Have 2.1. Any good reason for 3.1?

[rbf1138]

Now that I'm settling in with my JBL Studio 530 front speakers and an SVS subwoofer, is there an argument to be made to add just a center channel? Would the center channel just be primarily for dialogue enhancement during movies and games? Is there any benefit to music with a front channel?

 

[markw]

There is no enhancement to music with a center channel. As for HT purposes, you've nailed it.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

+1

 

[zieglj01]

+2

And, continue to enjoy them nice/good speakers.

 

[slipperybidness]

Only add the center if there is a problem that you are trying to fix.

Some speakers will image well enough that a center isn't really needed.

 

[Acoustat]

I have a different scenario on 3.1 since my fronts are driven with a separate amp
from the pre outs of my AVR. I'm using the side surrounds and centre with my AVR
for typical TV watching and evening series, leaving the fronts off except for movies.
This is working out really well for me. Adds spaciousness and a lot more bass with
surrounds crossed at 40Hz. I likes it.

 

[j_garcia]

I ran 3.1 on my rig for a while after moving and had no issues with it. IMO, it does benefit for movies, so if you watch a lot of movies then I'd say yes. If you mostly listen to music, then I'd say no. I tend to listen to more music, but I want movie dialog to sound clear too.

 

[markw]

Just as a aside, you don't say what you're driving these with. For a center channel, you need a multi-channel AVR. You can't do it with a stereo amp.

 

[Acoustat]

I'm driving my fronts with a stereo amp, signal supplied via my AVR.
I used to drive rigs too as a side note to that lol.

 

[Dr. Bob]

I got rid of my center speaker years ago and have never missed it. If your mains have good imaging, you don't need a center IMO.

 

[sawzalot]

I have thought about the sound quality with out the center and have to ask everyone here, if the center is left out and the set up goes to a simple L/R Stereo won't we miss out on many different sounds that are added to a blu ray , I mean of course adding the center will help dialogue and such but will a three speaker front stage give more secondary background sounds as opposed to a stereo set up ?? I realize one will never get the surround sounds without sides and rears but it seems to me with my SC37 there is more information with L/C/R than there is with 2 Channel L/R stereo, maybe just the mind meld playing games but it is the perception I get, thoughts??

 

[Acoustat]

I feel I have phenomenal imaging in 2ch stereo, including depth and height placement.
So much so, that a centre channel speaker is a benefit
for those who sit outside the sweet spot that shifts with a simple 1" movement of the head
when the speakers are set up properly. Conversely, a centre channel speaker can devastate
this imaging for critical musical sound staging, but this is because it's perfuming a job
that it was not intended to perform, and some may find that perfectly fine, many would gasp at the thought.

I would really suggest auditioning centre channel speakers as much as you would for any surrounds.
I did and one step up with the same manufacturer was a big difference.
If it doesn't match up or exceed quality wise, with your surrounds, why bother?

 

[Dr. Bob]

sawzalot: if you tell your AVR there is no center speaker, it will distribute the center channel to the L/R speakers. So you won't miss out on sounds, though the details of the soundstage will change, I suppose.

Acoustat: I agree that if people are sitting off to the sides the center channel makes a bigger difference. To me, it seems 2 feet in either direction is not a big deal, but if you're going to sit further than that from the sweet spot, center is more necessary. Also agree that it should be same quality as L/R speakers. That's one reason I decided to dump mine - I was too cheap to get a GOOD center, and not satisfied with a poor one.

 

[3db]

It depends upon the application (music verses movies) and the seating arrangement. For music, ( stereo listening) I would say no benefit to a center channel. For movies, it will depend on the seating arrangement and how far off center the seating positions are with respect to the screen. I would say that off centter seating positions of greater than 20 degrees would benefit from a center channel.

 

[Acoustat]

...Also agree that it should be same quality as L/R speakers. That's one reason I decided to dump mine - I was too cheap to get a GOOD center, and not satisfied with a poor one.

When I purchased my ML Motion 40 tower surrounds, they came with a poorly matched
unequivocal Motion 6 centre as a free promo. I called Martin Logan and asked why such a mismatch
and they agreed, did nothing, but agreed. I never took it out of the box. Sold it on ebay and
got a ML 50XT, a step above the Motion 30 which should match the surrounds I bought.
So far so good