Center Channel Mismatch

[photoeye]

Hi,

what's the best way to test center channel and L/R speakers mismatch,
some audio test cd/dvd?

I'm using Energy speakers for the Left and Right. A Wharfedale for the center channel. just curious if the mismatch can be easily heard with the right test cd.

I don't have room to put surround speakers behind me, they would be on the side walls, in this case, is it better to have normal speakers or bipole?
The side speakers would only be 3 ft. away.

thanks!

 

[billnchristy]

If you cant hear a difference when watching movies or listening to multichannel music, then...basically, there isn't one.

Dont go searching for problems that will cost you money, if you like the sound, keep it.

 

[hemiram]

I had more problems when I had a center that was much more efficent than my left and right speakers. My receiver couldn't drop the center down low enough to keep it from totally overpowering the others. It wasn't that bad for TV and some movies, but eventually, I bought a matching center, and all was well.

But to be honest, I liked the sound of the original, cheaper speaker better, it was just too loud to tolerate.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I had more problems when I had a center that was much more efficent than my left and right speakers. My receiver couldn't drop the center down low enough to keep it from totally overpowering the others. It wasn't that bad for TV and some movies, but eventually, I bought a matching center, and all was well.

But to be honest, I liked the sound of the original, cheaper speaker better, it was just too loud to tolerate.

while it may be too late to try on those old speakers, besides lowering the volume of the center speaker, raising the others?

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

You can easily test the center by playing some two channel music - ie. a CD. Swap the center out for the right speaker, then switch the balance control to see the difference.

Not only is level matching important for a center channel and fronts, but so is timbre matching. The midrange/high frequencies will blend much better if the drivers and crossovers mirror each other along the front array. Otherwise, the tone of the sound will change with a foreign center channel, and similar sounds will not travel from one speaker to the other successfully. This is paramount with DD and DTS tracks.

 

[hemiram]

while it may be too late to try on those old speakers, besides lowering the volume of the center speaker, raising the others?

I tried that, with the center all the way down (-5 on the display), and (+5) on the left and right fronts it was still too potent, it totally overpowered my SVS SBS-01's. That thing, a Radio shack "linaeum" tweetered center speaker was amazing for the price I paid for it, very clear on dialog, sounded great anywhere in the room, and LOUD. It's going to go on Ebay soon, as there's no point in me keeping it anymore. I think I paid 50 bucks for it, about 1/4 what the SCS-01 I'm using now cost.