Center Channel Question

[E-6]

Excited about having the opportunity to ask questions to the experienced...
1. I have a fluance center channel and not getting the dialogue I'm looking for in any dolby 5.1. Due to a relatively small room, wonderd if the bass from my ISD12/2 was drowning it out. Using small JBL E-10's for fronts (currently), and very impressed with the sound. I have tweeked just about everything I can think of and moved the center channel speaker from above the TV to below, and still very low dialogue (barely hear charactar conversation). Appreciate anyones suggestion and wonder if I need to try a new center (i.e. Klipsch for the horn design, or maybe paradigm).

 

[Johnd]

Check your cables (both the connections and the wire/insulation itself). Barring that, you have a problem with either the speaker or your receiver. A simple way to figure that out is to connect a known good speaker to the center channel, and the center speaker to a known good channel (all with the power OFF, of course). Incidentally, I had this problem a couple of months ago with my Paradigm 570 (I bought the studio 100's, servo15, cc570 and four mini's simultaneously). After inspecting the cables and connections for half an hour, I simply re-routed as described above, and discovered my brand new ($900 retail) cc570 was bad. I exchanged it for an immediate replacement, and the problem was fixed.

 

[Johnd]

As an afterthought, imho, the Fluance av-sc is a rock bottom, low end speaker, and that may be your entire problem (although I've never heard them).

 

[E-6]

As an afterthought, imho, the Fluance av-sc is a rock bottom, low end speaker, and that may be your entire problem (although I've never heard them).

Johnd-
Appreciate the suggestions...I'm leaning toward the speaker being low end. It would be a shame due the speaker is quality built (maybe a DIY project in the future). However, when I'm in stereo5 it's not too bad. Will check the wiring and will also do a speaker swap as you suggested. If the conclusion leads me to purchase a new center channel--any suggestions, opinions or personal experiences I should consider.
Again,
appreciate the input...

 

[Takeereasy]

I had this problem with my old receiver, a Sony STRDE-1075. Dialogue was always weak, especially during high impact scenes in action movies. This problem went away with the purchase of my new receiver, so there is one option. (expensive though so try these others first)

Tilt the speaker so that it points at the seating area. This can be accomplised with such high tech devices as a door stop or hockey puck .

Go into the speaker settings in your receiver and turn up the center channel or turn down everything else.

Figure out what center you want and demo it at home on your receiver to see if it fixes the problem. If it does start saving for it.

A well reviewed and very reasonable center channel speaker is available from Bic America, the DV-62CLRS. It has a $269 MSRP but you can get it online for about $100 plus shipping. I have heard it and found it nice for the price and it does seem to be a well regarded speaker especially given the cost. I myself use a PSB 8C and would suggest it to anyone, but it is a little costly and an older model.

Hope these suggestions help, good luck with the problem, let us know how it turns out.

 

[E-6]

Appreciate the suggestions concerning my Cchannel speaker...
Update: Thank God not a Receiver issue. Looks like I will be buying a bic DV-62CLRS (fits budget and like the specs). It's a shame I'm not getting what I wanted out of my Fluance because it's a well constructed center for the price. However, concering the bic Cchannel, I have been reading bits and pieces about a "Ed Frias" and his mods--can't find a web-page. Anymore information anyone?

 

[E-6]

Wanted to thank Johnd and Takeereasy for the input. Took your advise Takeereasy, and found a good deal on (2) bic America DV-62CLRS centers. Needless to say no more dialogue issues and now thinking about buying another one to make it (3). Any input on using (2) DV-62CLRS for fronts?--That would make (3) DV-62CLRS up front.

 

[Sheep]

Wanted to thank Johnd and Takeereasy for the input. Took your advise Takeereasy, and found a good deal on (2) bic America DV-62CLRS centers. Needless to say no more dialogue issues and now thinking about buying another one to make it (3). Any input on using (2) DV-62CLRS for fronts?--That would make (3) DV-62CLRS up front.

That would be the most ideal setup you can have in this situation. Its better then having the bookshelfs because A.) They are the exact same speaker, and b.) The LCR's have flush mounted drivers while the bookshelfs have the driver sticking out from the front baffle. This casues diffraction.

SheepStar

 

[Nick250]

Go into the speaker settings in your receiver and turn up the center channel or turn down everything else.

I am curious about what happened when you tried the above. It's the first thing I would have checked on.

Nick

 

[mytzen]

Appreciate the suggestions concerning my Cchannel speaker...
Update: Thank God not a Receiver issue. Looks like I will be buying a bic DV-62CLRS (fits budget and like the specs). It's a shame I'm not getting what I wanted out of my Fluance because it's a well constructed center for the price. However, concering the bic Cchannel, I have been reading bits and pieces about a "Ed Frias" and his mods--can't find a web-page. Anymore information anyone?

I am looking into purchasing some BIC speakers and I was told to contact Ed Frias at efespeakers@commspeed.net
Just email him and he will send you a list of his modiefied speakers