worth going with L/C/R with my setup?

[Whitey80]

Hey guys, I just upgraded my center in my HT from the Boston VRC to the VR12, big improvement.
The setup in there is listed in my signature. Wondering if it would be beneficial at all to change all the front speakers to the VR12 and use the VR960's elsewhere.

It would definitely look nice with all of them on stands running the front wall, but would it really sound any different? (Then I could take those 960's back down to the living room for music, where they really shine)

 

[sholling]

The VR12 is a center not a main. The system probably sounds better because the VR12 is a slightly better timbre match for the VR960 than the VRC. Rather than track down 2 more VR12s I think a better move is to track down a pair of used VR3 towers and use the timbre matched VRC with them.

 

[Whitey80]

The VR12 is a center not a main. The system probably sounds better because the VR12 is a slightly better timbre match for the VR960 than the VRC.

The VR12 sounds far superior to the VRC, likely due to using larger drivers throughout. Doesn't sound as "small", much more presence. I am aware that it's specific design was not as a main, but it's frequency response seems wide enough to use in any postion. It, in fact uses identical drivers to some of the dedicated mains they offer (by part number)

Rather than track down 2 more VR12s I think a better move is to track down a pair of used VR3 towers and use the timbre matched VRC with them.

Not a fan of the VR1, 2, 3 sets. Been searching for a very, very long time for the VR920 that truly matches the 960s, they are quite rare.
The point of this question is to have exactly matching characteristics across the entire front stage.

 

[AJinFLA]

but would it really sound any different?

Yes.
The question is, to what degree and would it matter to you?
With a center like the VR12, with non-coincident mids and tweeters, the vertical displacement positioning (of the drivers, when the speaker is placed horizontally) would normally direct the main frequency dependent nulls/lobing (in the polar response) vertically. These nulls will be asymmetric, i.e., not the same above and below the speaker. Since perceptually, we are less sensitive to vertical anomalies in the soundfield than lateral, this is deemed acceptable in most circumstances, as we are generally seated spread laterally across the (surround) soundfield.
If you have the speakers currently with the tweeters both to the outside, or both to the inside, you probably won't notice the problems quite as much sitting centrally between them, as there will be some symmetry. You should however, notice a significant change in the sound walking laterally across the room, as you move into the areas of the frequency dependent nulls.
The (further) problem with using one as center, placed vertically, is which side do you position the tweeter, left or right? The sound will change significantly to the left or right.
If you were determined to buy a third VR12, it would be better to place the center horizontally.

cheers,

AJ

 

[Whitey80]

My thoughts were to place them all horizontally on stands at the same height