Center Speaker Suggestions

[Bala]

Hello everyone. I am looking for center channel speaker suggestions.
Current setup 7.1
Denon AVR X6300H ( 2 Months Old)
KEF q900 Tower Front ( 2 Months Old)
Polk audio C1- center (6 Yrs Old)
Polk Audio 10 inch subwoofer (6 Yrs Old)
Polk Audio RM8 satellite speakers ( 2pairs for Surround and Rear Surround) (6 Yrs Old).

I am upgrading slowly and next in line is the Center speakers, Followed by Subwoofer. Currently I run 7.1, planning for 7.2 eventually.

budget : 500 - 650 USD for the center.

I am inclined towards KEF q600 ( matching my Towers), but if there are any better value for money options, I am open for those too.

 

[speakerman39]

Hello everyone. I am looking for center channel speaker suggestions.
Current setup 7.1
Denon AVR X6300H ( 2 Months Old)
KEF q900 Tower Front ( 2 Months Old)
Polk audio C1- center (6 Yrs Old)
Polk Audio 10 inch subwoofer (6 Yrs Old)
Polk Audio RM8 satellite speakers ( 2pairs for Surround and Rear Surround) (6 Yrs Old).

I am upgrading slowly and next in line is the Center speakers, Followed by Subwoofer. Currently I run 7.1, planning for 7.2 eventually.

budget : 500 - 650 USD for the center.

I am inclined towards KEF q600 ( matching my Towers), but if there are any better value for money options, I am open for those too.

Given that you already have the Q900 towers, then I would certainly opt for the Q600c center. It can be had in black brand new for ONLY $499 shipped at Acc4less:


https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/kefq600cbla/kef-q600c-6.5-3-way-center-channel-speaker-black/1.html


KEF Direct has the smaller Q200c in linear white for the same price of $499. However, having large towers only makes more sense to opt for the larger center inmho. Especially, given that they both are the same exact price, no?


https://www.kefdirect.com/speakers/stereo-speakers/center-channel-speakers/q200c-center-channel-speaker.html


Down the road I would also be looking at replacing your sub. Not sure how big your room is, but Polk is not well known for making good subs. Use the RM8's for rears until you can replace them. But, that would be one of the last things that I would focus on until the center and sub is replaced. You have a very good AVR in the X6300! I bet is sounds great with the Q900's. Congrats!



Cheers,

Phil

 

[speakerman39]

BTW, there is also the option of using a single Q100 for a center. Many people do that and put it on its side. Personally, I just don't like that idea. But, nevertheless many people do and are quite happy w/the results. Acc4less has a single Q100 brand new in black for only $180 shipped!

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/kefq100blaea/kef-q100-5.25-2-way-bookshelf-speaker-black-one-single-speaker/1.html


You could get a set of Q100's in black for ONLY $250 shipped and keep one as a spare. Amazon has the Q100's for $230 shipped, but also charges tax. So, it really is not that much cheaper. However, if you are a Prime member it is certainly something to consider.

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/kefq100bla/kef-q100-5.25-2-way-bookshelf-speaker-black-pair/1.html


https://www.amazon.com/KEF-Q100-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers-Black/dp/B0047K3X1M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516623021&sr=8-1&keywords=kef+q100


I still say that the Q600c would be your best option. If on the other hand, you were using the Q100's as fronts, then a single Q100 would be more ideal. Best wishes in your decision. BTW, the Q100's would work wonders as rears w/the Q900 towers and a Q600c center.


Cheers,

Phil

 

[KenM10759]

The Q600c center really is the very best choice. Its Uni-Q driver matches the Q900's, and it's a true 3-way speaker.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Yeah, what these guys said...

 

[Lebron1775]

I have the Klipsch 450ca paired with my denon x4400h and I couldn't be happier. After a decent break-in you can hear the difference with crossover frequencies. Plus with 97db sensitivity you don't need much too power these but you will have plenty of room to grow into there potential.

Just my 2cents



Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk

 

[Lebron1775]

I have the Klipsch 450ca paired with my denon x4400h and I couldn't be happier. After a decent break-in you can hear the difference with crossover frequencies. Plus with 97db sensitivity you don't need much too power these but you will have plenty of room to grow into there potential.

Just my 2cents



Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk

Crossovers

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

I have the Klipsch 450ca paired with my denon x4400h and I couldn't be happier. After a decent break-in you can hear the difference with crossover frequencies. Plus with 97db sensitivity you don't need much too power these but you will have plenty of room to grow into there potential.

