Center channel speaker help?!?!?!

All of your multichannel speakers should be within +/-3dB of each other in terms of sensitivity/efficiency. If greater/lesser than 3dB, some speakers will be louder or softer that the others.

Also, the center channel is key for movie dialog. If your center channel is outside of the +/-3dB, then it will likely be too soft or too loud.

Seems best to have all one's speakers in any system to be the same for voice matching.
 
Take a serious look at the Imagine line from PSB. Flat frequency response, good linearity and dynamics mean that they are good at low and high SPLs and easily transition between the two without compression or coloration. They are equally adept for music as well as HT.
 
E-Stat said:
Unless your receiver/processor offers channel specific level trims which address that challenge.
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That is true, estat. I would think, though, that there is more than just volume to deal with when mixing drivers of different efficiency/sensitivity. "Voicing" varies from speaker model to speaker model, too. And this is especially true when considering the three front speakers... left, right, & center. I sure would want similar drivers across the front. The rears/surrounds... not so much.
 
Boxed up the Klipsch’s have the ZU’s running left and right, just ordered the Omen center and using the Boston Acoustic’s center for right now which is not even close to the ZU’s but actually sounds better that the Klipsch. But the system just jumps to life and sounds so much more cinematic and well spectacular with the ZU’s operating in home theater duty.
 
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I can’t wait to hear that Omen center! Thing is a beast and expensive. $1300 but I am sure that I will be more than happy.
 
hnash53 said:
All of your multichannel speakers should be within +/-3dB of each other in terms of sensitivity/efficiency. If greater/lesser than 3dB, some speakers will be louder or softer that the others.

Also, the center channel is key for movie dialog. If your center channel is outside of the +/-3dB, then it will likely be too soft or too loud.

Seems best to have all one's speakers in any system to be the same for voice matching.
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hnash53 said:
That is true, estat. I would think, though, that there is more than just volume to deal with when mixing drivers of different efficiency/sensitivity. "Voicing" varies from speaker model to speaker model, too. And this is especially true when considering the three front speakers... left, right, & center. I sure would want similar drivers across the front. The rears/surrounds... not so much.
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It’s callef timbre matching and it is more important across the front 3 speakers than the surround speakers.
 
HiFiJeff said:
Boxed up the Klipsch’s have the ZU’s running left and right, just ordered the Omen center and using the Boston Acoustic’s center for right now which is not even close to the ZU’s but actually sounds better that the Klipsch. But the system just jumps to life and sounds so much more cinematic and well spectacular with the ZU’s operating in home theater duty.
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I’m glad you realize that the AVR was not the culprit. It’s unfortunate that AVRs get a bum rap when it really boils down to the speakers and the acoustic environment they are in,
 
HiFiJeff said:
I can’t wait to hear that Omen center! Thing is a beast and expensive. $1300 but I am sure that I will be more than happy.
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That looks like a extremely capable center speaker. Congratulations.

Also, the Zu web site lists the Omen at $1200. Did you order upgrades? And will yours have the ClarityCap MR capacitors?
 
StimpyWan said:
That looks like a extremely capable center speaker. Congratulations.

Also, the Zu web site lists the Omen at $1200. Did you order upgrades? And will yours have the ClarityCap MR capacitors?
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Yeah. That center should be legit. It’s the normal Omen, not the Dirty Weekend so it already has the clarity cap upgrade along with all the bells and whistles of the normal Omens. That’s why it’s such a high price. $1300 because of the Electric Blue finish. It’s an upgrade.
 
3db said:
I’m glad you realize that the AVR was not the culprit. It’s unfortunate that AVRs get a bum rap when it really boils down to the speakers and the acoustic environment they are in,
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I 1000% couldn’t agree with you more. So over the past few days I have been doing some major comparisons and tweaking between my two channel set up and the two different AVR’s I have. Well..... I sold my Schiit Audio Saga pre amp. I put the Pioneer AVR in my 5.1 living room system. And put the Marantz in my main theater room with the ZU’s. Hooked up the 2 channel pre-outs to the NU Force STA-200 for the left and right amplification. I am using the Marantz for bass management. Lets just say, this is the best my system has ever sounded. It’s dynamic, coherent, extremely tight, fast accurate bass and it’s just clean. I turned the volume all the way up to 0 and heard nothing. Total black background. With my two channel system there was a little hiss. Couldn’t hear it from the listening position but if I put my ear up to the driver I could hear it.
 
With that said. I am going to purchase one of the higher end Marantz AVR with Dolby Atmos. But I am going back to the philosophy of keeping it stupid simple. No more going down that rabbit hole for me. I am going to eventually buy another simple system for my office. Going back to Louis at Omega for his speakers and going to mate those with the Musical Paradise MP301 MKIII tube amp. But that’s quite a way off.
 
Going to finish the theater first. And my CD player sounds fantastic again going optical into the Marantz. I literally unhooked my CD player in my two channel system because I didn’t like the way it sounded. Figured what the heck let’s see how it sounds with the Marantz. Good choice on my part. Maybe the Marantz has decent DAC’s
 
I like AVR's too. Like any other gear, there's good and bad. Buy a cheap AVR, and one has no reason to complain, if it sounds cheap? I usually buy TOTL, and have never been disappointed. My Yamaha RX-A3030 does fine with my various AR speakers, and they present a 4 Ohm or lower load. No complaints from me.
 
Yeah. All The imaging, soundstage, and I actually think the Marantz is more detailed and less veiled than the Saga two channel set up I had going. It seems there is a little more sizzle and sparkle on the top end. There are tracks I use for that and the cymbals and bells seem a little more forward now.
 
Simple. Like you said. Buy a cheap AVR and get cheap performance. But good ones will reward you. I am tempted to go the Yamaha route but I really like Marantz. I am sure either would be a good choice though.
 
hnash53 said:
"Voicing" varies from speaker model to speaker model, too. And this is especially true when considering the three front speakers... left, right, & center. I sure would want similar drivers across the front. The rears/surrounds... not so much.
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Agree. I'm halfway through the process of converting an all Polk LSi series system to that of Acoustat/Magnepan one.

The Magnepan MMGC better complements the electrostatic mains in terms of panel area and voicing. Eventually will replace the LSi7 rears with MMGWs when we get the kitchen/family room remodeling done.
 
HiFiJeff said:
Simple. Like you said. Buy a cheap AVR and get cheap performance. But good ones will reward you. I am tempted to go the Yamaha route but I really like Marantz. I am sure either would be a good choice though.
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Im a Yamaha fanatic but for good reason. Their quality control is the best beating out every other AVR manufacturer in the lowest number of defects and returns. I bought 4 used cassette decks, 2 used AVRs and everyone of them are working trouble free. I did buy one Yamaha AVR new. :)
 
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