Center channel quieter than mains....

[dosto233]

My current HT setup are some DCM CX-27's for the mains and a CX-17 for the center. The CX-17 has a sensitivity of 92db while the mains have a sensitivity of 93db. Im using a Denon AVR-1910 to power them and I know you can bump up the center channel a bit if needed (and it helped a bit), but Its still not quite equal, so I'm wondering can the 1db difference in sensitivity really be responsible for the audible difference?

 

[ericzim]

Since the 1910 has auto calibration with the Audyssey setup you might want to try re-running the setup. I have found that my 1612 EQ will drift as components in the receiver and speakers age.

 

[robgmn]

Since the 1910 has auto calibration with the Audyssey setup you might want to try re-running the setup. I have found that my 1612 EQ will drift as components in the receiver and speakers age.

+1
It's also common to bump up the ctr channel a decibel or two above the "norm'' to help with dialogue intelligibility (esp. in action-heavy movies).

 

[dosto233]

Since the 1910 has auto calibration with the Audyssey setup you might want to try re-running the setup. I have found that my 1612 EQ will drift as components in the receiver and speakers age.

Actually the problem first arose after running the Audyssey setup (strange since Audyssey usually does a great job), the center was clearly too low and only after tweaking things a bit manually did things match up a bit better. I agree that it did seem to be necessary to bump up the center channel a bit more than the difference in sensitivity would imply.

 

[LordOfTRings]

After running Audyssey MultEQ XT32 from my pre/pro, I added manually another 2dBs to my center channel speaker.

And by the way, my mains are 84dB sensitivity, and my center speaker is 92dB sensitivity.

So, the positioning inside a room is key; the main overall effect to our ears.
Audyssey and speaker sensitivity alone don't mean a thing when your speakers are positioned at different spots.

Use your ears, at the end; and by adding few dBs, afterwards and manually, to your center channel won't affect in any way whatsoever what Audyssey did to EQ your center channel.

That should answer your question.

*** Another thing: The Audyssey microphone positioning (first measurement spot) can also make a huge difference in that regard.
<<<>>> A good guide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okyNlhJ3Hvo

 

[dosto233]

Thanks. It sounds like you've had a similar experience. Once I upped the center about 2db it sounds pretty good, but i might try running Audyssey again being more careful about mic placement.

 

[Copa1934]

After running Audyssey MultEQ XT32 from my pre/pro, I added manually another 2dBs to my center channel speaker.

And by the way, my mains are 84dB sensitivity, and my center speaker is 92dB sensitivity.

So, the positioning inside a room is key; the main overall effect to our ears.
Audyssey and speaker sensitivity alone don't mean a thing when your speakers are positioned at different spots.

Use your ears, at the end; and by adding few dBs, afterwards and manually, to your center channel won't affect in any way whatsoever what Audyssey did to EQ your center channel.

That should answer your question.

*** Another thing: The Audyssey microphone positioning (first measurement spot) can also make a huge difference in that regard.
<<<>>> A good guide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okyNlhJ3Hvo

Excellent video, many good points. I have to especially agree with mic position. I noticed, with my Yamaha RX-V1500, that it includes distance measurements. While this may not seem too critical to some, that greatly impacts the final balance and relationship with the speakers as a whole. I found I didn't have the mike in the "prime" position and sure enough got different distance results, which also lead to different volume AND EQ settings. My Yamaha mic is threaded for attachment to a mic stand OR can even be placed with a simple Camera Tripod. One thing I will have to do, though, is move the mic forward away from the cushion. Didn't think about the impact that would have.

The OP may want to review these things and see if position did in fact cause most of the issues.