Just my 2cents



Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk

Problem is it won’t be timbre matched to his KEF’s. Some say you can mix n match, for surrounds anyway(not me), but not in front. You want that soundstage as smooth as possible.

 

[KenM10759]

I would NEVER mix a Klipsch center doesn't with a pair of KEF Q900's. Totally different sound profile.

 

[Lebron1775]

I would NEVER mix a Klipsch center doesn't with a pair of KEF Q900's. Totally different sound profile.

How much is coming out of your L/R & surrounds? For HT your center is the most important component alongside your Sub. But of course I'm new to this...

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

How much is coming out of your L/R & surrounds? For HT your center is the most important component alongside your Sub. But of course I'm new to this...

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk

Unhook your center and try it once. You’d be surprised how much sound comes from the other speakers. Of course this depends on the track. And another thing is, the center may very well be the most important, BUT a soundtrack is represented by all the speakers in a system and if you should be trying to create a surround bubble, or a realistic sense of space. Not one great area of playback and OK areas of others. It should be seamless.

 

[Lebron1775]

Unhook your center and try it once. You’d be surprised how much sound comes from the other speakers. Of course this depends on the track. And another thing is, the center may very well be the most important, BUT a soundtrack is represented by all the speakers in a system and if you should be trying to create a surround bubble, or a realistic sense of space. Not one great area of playback and OK areas of others. It should be seamless.

I understand. This is my third upgrade in the Klipsch line so I've only heard different brands in other people's homes. I've heard a few mixed systems that I quite liked getting surrounds one brand mains one brand center and sub also different.

So what you're saying is once you invest in a line you're stuck upgrading in that line unless you want to start from scratch?

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

So what you're saying is once you invest in a line you're stuck upgrading in that line unless you want to start from scratch?

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk

Nope. Not quite what I’m sayin.
I will speak only for myself(although I believe others feel similar).
IMO you can usually upgrade within a manufacturers stable, but not a different brands. For example, SVS voiced the prime and ultra lines intentionally to be mixed and matched. That way if your budget forces a compromise you can choose how to allocate it. I believe many companies do this. You wouldn’t however want to have Revel mains with a golden ear center, or klipsch mains and a Polk center. They’re just voiced differently. Maybe a Revel/jbl combo(just an arbitrary example) since they’re both in the Harmon stable and probably sound more similar than not.

I have had a couple Frankenstein systems in the last 30 or so years(I’m43), so I feel qualified to say IF you can invest in a matching speaker system, there is no reason not to. You can get decent performance from a mix n match from different brands, and some will say it doesn’t even matter, but I totally disagree. Especially if your spending good money, why not? Even if you have to squirrel it away for awhile.

 

[Lebron1775]

Nope. Not quite what I’m sayin.
I will speak only for myself(although I believe others feel similar).
IMO you can usually upgrade within a manufacturers stable, but not a different brands. For example, SVS voiced the prime and ultra lines intentionally to be mixed and matched. That way if your budget forces a compromise you can choose how to allocate it. I believe many companies do this. You wouldn’t however want to have Revel mains with a golden ear center, or klipsch mains and a Polk center. They’re just voiced differently. Maybe a Revel/jbl combo(just an arbitrary example) since they’re both in the Harmon stable and probably sound more similar than not.

I have had a couple Frankenstein systems in the last 30 or so years(I’m43), so I feel qualified to say IF you can invest in a matching speaker system, there is no reason not to. You can get decent performance from a mix n match from different brands, and some will say it doesn’t even matter, but I totally disagree. Especially if your spending good money, why not? Even if you have to squirrel it away for awhile.

I'm coming from Klipsch quintet 3s in my Barracks room to klipsch bookshelves in my apartment to now rp280 FAs in my house. So I guess I've moved up inside the Klipsch brand and never looked into the other companies. I've never owned a Klipsch sub though. Sony>JBL>PSA

I'D Like to test drive a high end system from another brand.... Anyone like to lend me there's??

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk

 

[speakerman39]

As I eluded to earlier, the OP has an excellent Denon AVR and a set of KEF Q900's. Paying $500 for a matching center is painful no doubt. But, in this case it is warranted inmho. If, on the other hand, the OP was using the Q100's as fronts then a single Q100 for a center would certainly be more ideal.

