Question about center channel

[Kevin Poirier]

I'm thinking of buying a BDI console (about $1600) for my living room. Their tv attatchment to raise the tv is $600, but they have a shelf labeled for center channel speaker. Can I trust it for acoustics or should I save and spend the extra $600? I can not wall mount the tv. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[TheWarrior]

I'm thinking of buying a BDI console (about $1600) for my living room. Their tv attatchment to raise the tv is $600, but they have a shelf labeled for center channel speaker. Can I trust it for acoustics or should I save and spend the extra $600? I can not wall mount the tv. Thanks in advance for your help.

A shelf in a cabinet with a closed back is never recommended for a speaker placement. I would find a solution that keeps the center channel as close to the tweeter of the L + R speakers. That is often not possible, so the highest position plus using foam pads, tilt the center up to have the tweeter directly on axis with the listener's ears.

 

[cpd]

I actually had very similar questions. I was looking at THIS BDI MODEL. The back panels are removable, but I was still wondering about the impact of the wood slats covering the center channel. My room has cathedral ceilings and the TV backs up to them so wall mounting is not an option.

 

[TheWarrior]

I actually had very similar questions. I was looking at THIS BDI MODEL. The back panels are removable, but I was still wondering about the impact of the wood slats covering the center channel. My room has cathedral ceilings and the TV backs up to them so wall mounting is not an option.

It is amazing how poorly designed some entertainment centers are considering the widely available information on acoustics.

You definitely do not want anything other than an acoustically transparent cloth in front of your speaker.

Same advice as above tho, if elevating the center to be in line with the front speaker's tweeter is not an option, an open backed/front shelf with foam risers tilting the center to be on axis with the listener's would be the goal.

 

[cpd]

It is amazing how poorly designed some entertainment centers are considering the widely available information on acoustics.

You definitely do not want anything other than an acoustically transparent cloth in front of your speaker.

Same advice as above tho, if elevating the center to be in line with the front speaker's tweeter is not an option, an open backed/front shelf with foam risers tilting the center to be on axis with the listener's would be the goal.

Ugh. I may have to have something custom built. Most of the speakers I am interested in upgrading to have large center channels and there are very few media centers with spaces large enough to fit them.

I will keep searching.

 

[TheWarrior]

Ugh. I may have to have something custom built. Most of the speakers I am interested in upgrading to have large center channels and there are very few media centers with spaces large enough to fit them.

I will keep searching.

Do you happen to live in or near North GA? I'm building myself a new one just out plywood drops that I've rejoined together, mortise and tenon. Could definitely help ya this fall if you're in driving distance.

 

[Kevin Poirier]

A shelf in a cabinet with a closed back is never recommended for a speaker placement. I would find a solution that keeps the center channel as close to the tweeter of the L + R speakers. That is often not possible, so the highest position plus using foam pads, tilt the center up to have the tweeter directly on axis with the listener's ears.

Thank you

 

[Kevin Poirier]

It is amazing how poorly designed some entertainment centers are considering the widely available information on acoustics.

You definitely do not want anything other than an acoustically transparent cloth in front of your speaker.

Same advice as above tho, if elevating the center to be in line with the front speaker's tweeter is not an option, an open backed/front shelf with foam risers tilting the center to be on axis with the listener's would be the goal.

Thank you

 

[cpd]

Do you happen to live in or near North GA? I'm building myself a new one just out plywood drops that I've rejoined together, mortise and tenon. Could definitely help ya this fall if you're in driving distance.

I'm in Wisconsin but I appreciate the offer. I actually started thinking I should just make one myself. I'm capable and it's going to be getting cold here soon so a decent sized project may be in order.