Center Channel Upgrade

[CB22]

Hey guys, long time no see. I'm going to be upgrading my center channel to something a little more beefy for the HT soon. I recently heard a GoldenEars Triton Reference system L,C,R and really loved it. The presence/ soundstage it had was exceptional (Partially due to a professionally acoustically treated room)

This is what I'm looking at purchasing...

GoldenEar SuperCenter Reference

Center channel speaker

www.crutchfield.com

Before I spend some big bucks I wanted to see if ya'll had any thoughts on GoldenEars? Any suggestion for a center channel in the <2k range.

Perhaps later this year I'll also consider up my main L/R from the BMRs to a different tower speakers. I'm open to changing things up.

 

[TLS Guy]

Hey guys, long time no see. I'm going to be upgrading my center channel to something a little more beefy for the HT soon. I recently heard a GoldenEars Triton Reference system L,C,R and really loved it. The presence/ soundstage it had was exceptional (Partially due to a professionally acoustically treated room)

This is what I'm looking at purchasing...

GoldenEar SuperCenter Reference

Center channel speaker

www.crutchfield.com

Before I spend some big bucks I wanted to see if ya'll had any thoughts on GoldenEars? Any suggestion for a center channel in the <2k range.

Perhaps later this year I'll also consider up my main L/R from the BMRs to a different tower speakers. I'm open to changing things up.

First of all, if you are going to upgrade those BMRs you will need a really, really big budget. The BMRs are really good speakers, and if you want better, it will cost you thousands and thousands.

That center has that MTM horizontal layout, which precludes it being a top flight center. You really need a a three way, with the tweeter above the mid, and the woofers either side, crossed to the mid around 400 Hz.

Coaxial speakers make really good centers, I would take a look at the KEF coaxial speakers.

I have heard these KEF speakers and they are excellent. Although not an actual center, they make a first class center and can be turned on their side and it makes no difference. In addition they would be an excellent match to your BMRs.

Be careful, it is easy to spend a lot of money and get a downgrade in this business. I fear that is a pit you are preparing to jump into.

 

[ryanosaur]

Hey guys, long time no see. I'm going to be upgrading my center channel to something a little more beefy for the HT soon. I recently heard a GoldenEars Triton Reference system L,C,R and really loved it. The presence/ soundstage it had was exceptional (Partially due to a professionally acoustically treated room)

This is what I'm looking at purchasing...

GoldenEar SuperCenter Reference

Center channel speaker

www.crutchfield.com

Before I spend some big bucks I wanted to see if ya'll had any thoughts on GoldenEars? Any suggestion for a center channel in the <2k range.

Perhaps later this year I'll also consider up my main L/R from the BMRs to a different tower speakers. I'm open to changing things up.

CB!
It has been a while. Good to see you pop back in for a visit.

I've been super happy with my BMR as a Center. lay it on its side with the Tweeter rotated 90º and it far outperforms many others.

As for changing things up, it's always fun to play with things. There is just precious little that can compete with what Dennis does. A lot of folk over at ASR talk up the KEF R series for Speakers worth their salt. Even though I'm personally not as much a fan of them, I do know they sound good.
Dennis will also be releasing an HT Tower soon, featuring Purifi Woofers and a Mundorf AMT in between a new version of the famous BMR Driver (for an MTM config above the woofers). This new design is promising higher Sensitivity and should be low-Distortion and hopefully low-compression. Only downside is that they will tip the scale just under Five-Large.
Other than that, I would urge you to check out the JBLs. New Studio 6 line-up seems to be available now, including a 3-way Tower, the 698. Too early for reviews yet, but hopefully these will bring a lot to the table. Many also seem to like the HDI series, though they are more expensive and not completely without flaws.

If you can wait on the Center for a little, I would urge you to do so . Wait until you decide on a full upgrade path, then pull a whole new Front 3.

In terms of Centers, I agree with Doc... Avoid the MTM centers and look for good 3-way WTMW designs.