The OP has not given us the size of his room, but he needs a better sub or subs. Hence, why buy a Q200c when you can get the Q600c for the same exact price, no? I subscribe to the belief that the front (3) albeit L, C, R need to all be voice-matched. The rears not so much. However, the Q100's flanking the rear would certainly be one rocking setup! Just saying............


Cheers,

Phil

 

[shadyJ]

Q100 or Q300 would be my choice if money is an issue. Using them vertically or horizontally will make no difference to the sound, unlike most speaker designs. In fact, they would avoid the potential lobing issues of conventional center speakers.

But you know what, i just realized these are only sold as pairs!

 

[speakerman39]

Q100 or Q300 would be my choice if money is an issue. Using them vertically or horizontally will make no difference to the sound, unlike most speaker designs. In fact, they would avoid the potential lobing issues of conventional center speakers.

But you know what, i just realized these are only sold as pairs!

No, Acc4less sells a single Q100 for $180 shipped:

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/kefq100blaea/kef-q100-5.25-2-way-bookshelf-speaker-black-one-single-speaker/1.html

Shady, do you really think that a single Q100 would be enough for the Q900 towers? At much louder volumes a single Q100 will likely struggle to keep up with the Q900's, no? Putting a single Q100 on its side is a bit odd to me. Keeping it top side would work better?


Cheers,

Phil

 

[shadyJ]

No, Acc4less sells a single Q100 for $180 shipped:

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/kefq100blaea/kef-q100-5.25-2-way-bookshelf-speaker-black-one-single-speaker/1.html

Shady, do you really think that a single Q100 would be enough for the Q900 towers? At much louder volumes a single Q100 will likely struggle to keep up with the Q900's, no? Putting a single Q100 on its side is a bit odd to me. Keeping it top side would work better?


Cheers,

Phil

For a speaker like the Q100, it doesn't really matter if it is on its side or standing upright. That won't have much effect on the sound. Speakers that have the drivers separated by distance on the front will run into all kinds of problems if you they used at an unintended angle.

As for keeping up with the Q900, it depends on how loud you listen. The Q series center channel speaker might not have a whole lot more dynamic range then the Q100, to be honest. The center speaker's real advantage is the bass driver taking a load off of the coaxial woofer. It will help, to be sure, but it depends on what frequency bands are being played loud.

 

[Bala]

Given that you already have the Q900 towers, then I would certainly opt for the Q600c center. It can be had in black brand new for ONLY $499 shipped at Acc4less:


https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/kefq600cbla/kef-q600c-6.5-3-way-center-channel-speaker-black/1.html


KEF Direct has the smaller Q200c in linear white for the same price of $499. However, having large towers only makes more sense to opt for the larger center inmho. Especially, given that they both are the same exact price, no?


https://www.kefdirect.com/speakers/stereo-speakers/center-channel-speakers/q200c-center-channel-speaker.html


Down the road I would also be looking at replacing your sub. Not sure how big your room is, but Polk is not well known for making good subs. Use the RM8's for rears until you can replace them. But, that would be one of the last things that I would focus on until the center and sub is replaced. You have a very good AVR in the X6300! I bet is sounds great with the Q900's. Congrats!



Cheers,

Phil

Yes I am too for q600 and it doesn't make sense to buy q200 when q600 is available at the same price. Yes sub is my next in line upgrade. replacing Rm8 will be after a while.

Thanks . Yes q900 and AVR X6300 is a great combination.

 

[Bala]

Given that you already have the Q900 towers, then I would certainly opt for the Q600c center. It can be had in black brand new for ONLY $499 shipped at Acc4less:


https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/kefq600cbla/kef-q600c-6.5-3-way-center-channel-speaker-black/1.html


KEF Direct has the smaller Q200c in linear white for the same price of $499. However, having large towers only makes more sense to opt for the larger center inmho. Especially, given that they both are the same exact price, no?


https://www.kefdirect.com/speakers/stereo-speakers/center-channel-speakers/q200c-center-channel-speaker.html


Down the road I would also be looking at replacing your sub. Not sure how big your room is, but Polk is not well known for making good subs. Use the RM8's for rears until you can replace them. But, that would be one of the last things that I would focus on until the center and sub is replaced. You have a very good AVR in the X6300! I bet is sounds great with the Q900's. Congrats!



Cheers,

Phil

Also, what is a good subwoofer for this setup? KEF q400? or should I look for other options?

Any experience with this SVS SB12-NSD?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009F8Y7SO/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I1ITKYM3P8HKU&colid=OVQQUYU392QE&psc=0