2. home-theater
  3. 168235-2164

Center channel

Since I did a 6.1 setup, my wife has complained that she has trouble understanding the dialog of certain cable movies that are in 5.1 or 7.1. I have a handsome KEF Reference 204/2C center speaker sitting just outside the media room, the metal frames that used to support in the garage, and a spare pair of Clear Day Shotgun speaker cables. So I think I’ll reinstall the 204/2C center channel, using an Ayre A7e integrated to drive it. The Bryston SP3 processor has a balanced center output. The 204/2C was designed to match the big Reference 207/2s, but seemed to blend seamlessly with my 107/2s. I’ll see how it does with high-passed KEF Reference 1s augmented with HGS-15 subs. The 204/2C is rear ported with a 6.5” center Uni-Q driver and two 6.5” drivers to either side, so it could run full range but more likely I’ll declare it small in the SP3 menu. It’s about 3.5’ long and weighs nearly 80 pounds! I hope for an attractive setup that sounds as good as it looks and satisfies my wife’s complaints.
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Showing 3 responses by auxinput

auxinput
2,920 posts
 
If your center channel has good enough woofers, I would recommend setting it to LARGE.  I have found that male voices have a deep bass/texture that actually comes out better through the center channel.  It's more cohesive.  The subwoofer has timing issues and those types of sounds are generally not crisp enough when coming from the subs.

Also, try bumping up the calibrated level on the center channel 1 or 2 clicks in the Bryston SP3 speaker setup.  This can have a significant effect on how well you hear center channel dialogue!  I have needed to do that even after a individual speaker calibration using a db meter.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
Yeah, I have seen that in Netflix as well. It is sent down in DD 5.1 format, but only contains left/right channels.  You have to forcably apply something like "Dolby Pro Logic II" or similar "analog surround" decoding process.  Erik like Neo6:Cinema.  I like the original Dolby Pro Logic II for movies.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
Based on what I heard at a show, the Schitt electronics came across somewhat bright/harsh/sterile.  I think the JC1 amps will do significantly better, especially since those KEF metal dome tweeters are already bright!
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