Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: SlickSnake
I do not like your speakers covers. I don't really like the covers on my Interludes, either, but generally I use mine, so don't feel too bad. The towers covers on yours that wrap around the base look really tacky, and I would ditch the covers on those. And the placement is bad on the towers as others have said. But I would leave the cover on the anemic 2 way center channel and flip it upside down and place it behind the TV offset a little on one side or the other so the tweeter isn't totally blocked by the base, and move the TV forwards. Just up the volume a little on the center channel to compensate for being behind the TV. I placed my center behind my TV in my bedroom HT and above the TV in the living room HT.
Seriously though, I would consider buying a matching step up 3 way center channel, if it's available. 2 way center channels generally are just really weak on the crisp dialoge you want a center channel for. But you could use that 2 way for a center behind you in a 6.1 configuration, and the fact it don't match wouldn't even be an issue. Or mount the center just above the TV on a small shelf, or on a large one if you want to put other stuff on it.
And the HD-DVD player is ROCKIN! :thumbsup:
Please explain why you think a 3-way would do better than a 2 way in this application. Also, why would you use a mismatched rear centre? Whole point to a middle centre is to provide smoother rear panning, yet you don't want it timbre matched to the rear speakers?
Firstly, he's got a
color mismatched 2 way center, not a
timber/speaker mismatched one, correct? Obviously, it would work suitably for a rear center in a 6.1 configuration and the fact it did not
color match the fronts would not be as much of a cosmetic issue, correct?
Secondly, a 3 way center upgrade (if it matched his speakers model for
timber or drivers) would vastly improve both his dialog and midrange effects, which is the whole point of the center on HT. Most of the dialog is centered in the center speaker, obviously. And placing his tower speakers properly will only make his 2 way center sound even more anemic that it already does. I can assure you without even hearing that speaker setup, that center channel is not sufficient. Those 2 way centers are intended for low priced front center purchases or rear surround sound use. No low end center channels that are 2 way are sufficient on midrange reproduction that I have ever heard. And even many 2 way mid priced speakers has problems in this area, including the 2 way Interlude center I have. But the 3 way Interlude center sounds far superior to it, and was rated as one of the best sounding centers ever made in its price range when it was released. And there are also other technical reasons why 2 way centers are not preferable that I won't even bother to go into here about.
And if he hides the center behind the HDTV and uses an improved 3 way one it will sound vastly better than blocking and redirecting part of the sound field of the anemic 2 way one. I am currently partly blocking a 3 way Infinity Beta center behind a 46 inch LCD in the bedroom HT. The center started out both in front of and under the TV, which was not acceptable for various reasons, like the TV too tall, or blocking the TV sensors. And the sound from the 3 way center did not deteriorate noticeably by being behind the TV, other than a bit of a lower volume. But the sound from the 2 way center really suffered from this behind the TV placement. In fact, behind the TV with the 3 way the reflected portion of the sound seemed to make the center seem like it had a broader sound field separation, which was a bit of an unexpected bonus. Of course, I did have to kick up the center channel one setting on the volume to compensate for the placement, which was no big deal.
And I did also recommend if he hides the 2 way center behind the TV, to flip it upside down with the tweeter on the bottom so it won't block the tweeter with the TV and offset it a little bit from the center of the TV stand support depending on what side he usually sits on. But the placement behind the TV will require some fine tuning. He may prefer the sound with the speaker right side up, and having the tweeter reflecting off the back of the TV, too. But he will have to experiment and crank up the center at least one setting on his volume to compensate.