Center Channel for use B&W DM12's?

[MrTrash]

I have a pair of very old B&W DM12 bookshelf speakers that sound great in my 2.1 channel system. They are being driven by a Harman Kardon HK3375 and the bass is handled by a Martin Logan Dynamo sub. I'm planning to use the DM12's in a 5.1 system (AVR still to be determined - Onkyo 605 or Yamaha 461?) but as they are over 20 years old they don't have a matching center channel. I've seen some of the new B&W center channels but they are too big and too expensive for my tastes. I was hoping someone else might be using some older B&W DM12's with a center channel that sounds good. I've thought about maybe the AV123 X-Series X-CS center or a Polk CS1. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[avaserfi]

Its going to be hard to get a matching center with speakers that old. The main reason you want a matching center is because of the frequency differences, timbre, between speakers can be rather noticeable going from left to middle to right and the opposite. My suggestion would be to actually use your old DM12's as surrounds and buy new fronts and a matching center. This way you will have a constant timbre in the front as there is less worry about matching your surrounds to your fronts.

 

[Warpdrv]

avaserfi has your back on this one.... you want a solid front stage, everything being the same timbre matched set.. and to take it a step farther, the best front stage would be made up of 3 identical speakers, but most peoples layout's aren't very accomodating to having 3 vertical bookshelf or floorstanding speakers in the front of their room, so companies started making horizontal speakers. This is not the ideal situation.

I couldn't get 3 Studio 100's in the front of my room, so I got the biggest horizontal speaker that Paradigm makes for my center channel.. Again this is a compromise on sound but its the best I could do with my situation. Don't skimp on the center channel, its one of the most important part of the system, as most if not all your dialog will be from that speaker...

We could go on and on with this topic, as it has been discussed many, many times, but keep your front stage the same make and model for an ideal HT environment, surround speakers can be different and not as noticeable, unless your fanatical.

 

[Dolby CP-200]

Its going to be hard to get a matching center with speakers that old. The main reason you want a matching center is because of the frequency differences, timbre, between speakers can be rather noticeable going from left to middle to right and the opposite. My suggestion would be to actually use your old DM12's as surrounds and buy new fronts and a matching center. This way you will have a constant timbre in the front as there is less worry about matching your surrounds to your fronts.

No you simple start over again I have been using matching JBL Control 5 for the LCR fronts for around 17 years now, now then you’ll have to start all over again with high quality B&W bookshelf loudspeakers matching across the fronts and placed at the same horizontal height.

Best placement and design would be to construct a platform that extends over the TV monitor for the loudspeakers to rest on. This will prevent low frequency vibrations causing buzzing and rattling sounds also there sound better this way. Place the loudspeakers towards the edge of the platform with LCR tilted downwards so that the HF is indirect line with the listening area. Toe the left and right inwards slightly and that’s only the half of it good luck and remember if you what to impress matching loudspeakers only!

 

[MrTrash]

Thanks for all of the advice. I think I probably will go ahead and get a matched trio for the fronts in my 13x13x7.5 room. Demoting the B&W's to satellite duty seems a bit harsh but not a big deal. I've already constructed some shelves for these heavy buggers to sit on. Now I guess I'll need to find a modest (read: not too expensive, not too bright sounding) trio of speakers to take over the front. I was looking at Monitor Audio BR2's and a BR-LRC for just over $600 for the 3.