Consider NOT using a center channel. If most of the people watching are not too off-center from the screen there will probably not be a problem. Try it out: use the phantom mode or set the center speaker to off on your processor. Doing this blends all the center channel audio to the main LR speakers. You still get the stereo effect on music and sound effects AND your center channel audio will sound like it's coming from the screen because it's between the mains. I prefer this setup.
Question re: HT furniture/set up
As I understand it the center channel carries 60%+ of a movie's soundtrack. Its positioning is therefore critical and opinion is that it should be below/above the TV, about the same height as, and aligned with, the left and right speakers.
Which presents a problem to me as I try figuring out how to set up my HT gear. I'd like to support the following:
a) three components on LHS
b) three on RHS
c) Gap in the middle for the center channel speaker
d) On top of the above sits a 42" TV (LCD RPTV or plasma)
Its easy to find something that can do (a,b,d). The trick is to find something that will support my center channel. I can't seem to find anything that supports the center channel beneath the TV, leave alone bring it to the same height as the left and right speakers.
This must be a "solved problem" so please share your recommendations and solutions. Where should I look? what should I consider?
For context: The center channel speaker is 21"x17"x11" (HxWxD). So that center gap can be 23"x19" OR 19"x23" (as I can orient the speaker horizontally). The components are EAD PowerMaster 1000 amp, Krell HTS pre/pro, Marantz DVD player, Snell XA1900 LCR speakers all of which are equal sized (isn't the center channel usually smaller than the Left or Right?).
Thank you!
Which presents a problem to me as I try figuring out how to set up my HT gear. I'd like to support the following:
a) three components on LHS
b) three on RHS
c) Gap in the middle for the center channel speaker
d) On top of the above sits a 42" TV (LCD RPTV or plasma)
Its easy to find something that can do (a,b,d). The trick is to find something that will support my center channel. I can't seem to find anything that supports the center channel beneath the TV, leave alone bring it to the same height as the left and right speakers.
This must be a "solved problem" so please share your recommendations and solutions. Where should I look? what should I consider?
For context: The center channel speaker is 21"x17"x11" (HxWxD). So that center gap can be 23"x19" OR 19"x23" (as I can orient the speaker horizontally). The components are EAD PowerMaster 1000 amp, Krell HTS pre/pro, Marantz DVD player, Snell XA1900 LCR speakers all of which are equal sized (isn't the center channel usually smaller than the Left or Right?).
Thank you!