I read on an audio mag site that center speakers weren't all they're cracked up to be, so I decided to do some experiments. The article said that the two speakers interfere with each other and degrade the sound. So I swapped my center channel speaker with one of the surrounds. Four identical speakers and the center speaker. I can't use the words I exclaimed when I first heard it. Suffice it to say the swap is permanent.
With the center speaker in the position of one of the surrounds, I hear far less difference between it and the rest of them. But there is still a difference. The image from the other 4 2-way speakers is pinpoint accurate. The image from the dual woofer center channel speaker is a bit muddy.
What blows me away is the con game that so many manufactures are playing with their satellites. It sounds so much better to have identical speakers in the front, and people are paying extra money for speakers that just don't work properly. I should add that with my set up my front speakers are near field.
Well, with my new found fidelity I did some experiments with placement. Maybe being so close to them is what makes the difference, but moving them even an inch changes the sound. On top of that my set up is not symmetrical. But I did manage to find positions where the sound is nearly identical from each of the 3 front speakers. I love free upgrades. :bigsmile: They happen so rarely.
I am still working with the BFD to tweak my sub but I've made some progress there too.
The difference between the old set up and the new one, after a good day of work, was so extreme even my mom who is 72 and not much into sound, could hear the difference. I am very pleased with my work. I hope someday to have a real room to use, but for now this bedroom set up is working really well.
My only complaint is because I'm so close to the front speakers my mids and highs are a little harsh. Nothing I can do about that, it will happen with any speakers. All in all it was well worth my time to play around with the placement. And I know for the future if I am using satellites not to waste money on center channel speakers. The sound is so far superior using the same speakers across the front it isn't even close.
With the center speaker in the position of one of the surrounds, I hear far less difference between it and the rest of them. But there is still a difference. The image from the other 4 2-way speakers is pinpoint accurate. The image from the dual woofer center channel speaker is a bit muddy.
What blows me away is the con game that so many manufactures are playing with their satellites. It sounds so much better to have identical speakers in the front, and people are paying extra money for speakers that just don't work properly. I should add that with my set up my front speakers are near field.
Well, with my new found fidelity I did some experiments with placement. Maybe being so close to them is what makes the difference, but moving them even an inch changes the sound. On top of that my set up is not symmetrical. But I did manage to find positions where the sound is nearly identical from each of the 3 front speakers. I love free upgrades. :bigsmile: They happen so rarely.
I am still working with the BFD to tweak my sub but I've made some progress there too.
The difference between the old set up and the new one, after a good day of work, was so extreme even my mom who is 72 and not much into sound, could hear the difference. I am very pleased with my work. I hope someday to have a real room to use, but for now this bedroom set up is working really well.
My only complaint is because I'm so close to the front speakers my mids and highs are a little harsh. Nothing I can do about that, it will happen with any speakers. All in all it was well worth my time to play around with the placement. And I know for the future if I am using satellites not to waste money on center channel speakers. The sound is so far superior using the same speakers across the front it isn't even close.