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I rarely use center channel with processor

I set up my processor, nad m17 v2i, so that I can alternate between six channel or five channel(without center). I’m finding that my mains which are B&W 802D3, don’t really need the center channel for most streaming. I am biamping with tubes and solid state so that may be helping the quality

The vocals come through just fine on the main speakers.  Overall things sound better. It’s easy to toggle back-and-forth for purposes of excluding the center.

Does anyone else not use a center speaker because it is better to use only the mains?  I will admit I occasionally use the center channel sometimes when I need the vocal sound to come through better but it rarely happens. 

emergingsoul
erik_squires
17,584 posts
 

Yes all of this is true and yes my center is matched with my mains, and placement is ideal.

I recommend toggling back-and-forth while watching home theater stuff if you can configure things correctly and you will really see the difference.

I have, all the time.  If you are hearing a significant difference it's not because center channel speakers are bad. 

emergingsoul OP
1,551 posts
 

@erik_squires 

it sounds good either way when I toggle to exclude the center channel, improves when I exclude the center. Maybe it's because, the upper/mid range drivers on the main speakers are tube driven. And the center is solid state.

But I allowed for that and I still think it sounds better. 

erik_squires
17,584 posts
 

it sounds good either way when I toggle to exclude the center channel, improves when I exclude the center. Maybe it’s because, the upper/mid range drivers on the main speakers are tube driven. And the center is solid state.

But I allowed for that and I still think it sounds better. 

 

I believe your experience, but it’s not universal.   If someone asked me if this is normal, I'd say no, it points to something not quite right yet. 

ghdprentice's avatar
ghdprentice
9,511 posts
 

@erik_squires 

+1

I have tried home theater without a center channel (I have all the same B&W 805 speakers... the center channel is a center channel one) and the difference has been obvious and poor. The lack of energy coming from the center was profound. 

andrewdrummond
17 posts
 

65 inch screen and size reasonably close so L/R speakers are only just to the sides of the screen with seating about 1.5 the distance between the speaker sway from the screen. 

I use my Oppo 205 to downmix and just use two channel for everything. My main speakers are Stirling LS3/5as and AB-2 bass extenders, both with high-quality external crossovers, and the soundstage and imaging means vocal/effect placement is spot on. It would be awkward/expensive to replicate that with a centre of the same quality and there's no need. Plus I would have to trade mu miniDSP SHD for a multichannel version.

I don't use rear channels - I find too much of a disconnect between the 2D screen in front of me, which is wide but does not fill my whole field of vision, and the attempt to create a 3D audio space, I'd rather my brain just process 2D, and the stereo effect makes a pretty good attempt at throwing sounds around the soundstage anyway.

 

 

Also have some subs there as well.

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