Angle a center channel speaker downwards?

[DD66000]

The fact that three identical LCR 950 speakers should sound "exactly" the same they don't, this really does show how placement matters! I ordered the Mopads for my center and am excited to hear the difference, I will definitely report back once I hear the difference once installed.

I have a question, even with my M&K LDM stands that have ten pounds of dense gravel at the bottom do these suffer from the same issues (clearly not to the same degree) as my center speaker? Now this question have triggered another question, my surrounds (SUR95T) are mounted seven feet high to the side walls less than a half inch from the wall. While these are probably the worse offenders placement wise how can I improve upon getting the surrounds decoupled from the walls? They definitely sound deeper than they probably should, more mid/bass than my L/R speakers!

-Thank thus far, Techlord

I'll restate my last post. As long as you keep the center on its side, it will NEVER sound the same as the L/R. Its totally impossible.

As for the surrounds, add 2, or 4 rubber pads to the back, if not already done.
The speakers are gaining boundary reinforcement from the walls. Try raising their XO from 80 to 100 to see if that reduces the problem. And/or reduce the output to them 3db. The only other thing to do is add sound panels around the surrounds to void the reinforcement.

I have identical speakers all around, with my surrounds wall mounted and I don't detect them having more pronounced mid-bass. But I do have the L/R mounted to a pair of 15" subs.

 

[Techlord]

I'll restate my last post. As long as you keep the center on its side, it will NEVER sound the same as the L/R. Its totally impossible.

As for the surrounds, add 2, or 4 rubber pads to the back, if not already done.
The speakers are gaining boundary reinforcement from the walls. Try raising their XO from 80 to 100 to see if that reduces the problem. And/or reduce the output to them 3db. The only other thing to do is add sound panels around the surrounds to void the reinforcement.

I have identical speakers all around, with my surrounds wall mounted and I don't detect them having more pronounced mid-bass. But I do have the L/R mounted to a pair of 15" subs.

I fully understand what you are saying, I actually plan on trying it both horizontally and vertically once I receive the Mopads. As for my receiver it dosen't even have an adjustable crossovers, my Denon AVR-5700 (1999 model) has a "fixed 80Hz 24 db/Octave LPF. I think it's time to upgrade soon!

-Techlord

 

[Alex2507]

I fully understand what you are saying, I actually plan on trying it both horizontally and vertically once I receive the Mopads. As for my receiver it dosen't even have an adjustable crossovers, my Denon AVR-5700 (1999 model) has a "fixed 80Hz 24 db/Octave LPF. I think it's time to upgrade soon!

-Techlord

That's a nice place for a cross over and a nice slope. I have two rec'rs. One with a 12db/oct slope and one with a 24db/oct slope. 24 is better IMO and that's the slope that's THX compliant ... but ... upgrade away!

 

[DD66000]

I fully understand what you are saying, I actually plan on trying it both horizontally and vertically once I receive the Mopads. As for my receiver it dosen't even have an adjustable crossovers, my Denon AVR-5700 (1999 model) has a "fixed 80Hz 24 db/Octave LPF. I think it's time to upgrade soon!

-Techlord

I would have thought that AVR would allow XO adjustment.
I know in THX mode its a fixed 80. What happens if you use DD or DTS mode?
That is why I've never really cared about having a THX component, certainly not an AVR or pre/pro, too confining. Depending on one's speakers/room other XO points might work much better.

My old Marantz 880 mkII was either full range or a 100 htz xo. that was the one thing I did not like about it. My HK AVR635 had adjustments from 40~120, if I remember right, 20 htz increments.

 

[Techlord]

My Denon AVR-5700 has a very simple bass management setting, THX and non-THX and thats it! Those are the only two selections in bass management, I just looked up my manual and I'm stuck with only the 80Hz 24/Octave LPF. This sucks I know, I will upgrade by this time next year. Ten years ago I was an uneducated guy but knew how to audition speakers and AVR's, the models below the AVR-5700 sounded (in 1999) a bit bright for my tasts and the 5700 didn't while sounding detailed without being bright.

I figured having a THX Ultra certified AVR was a no brainer, nowadays I'm not convinced that a THX product is any guarantee that an AVR with this badge will sound good. Now that I think about it I never even considered pushing that THX Home Cinema 5.1 button at least in my home, I did when I was auditioning the AVR but it took the musicality away and reduced highs and midrange to sound bland.