Cheers Amigo! Don't be a stranger!

 

[NINaudio]

Hey guys, long time no see. I'm going to be upgrading my center channel to something a little more beefy for the HT soon. I recently heard a GoldenEars Triton Reference system L,C,R and really loved it. The presence/ soundstage it had was exceptional (Partially due to a professionally acoustically treated room)

This is what I'm looking at purchasing...

GoldenEar SuperCenter Reference

Center channel speaker

www.crutchfield.com

Before I spend some big bucks I wanted to see if ya'll had any thoughts on GoldenEars? Any suggestion for a center channel in the <2k range.

Perhaps later this year I'll also consider up my main L/R from the BMRs to a different tower speakers. I'm open to changing things up.

If you're going to spend big money on a center, why not get a 3 way from Salk? They are voiced by Dennis and should blend very well with your BMR's.

 

[CB22]

CB!
It has been a while. Good to see you pop back in for a visit.

I've been super happy with my BMR as a Center. lay it on its side with the Tweeter rotated 90º and it far outperforms many others.

As for changing things up, it's always fun to play with things. There is just precious little that can compete with what Dennis does. A lot of folk over at ASR talk up the KEF R series for Speakers worth their salt. Even though I'm personally not as much a fan of them, I do know they sound good.
Dennis will also be releasing an HT Tower soon, featuring Purifi Woofers and a Mundorf AMT in between a new version of the famous BMR Driver (for an MTM config above the woofers). This new design is promising higher Sensitivity and should be low-Distortion and hopefully low-compression. Only downside is that they will tip the scale just under Five-Large.
Other than that, I would urge you to check out the JBLs. New Studio 6 line-up seems to be available now, including a 3-way Tower, the 698. Too early for reviews yet, but hopefully these will bring a lot to the table. Many also seem to like the HDI series, though they are more expensive and not completely without flaws.

If you can wait on the Center for a little, I would urge you to do so . Wait until you decide on a full upgrade path, then pull a whole new Front 3.

In terms of Centers, I agree with Doc... Avoid the MTM centers and look for good 3-way WTMW designs.

Cheers Amigo! Don't be a stranger!

Say no more, I’ll wait. I’ve been eyeing the BMR towers for a while. I’m curious to see this HT Tower. I would love to listen to the BMR towers and the HT tower. I’ll definitely shoot an email to Dennis and see if there is any place in the south where I could listen to the BMR towers & ask about an eta on the HT. probably worth waiting to hear the HT tower too. If I’m gonna spend over 2k something and I definitely want to hear it before I buy it.


I just ordered a pair a LS 50s via Amazon on sale for 1150. I’ll audition them for a center & L/R and if I don’t like them, I’ll return em. That will keep me busy for a while

 

[shadyJ]

The GoldenEar center could very easily be an off-axis disaster. I would steer clear unless shown proof that it isn't. For a good center in that price range, check out the Polk Legend L400. Also, KEF's higher-end stuff is sure to be good. The three-way centers from revel are also sure to be good.

 

[ryanosaur]

Say no more, I’ll wait. I’ve been eyeing the BMR towers for a while. I’m curious to see this HT Tower. I would love to listen to the BMR towers and the HT tower. I’ll definitely shoot an email to Dennis and see if there is any place in the south where I could listen to the BMR towers & ask about an eta on the HT. probably worth waiting to hear the HT tower too. If I’m gonna spend over 2k something and I definitely want to hear it before I buy it.


I just ordered a pair a LS 50s via Amazon on sale for 1150. I’ll audition them for a center & L/R and if I don’t like them, I’ll return em. That will keep me busy for a while

Here's some info straight from Dennis.

Philharmonic Audio - Dennis Murphy

www.avsforum.com

I think he said some of these will be available once the boat docks with cabinets. Don't recall the date, but early March possibly.

