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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
17,539 posts
 

When I listen to the system and the center is off the sound appears to be coming from the center so I think it's set up correctly.

That just tells you it's on.  As I mentioned before, in various different ways, getting the correct tonal matching and avoiding placement issues matters as well. 

emergingsoul OP
1,528 posts
 

@erik_squires 

As I mentioned above, I think it has to do with mains being supported with tubes and the center being solid state.  Not sure many people use tubes with center speakers, although tubes I feel are better with vocal stuff.  Maybe this is part of the rationale for why it might sound better to not use a center.

mahler123
3,995 posts
 

My center was out for a while (something happened to the cable in a long run, and it took a few weeks and maneuvering through a drop ceiling to make the switch).  During that time I had great difficulty understanding dialogue.  I barely noticed a difference with multichannel music.  I have some RCA Living Stereo SACDs that were remixed in 3.1 because they were originally recorded in 3 channels and I didn’t even perceive much of a difference when I played a few of them

asctim
536 posts
 

In my experience I prefer the more direct sound of a dedicated center channel over the phantom center when both are done well. For me this applies to music as well as movies. But I'm not setup with the amp channels or processor, or speakers space to do a center channel right now so I get by with my phantom center, which  sounds very clear and vividly located in the center so long as I'm sitting in the center. It ultimately lacks in tonality due to inherent comb filtering issues with creating a phantom center. But I feel in the past I've paid too much attention to it. If I don't do direct A/B comparisons my brain/ears adjusts very well to the tonality. Room reflections pretty much mask it.

fiesta75
1,535 posts
 

I got rid of all my surround sound equipment a few years ago after many years of trying. I discovered that I could understand most of the dialog in movies much better with a good stereo system! And I could also enjoy music more without all of those extra speakers that cause imaging problems. That's just me.

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