ctr or sub...which is more important

[EddieG]

After the main speakers, which would you upgrade next...the sub or the ctr speaker?

Eddie

 

[annunaki]

That depends on where your priorities lie. If you can tolorate the center not matching up with freshly upgraded mains, go for the sub. If not, go the center route and upgrade the sub later. I would look at as what can I or can't I live with.

Me personally, if I had a sub that worked ok, I would definitely do the center. Improper timbre matching drives me crazy, more so than slightly inadequate bass. Just barely though

 

[j_garcia]

I'm in agreement there. If I currently had a sub that worked, I'd get the matching center, mainly because I listen to a lot of multichannel music and that mismatch bugs me too.

They are both key elements to a great system, so whichever one is lacking more is the one I would upgrade first.

 

[EddieG]

My current system is $100 HTIB which I knew was crap when I got it, but I wanted something for a "start" when we finished the basement. The sub is NOT powered so is super crap. The center (and surrounds) are the same...small, single driver things not worth lining the cat box with. The only thing going for the system is the progressive scan DVD player and component video. So if both the sub and ctr are equally bad and I can only afford to replace one, I'm not sure which I'll go with. It turns out my sis-in-law has a sub she will give me a t-giving, so maybe I'll wait for that and see how it works out, and get the ctr with my new mains.

Thanks!

 

[Alex2507]

Center gets my vote. You won't be able to hear dialogue well without it.

 

[fmw]

The center channel is the most important speaker for listening to video sound tracks. 70% of the content comes from the center channel. I would put the sub in second place and THEN the main speakers.

For listening to stereo music, on the other hand, the center channel is not important at all.

 

[Sheep]

DEFINITELY a Civic Type R.... that is what you meant by CTR right?

If you have mains that can produce some bass, I would go with a center.
If you have Small bookshelfs for mains, I would get the sub and phantom a center.
If you have no surrounds, I would get those next. They complete the 3D image you get with surround. Subs and Centers are just icing on the cake.

SheepStar

 

[3db]

Annukai summed it up the best..

My current system is $100 HTIB which I knew was crap when I got it, but I wanted something for a "start" when we finished the basement. The sub is NOT powered so is super crap. The center (and surrounds) are the same...small, single driver things not worth lining the cat box with. The only thing going for the system is the progressive scan DVD player and component video. So if both the sub and ctr are equally bad and I can only afford to replace one, I'm not sure which I'll go with. It turns out my sis-in-law has a sub she will give me a t-giving, so maybe I'll wait for that and see how it works out, and get the ctr with my new mains.

Thanks!

Depends on your priorities. Are you missing bass over dialogue or is it the other way around? How good are your main speakers?

When I was upgrading, I had poor center channel but my two main front speakers were so good with imaging and resolution of materila that I went without the center channel and sprang for the sub instead. As long as you have good quality front speakers, you can limp along without a center channel. But a missing sub you'll notice more. Its the sub that gives the movies the sonic impact, the "wow" factor.

My vote is sub before center channel if your mains are a good quailty speakers.

 

[j_garcia]

My current system is $100 HTIB which I knew was crap when I got it, but I wanted something for a "start" when we finished the basement. The sub is NOT powered so is super crap. The center (and surrounds) are the same...small, single driver things not worth lining the cat box with. The only thing going for the system is the progressive scan DVD player and component video. So if both the sub and ctr are equally bad and I can only afford to replace one, I'm not sure which I'll go with. It turns out my sis-in-law has a sub she will give me a t-giving, so maybe I'll wait for that and see how it works out, and get the ctr with my new mains.

Thanks!

I'd save up a little and get all 3 fronts replaced, then put the best speakers from the current package as the surrounds; OR do what Sheep and others said, get a good pair of mains first and either use no center (phantom) or use one or more of the current speakers as a center for now. If you buy a good center, it will make your mains the weak point. If you buy new mains, at least they will improve the overall sound more IMO.

Is there a budget? Are we talking like $100 or $500 range? Athena AS-B1.2s are $99/pr. new and $85 used on www.audioadvisor.com and they are very decent for the price. The matching center is also $99.

 

[snickelfritz]

Subwoofer first, IMO.
Adding a powered subwoofer bi-amplifies your system, and greatly improves the dynamic range and low frequency extension.
It also allows more flexibility in achieving smooth bass response in-room, which is key to realistic sound reproduction.

The main speakers can "phantom" the center channel info just fine until you can afford a matching center speaker.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Even with a center identical to the mains, placement and room acoustics will prevent it from being a perfect timber match. This is why I prefer phantom center. I would upgrade the sub and not get a center at all.
(Actually, I don't use a sub either, but only because my mains produce subwoofer-like bass on their own.)

 

[jonnythan]

I'd throw away my old center and buy a sub.

Then start saving for a new, matching center.

 

[annunaki]

What are you using as a receiver? Will it even be capable of driving new mains if the whole HTIB was only $100.00? MAny inexpensive HTIB subs have very small amplifiers and may not be capable of driving a larger speaker, especially if they are a much more reactive load than the original speakers.

Does the receiver have a dedicated subwoofer output to get an LFE signal to it?

 

[EddieG]

What are you using as a receiver? Will it even be capable of driving new mains if the whole HTIB was only $100.00? MAny inexpensive HTIB subs have very small amplifiers and may not be capable of driving a larger speaker, especially if they are a much more reactive load than the original speakers.

Does the receiver have a dedicated subwoofer output to get an LFE signal to it?

I have a new HK receiver coming tomorrow.

 

[jonnythan]

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?p=322154

 

[Soundman]

I say get a new center and a sub. They really are the most important pieces of the system. If money is tight, save up and get both. Don't settle for something cheap you will regret later.

 

[jonnythan]

I say get a new center and a sub. They really are the most important pieces of the system. If money is tight, save up and get both. Don't settle for something cheap you will regret later.

If I'm saving up $600 for a sub and $300 for a center.... and, at some point in my saving I have $600 out of the $900 I need... wouldn't it make sense to buy the sub while saving up the other $300?

 

[annunaki]

With a new receiver, I wouldjust get a new high quality sub and run it 2.1 for now. Add the center a bit later and then the rears. If the speakers from the htib are as cheesy as you claim I would not even hook them up.

 

[jonnythan]

With a new receiver, I wouldjust get a new high quality sub and run it 2.1 for now. Add the center a bit later and then the rears. If the speakers from the htib are as cheesy as you claim I would not even hook them up.

I agree 100%.

As soon as you have a sub and quality mains, throw everything else away (or sell it on Craigslist)... except maybe hold on to the surrounds til I replace them. Depends on how crappy they are.

 

[Soundman]

If I'm saving up $600 for a sub and $300 for a center.... and, at some point in my saving I have $600 out of the $900 I need... wouldn't it make sense to buy the sub while saving up the other $300?

very funny. I think the order that you buy them in is really up to you. If the sub is more important to you then fine, just buy the sub and save up for the center. The point I was trying to make was to replace the center and the sub at some point. If money's tight, it's OK to take your time and get what you really want. I am currently running my system without a sub. I'm saving up for a really good sub instead of settling. My old sub isn't worth using. It only makes my current system sound lousy. That's the problem with good speakers. If you match them with those of lesser quality, it will be obvious.