B&W Nautilus 804 - center speaker - SACD 5.1 and Hometheater


I want to 'upgrade' my center speaker for large living room system with Nautilus 804 front main, 18" Dayton sub driven by ED LT1300 and (for now) AR rear (have Infinity RS225, Reference 2, Dayton on hand to try). 

Centers are AR CS25HO, recently (lower profile, to put under TV) replaced with Polk Monitor XT35 and Signature S35 (nice low profile, fit under TV). But now giving into the need to raise the TV to allow use of a BETTER center speaker (SACD made the need for a good center speaker clear to me). 

Price is ALWAYS a concern (and used is certainly considered) and I would like to stay under $300. 

Would a CC6 be an upgrade and good match? LCR6? LCR600? HTM62?

The "Nautilus" line of centers appear cost prohibitive, even used (and very bulky, with stupid tweeter on top, but may have to accept bulky disadvantage to some extend, just not putting a 15" high center under the TV).

There is a Center 2 (but already over $300, not sure how high it will sell) on auction right now. 

I have not looked into other brand yet, but may find better bang for buck outside B&W, and not sure anymore how important 'sound matching' is; in the past tried to use center that uses same tweeter/mid range drivers as front main speakers. 

 

 

 

 

kraftwerkturbo

HTM61 'normal':

Specifications

Type: 3 way, 3 driver center channel loudspeaker

Frequency Response: 30Hz to 50kHz

Recommended Amplifier: 30 to 150W

Crossover Frequency: 350, 4000Hz

Impedance: 8Ω

Sensitivity: 90dB

Bass: 1 x 165mm kevlar cone

Midrange: 1 x 150mm kevlar cone

Tweeter: 1 x 25mm aluminium dome

Enclosure: bass reflex

Finish: black ash, light oak, red cherry

Dimensions: 198 x 545 x 339mm

Weight: 15.4kg

 

HTM61 S2:

3-way vented-box system 1x ø25mm (1 in) aluminium dome high-frequency 1x ø100mm (4 in) woven Kevlar® cone FST™ midrange 2x ø165mm (6.5 in) aluminium cone bass -6dB at 42Hz and 50 kHz 50Hz - 22 kHz ±3dB on reference axis Within 2dB of reference response Horizontal: over 20º arc Vertical: over 60º arc 88dB spl (2.83V, 1m) 2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m) <1% 95Hz - 22 kHz <0.5% 180Hz - 20 kHz 8V (minimum 3.0V) 400Hz, 4kHz 30W - 150W into 8Ω on unclipped programme 0.1V Height: 218mm (8.6 in) Width: 590mm (23.2 in) Depth: 304mm (12 in) cabinet, grille and terminals 17.2kg (37.8 lb)

 

If cheap enough, would this old boy work with my 804 in large room?

B&W CM Center 2

 

The CM Center 2 descriptions reads a lot like the B&W HTM61 S2 including dimensions and chassis

Update: I ordered a new SVS Prime Center and a used B&W HTM61 S2 (both about same price). Will run them both in my system to determine which one to keep.

System is an VERY large volume room (2 stories high, open on 2 sides to several room), serves as TV/Movie (5.1) watching, stereo audio, SACD 5.1 audio. 

Any predicitions?