However when I auditioned M&K speakers back in 1999 I ignored the THX badge and used only my ears, I was floored by how accurate and realistic they sounded! I also thought that the M&K V-1250THX subwoofer sounded fast and tight just the way I like it, but my V-1250THX amplifier died two years ago (check signature in red) and haven't been very happy with my MK SB-1250 non THX subwoofer! Deciding to yet again go with MK Sound's 950THX speaker system (upgraded from M&K LCR 750) had nothing to do with THX whatsoever, it was what my ears were telling me. Sorry for the rambling, I had to get that off my chest.

 

[DD66000]

I figured having a THX Ultra certified AVR was a no brainer, nowadays I'm not convinced that a THX product is any guarantee that an AVR with this badge will sound good. Now that I think about it I never even considered pushing that THX Home Cinema 5.1 button at least in my home, I did when I was auditioning the AVR but it took the musicality away and reduced highs and midrange to sound bland.

That was my thoughts about the same time. A dealer in Carson City had MK 150s in one room and Infinity Overture III in another. The MK system sound dead to me, even for movies, and most certainly for music. I much preferred the Infinity system. I was going to buy the Infinitys but forgot about a moonlight madness sale he had, and drove straight home, and someone else snatched them up.

I've never been a person who HAD to have all THX gear. The only THX I have is a Parasound HCA2205A power amp, for 10 years now.

 

[Techlord]

That was my thoughts about the same time. A dealer in Carson City had MK 150s in one room and Infinity Overture III in another. The MK system sound dead to me, even for movies, and most certainly for music. I much preferred the Infinity system. I was going to buy the Infinitys but forgot about a moonlight madness sale he had, and drove straight home, and someone else snatched them up.

I've never been a person who HAD to have all THX gear. The only THX I have is a Parasound HCA2205A power amp, for 10 years now.

When I start looking at a separate 5 channel amplifier and find the one to my liking it would be a plus to know it passed the THX Ultra 2 certification, but its not a requirement.

 

[Techlord]

I finely received my Mopads and have a question, does anyone see me having a problem between the front baffle of the speaker and the Mopads upper foam lip that comes up the front of the speaker slightly? I wouldn't want that foam lip interfering with the tweeter and mid bass drivers dispersion patterns, thanks Techlord.

EDIT: It seems that I'm unable to upload anymore pictures under "Manage Attachments" as there's a red line above that says, "Sum of all attachments owned by Techlord: 974.7 KB". Does anyone know why this is and how to fix this?

 

[sholling]

I finely received my Mopads and have a question, does anyone see me having a problem between the front baffle of the speaker and the Mopads upper foam lip that comes up the front of the speaker slightly? I wouldn't want that foam lip interfering with the tweeter and mid bass drivers dispersion patterns, thanks Techlord.

The lip should not be a problem. just try to locate the mopads so that they aren't blocking anything.

I haven't been following this thread day-to-day but I noticed that you have a speaker on it's side for a center? That can work but if there is some kind of waveguide around the tweeter you may have to rotate the tweeter 90 degrees. You'll just have to look and see if there is something directing the sound (a waveguide) from the tweeter.

EDIT: It seems that I'm unable to upload anymore pictures under "Manage Attachments" as there's a red line above that says, "Sum of all attachments owned by Techlord: 974.7 KB". Does anyone know why this is and how to fix this?

The best way to do it is open a Photobucket account and paste image links. They'll show up as pictures on here.

 

[Techlord]

The lip should not be a problem. just try to locate the mopads so that they aren't blocking anything.

I haven't been following this thread day-to-day but I noticed that you have a speaker on it's side for a center? That can work but if there is some kind of waveguide around the tweeter you may have to rotate the tweeter 90 degrees. You'll just have to look and see if there is something directing the sound (a waveguide) from the tweeter.


The best way to do it is open a Photobucket account and paste image links. They'll show up as pictures on here.

By waveguide I'm guessing its the area immediately surrounding the tweeter, here's the picture.

 

[Techlord]

I finely installed the Mopads under my center channel speaker and it sounds more like the L/R speaker now, it not only improved imaging it improved the whole sound coming from the speaker! I started out using three Mopads under my center channel speaker yet ended up using only one of the pads as far away from the tweeter as possible. This gave the best performance, strange one pad instead of two or three gave better results, the imaging I think was getting absorbed by the front lip of the Mopad. Sure I could cut the lip off, but I have my speaker slightly in front of the shelf a bit.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions, Techlord.