUUN! The rest is just walking around with arched eyebrows and CGI props.
🤣🤣🤣
RC-64 III?
RP-440c
Nice and easy explanation . I’m planning to buy a center speaker . Sitting area 26ft away from speaker. Is the klipsch R-25C good enough ?
assets.klipsch.com/product-specsheets/R-25C-Spec-Sheet.pdf
Or should I buy the same model on your video ( RP-440C ) ? Thanks
26ft is a decent distance so I'll go for the 440c. The 25c will work but you may have to turn the volume up a bit more so you hear the dialog.
Hello Home Theater Hobbyist, I have a Klipsch 440c he is still brand new. Does the sound change after 20 to 30 hours of use? I have the experience that the speaker sounds better after a few hours.
How is that with the 440?
The sound is good but I do not like the highs like the old Klipsch.
Thanks for uploading! Thumbs up!
Greetings Uwe
Thanks! Yes I broke them in and it did change a little, maybe a little more clarity. If you don't like it after a few more hours try going into your AVR and changing the EQ a bit. That make help at the high end. Hope this helps. Respond to this thread and let me know how you like it once things settle down.
Thanks, for the quick response, I've heard the 440C now about 5 hours the sound seems to have become a bit clearer. So
far, voices did not sound so good and it sounded to me as if the sound
did not come out of the speakers properly and the heights hiss. Meanwhile, the heights hiss after 5 hours less and the sound seems to be noticeably better. I will not change anything at the EQ for the time being. I value perfect sound, so I listen to my RF 7 II in music always in stereo.
Unfortunately I did not have room for a big center.
I hope the sound gets a little better.
The 440C sounds very good otherwise, but not perfect yet.
Thank you!!!
Hello the 5.0 system is perfect now!
I wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas 🎄 🎄 🎄
greetings Uwe
Happy to hear it worked out! Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and your family too!
Is the C450 good?
I haven’t tried that one unfortunately so I can’t say
Hey, can you please link to that phenomenal gorgeous looking Iron Man poster you have there ?
😁😁 I wish I could but my wife bought years ago and I have no idea where, sorry!
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Ohh mann, if you could please try finding out where i would be really thankful. or if you could help me out with the print
I’ve noticed that most levels are always negative dB for speakers, is this a denon thing? I have an onkyo and when I run calibration and then use an spl to calibrate all speakers to 75db my levels are always +
Yes the levels can be set to negative dB
dB is a comparative unit, not an absolute one. 0dB isn't "no signal", it's just a reference. -3dB means half the power, +3dB means twice the power. Even when talking about dB SPL, 0 isn't total silence, it's just the reference level of inaudibility. You can still go quieter.
Can I give one critique on your videos? Smile. Even before a cut just give a good toothy grin. It lightens the mood of your otherwise extremely well done videos
Thanks!
Man, can center channels get any bigger....or ridiculously priced.
Over a thousand dollars for the Klipsch RC-64 III,,,gimme a break.
😀 Obviously the answer is yes and yes 😁😁
It's like watching Roy Jones Jr, but not talking about boxing.
Azav 305 oh yeh, so he does! Lol
I don't have a big room so i Don't even use a center.
Stereo imaging only? Interesting...... Have you tried a center channel? Did you find it at all useful?
Martin Lawrence??