Home theater and multi-channel

Discussion in 'Speakers' started by Cspirou, Oct 14, 2016.

  1. Mystic

    Mystic Mystique's Spiritual Advisor

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    I can definitely stretch for the RP400, probably not the 500 though. Do you have any experience with the RP lineup of bookshelf or tower speakers? Is it true across the lineup that they have a smoother response?

    The vocals will be mostly coming from the center channel, so I'll check reviews for that in particular. I've spent a lot of time on the AVS forums and Reddit lately for research.


    I'll look at the Kefs, any particular models I should watch out for? I checked out Ascend, I used to own a pair of Sierra 1s which were quite good for music. Something like the CMT340 Center with a pair of CMT340 Mains?

    By big box I'm assuming your referring to the base Reference line, I've heard the same thing. Super bright and not worth the cost. Makes me wonder about the RP lineup and if the reviews about them being much smoother are accurate or just hype.
     
  2. ufospls2

    ufospls2 Friend

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    Hey Guys,

    been doing some thinking about my Home Theatre watching. I'm obviously not looking for "ultimate" sound quality or whatever, just a good compromise and sort of maximizing price-performance. I'm using an older 5.1 marantz receiver right now.

    From what I've read, it seems that no matter what you do, an all in one integrated receiver (including amps etc) is going to be a compromise.

    What I was wondering is, would running some decent pre/processor picked up used for like $500, combined with a couple Vidars for front and rear, and some small one channel amp for front centre duties work?

    I'm only going to be running L/R Front, L/R Rear, Centre in terms of channels needing amplification.

    Is there a receiver that you would recommend over that option?
     
  3. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Do center channel speakers look like the way they do because it's a compromise to fit under a screen? Or is there some acoustic justification for it?

    Or in another way of thinking, are towers ideal when set up off center for a stereo arrangement but for s single speaker in the middle it's better to have drivers positioned horizontally?
     
  4. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    I believe it is the former. If I wanted to get the truest interpretation of what a 5.1 mix sounded like I think a center channel that was identical to the Front L/R speakers would be the choice.

    That's not to say that would necessarily sound better, given that the industry standard is for a center channel to be arranged horizontally and be bass-limited. I would guess most 5.1 mixes are created with that in mind.
     
  5. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    @OJneg is correct, better (and recommended by the fanciest installers) would be at least three identical speakers in the same plane, with the middle one(s) behind an acoustically transparent projector screen. Placing the middle speaker comparatively closer to the floor or ceiling makes it sound different than the others where it then becomes harder to blend it in with the mix.

    With horizontal speakers placed high or low you tend to get a bass bump from the early floor or ceiling reflections. This can make vocals sound congested and generate other smearing. Some speakers made specifically as center channels include simple EQs to attempt to minimise the issue but it's there, its why people tend to throw thick rugs or carpet mats in front of the screen.

    No. You're now getting deep into issues of room acoustics and speaker design but, in general, a D'Appolito array in a vertical tower speaker is better when you have near-field listeners and ceiling & floor boundry issues to contend with.
     
  6. Poleepkwa

    Poleepkwa Friend

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    Most (but not all) horizontal centre speakers have serious lobbing issues as soon as you move off-centre. Their dispersion pattern will be different than the L&R so you will lose the unified front stage. You can very easily notice it when panning from L->C->R.
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2022
  7. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    I thought the reasons @ogodei mentioned were why most advice is to tilt up the front of a horizontal center channel below the screen so that the sound ends up hitting your ears at roughly the same height as the front left and right, and why you shouldn't run your center channel full-range (but instead high-pass it at 80+ Hz?

    Assuming similar speaker drivers, proper angle alignment, and time alignment, my understanding is that our brains are pretty good at ignoring where the speaker actually is even if below the screen and tracking the audio from the center channel with what's on screen.
     

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