big screen - two channel system enough for dialog?


If I have a large screen (100"+), will I need a dedicated center channel to hear dialog well??

My priority is music, and movies are mostly drama and comedies where dialog is critical. Surround effects are NOT a priority. Many folks here believe you can get much better value from 2 channel systems, but I am getting older and dialog intelligibility is key.

I am concerned about blu-rays needing to downmix from 5 to 2 channels and with such a big screen and separation of my mains, will two channels just make the dialog more diffuse??
tswei99

Showing 3 responses by rlwainwright

There is NO question that a proper center channel speaker will enhance dialog intelligibility. Keep in mind that the center channel is THE primary channel used by the audio guys when mixing for movies. Additionally, it "anchors" the sound to the center for those viewers who are off-axis and not in the sweet-spot.

So, don't cheap-out on the center channel. *Most* mfgrs. nowadays make a center channel that is complementary to their main channel offerings.

I currently run Gallo Reference 3.1s for my main L/R, Gallo Ref. AV Center for my Center, and Gallo Ref. AV for my surrounds. My sound is *superb*, and the 60 inch Mitsu DLP HDTV suits my needs for the moment. But I dream of a 92" Mitsu DLP sometime in my future...

-RW-
No offense, dude, but that room looks like a standing wave nightmare. I would *seriously consider placing some sound damping materials on the side walls near the 1st reflection points. Additionally, some thick, sound damping carpets would go a long ways towards killing the floor to ceiling reflection points.

But, other than that, it is one *hell* of a nice room for a home theater, ya oughta be charging admission. And hey, I need a gig right now, gimme one of those ticket-taker monkey suits with the pillbox hat and I'm yer boy!!

-RW-
I am sorry I did not read all of your posts thoroughly. Since you have the luxury of building the room, by all means take advanatge of the abilitiy to make the side walls and ceiling non-parallel. This will effedctively kill any standing waves in the room and largely eliminate nulls and voids in the rooms frequency response. If you have the money for it ($2k-$5k), I would *highly recoommend you employ the services of a firm such as Rives Audio. They are *experts* in such things and will give you invaluable information on the proper design and construction of a terrififc looking and sounding HT room.

Man, I wish I was in your shoes, you are one lucky man!!!

-RW-