 

[CB22]

@TLS Guy so after an afternoon / evening with the LS 50’s, I can’t say that I was dazzled by them. As a center channel they did not make my system feel any bigger or better. I did do a listening session with them and they are really good speakers, however, I did not like them specifically when listening to classical music. Rap, rock, pop awesome. I feel like they’re high frequencies gave me some listening fatigue when playing normal loud. They reminded me of my old Klipsch speakers in terms of the high end. Apart from that I really like them. For the size, the sound quality is really good. They’re definitely fun speakers but I don’t feel like there the upgrade I was looking for so they’re going back.

@shadyJ I just ordered the Polk L400 center & we’ll see how that goes.

 

[ryanosaur]

@TLS Guy so after an afternoon / evening with the LS 50’s, I can’t say that I was dazzled by them. As a center channel they did not make my system feel any bigger or better. I did do a listening session with them and they are really good speakers, however, I did not like them specifically when listening to classical music. Rap, rock, pop awesome. I feel like they’re high frequencies gave me some listening fatigue when playing normal loud. They reminded me of my old Klipsch speakers in terms of the high end. Apart from that I really like them. For the size the sound quality is really good. They’re definitely fun speakers but I don’t feel like they’re an upgrade. For the size, the sound quality is really good. They’re definitely fun speakers but I don’t feel like there the upgrade I was looking for so they’re going back.

@shadyJ I just ordered the Polk L400 center & we’ll see how that goes.

That mirrors my experience with KEF in many ways. I heard the Q950, R900 and the newer R11.
FWIW, I think the R3 (standmount) gets a lot of props and is very similar in many regards to the BMRs. I 'don't know anything about the R2C, but there is another KEF Center that shows a lot of promise (though not perfect). I would expect the R2C to be better.
But listening fatigue... that happened to me with their Towers.

If you think back to the Philharmonic site when we bought our BMRs, he compared the performance to another popular Speaker... IIRC, the comparison charts were the LS50s.
(The BMRs are better Speakers! )

(A single R3 might be a good option if you were trying things and wanted to give the chance to a better KEF than the LS50s...)
But I get it if not!

Eager to hear your experience with the Polk.

 

[CB22]

For a good center in that price range, check out the Polk Legend L400.

Yes, I really like it! it absolutely has more presents than the BMR and that’s what I was looking for. It sounds a little different. I feel like I’m getting a little more in the mid range and is different tonality in the highs. But not in a bad way! There is almost a little more clarity in the highs too. I like it way more than the LS 50 and a bit more than the BMR.

I think it’s an upgrade however definitely hitting the diminishing returns point. the BMR center was about 800 and this was about 1400. That 600 difference that’s just got a little bit more. With that said, I think the L400 was worth it and a keeper.

We’ll see how it plays with the BMR towers.

 

[CB22]

Also it just barely fit

 

[TLS Guy]

Yes, I really like it! it absolutely has more presents than the BMR and that’s what I was looking for. It sounds a little different. I feel like I’m getting a little more in the mid range and is different tonality in the highs. But not in a bad way! There is almost a little more clarity in the highs too. I like it way more than the LS 50 and a bit more than the BMR.

I think it’s an upgrade however definitely hitting the diminishing returns point. the BMR center was about 800 and this was about 1400. That 600 difference that’s just got a little bit more. With that said, I think the L400 was worth it and a keeper.

We’ll see how it plays with the BMR towers.

The issue is that the center has to sound the same as the left and right, otherwise tonality changes as actors, singers and performers move across the sound stage.

I have taken enormous care to get this right, and although the center is a different speakers, I defy anyone to tell a change in tonality with singer position. This is absolutely crucial for opera performances.

 

[lovinthehd]

The issue is that the center has to sound the same as the left and right, otherwise tonality changes as actors, singers and performers move across the sound stage.

I have taken enormous care to get this right, and although the center is a different speakers, I defy anyone to tell a change in tonality with singer position. This is absolutely crucial for opera performances.

Then again if no one watches opera on their tv with a multich mode....and opera can usually be easily not listened to, mostly horrible stuff.