Center channel upgrade for PSB Century 800i's?

[seddon12]

I am upgading my audio setup for home theater and have a question. I have heard a number of times about importance of matching front speakers with the center channel speaker and wonder just HOW important it is...

I have PSB Century 800i fronts that i bought back in 96, but they sound very well and i dont feel a need to upgrade just yet. My option for matching are PSB Image 9T which could be found on ebay... However, i would sugnifincantly expand my choices if i will include other, non-PSB centers into consideration... say from Paradigm or Axiom...

So the question is: Do i really have to stray with PSB for Center, or i would not lose much by getting center from other brand?

[Doug917]

That depends. If the crossover points, sensitivity, and build are similar you could probably get away with it. In my case I used to have Klipsh 5.2 Floorstanding speakers paired with my KT-LCR center speaker. The driver sizes were different (6" drivers in center, 10" and 12" in floor speakers) and the crossovers did not match up. I recently upgraded to the Klipsch RF-35 speakers in the front (also have 6" drivers and similar crossover points) and kept the center channel and it is probably the biggest difference I have ever heard in my system. The pans across the front are so smooth and the sound is integrated incredibly. I get the deep base I need from the sub, so I don't need large drivers in the front speakers. Hope that helped.

[seddon12]

Thanks Doug. My PSB Century 800i's have 2 8' drivers, so I guess it wil be difficult to find center with similar size drivers..

Crossover point for my fronts is 2,000Hz, B3, while PSB Image 9T has 2,500Hz, B3, but they have same sensitivity (92dB)....so there is not much of a match within the brand...

Any advise?

David

[seddon12]

Anyone can advice?