Center Channel to Match

[Neijii]

I have my 2 totem Mites and my sub and I'm finding it a bit hard to hear some of the voices in movies...I figure that's because I don't have a center? Correct me if I'm wrong.

I can't afford the Totem center, but was wondering if there was anything a bit cheaper that would work well with it.

 

[Neijii]

I saw a Paradigm CC-300 on sale for $200 and I love the paradigm sound...would it be that bad if I mixed totem fronts with Paradigm center?

 

[tom67]

Here is the order of play
1. voice matched from same company= best match
2. borrow or buy returnable units to see if you can find a good match with brand other than Totem.
3. if you have to buy on line or without audition, make sure SPL rating is about the same and obviously, buy same type (not horn or suspension with ported totems)

If your receiver has a phantom center setting, try that first to see if it improves dialog. Go through setup menu and tweak settings to see if something else helps.

 

[Neijii]

I dont think I have a phantom center..that would be cool though.

I would like to get used if possible so I can get something better. I haven't seen any totem centers listed on audiogon though.

 

[tom67]

Onkyo

look at the charts on pages 63-66 of manual. They show settings possible with different setups.....column one shows your setup with two channels with no center. Looks like Neo 6 may work for you:

"This mode expands any 2-channel source for up to 7.1-
channel playback. It uses seven full-bandwidth channels
of matrix decoding for matrix-encoded material, providing
a very natural and seamless surround sound experience
that fully envelops the listener.
• Neo:6 Cinema
Use this mode with any stereo movie (e.g., TV,

It also looks like some other modes in that column that my fill out the center without an actual speaker

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/dl/1334040/Manual_TX-SR607_English.pdf

 

[Neijii]

I will definitely look into that.

What about this speaker though?

http://www.usheraudio.com/Loudspeaker_S-525.html

 

[armaraas]

I don't know a lot about the totems, but would it be cheaper to buy one more Mite for the center instead the actual center? And would you have the space for it, and will they sell 1 instead of a pair? That would be the 'ideal' setup really if it would work out, to have your front 3 being the exact same speaker.

 

[mannoiaj]

Yes, but good luck finding a single.

 

[jostenmeat]

I have my 2 totem Mites and my sub and I'm finding it a bit hard to hear some of the voices in movies...I figure that's because I don't have a center? Correct me if I'm wrong.

I can't afford the Totem center, but was wondering if there was anything a bit cheaper that would work well with it.

Go about this slowly for the moment, not that you aren't, but I just want to be sure you don't throw money away.

First of all, and I can't remember, does the stereo setting allow for a "2.1" setup? (or just 2.0 w/o sub?)

Ok, this is what I am wondering: if you have or haven't "defeated" the center channel in the menu. That in fact your receiver thinks that there is a center speaker attached.

The idea of phantom center is simply stereo fronts. The center channel info is simply routed to the mains. To do so, look at the previous paragraph: make sure the receiver has center speaker setting to off/none.

Report back. If the config was already fine, and yet dialogue remains awful, I would not look towards mismatching a center, but instead looking towards new speakers altogether. That's just me.

 

[Neijii]

I got my new receiver about 2 weeks ago and when I went through the setup it detected what I had, noting that I had no center.

It detected 2 fronts + a sub.

 

[jostenmeat]

I got my new receiver about 2 weeks ago and when I went through the setup it detected what I had, noting that I had no center.

It detected 2 fronts + a sub.

Ok, to triple check, how about you disconnect one of the mains, and connect it to center channel. If you have center channel info all of a sudden, with much clearer dialogue, then we know that the setup procedure didn't work.

Otherwise, I still stand by my thoughts on getting different speakers altogether, even with the excellent rep that Totem might have.

You don't want to mismatch anyways, if you can avoid it. I used to have mismatched center, thought it was fine, then one day I finally matched it. I have gone so 180 degrees on the matter, I even demand that my surrounds are matched. Just sharing my own experiences there.

 

[Neijii]

The config is correct. I can hear the dialogue..the problem is I have the volume on about 60 to hear it well..but then there's an explosion or gunfire and it's ridiculously loud. I feel there's too wide of a volume difference in scenes.

 

[tom67]

ahhh....a dynamic range problem.....see page 74 of the manual on my previous post....you can make adjustment so that loudest portion of a movie is closer to volume of softest passage....therefore you can keep program at louder volume level to hear dialog and not get blown out by special effects....and that is a problem whether you have a center speaker or not

 

[Neijii]

ahhh....a dynamic range problem.....see page 74 of the manual on my previous post....you can make adjustment so that loudest portion of a movie is closer to volume of softest passage....therefore you can keep program at louder volume level to hear dialog and not get blown out by special effects....and that is a problem whether you have a center speaker or not

I love good news when I wake up

I'll get on that ASAP and post an update.

 

[Neijii]

So I've been online daily looking for used totem centers and haven't come across any.

Other than audiogon, is there another site that may post used speakers?