How to create an additional Center Channel

[omarbec]

I own the Denon AVR-5308ci A/V Receiver. I'm interested in adding an additional Center Channel and I'm not sure how to do that. I thought about using a speaker selector box between the receiver and the Center Channel connection, then connecting two Center Channel speakers to the switching box giving me the option of using one, two or both speakers at the same time. I'm not sure if this is is the right thing to do, surely don't want to do anything that could possibly damage my receiver or deteriorate the sound of the Center Channel. Any Advise?? PLEASE!!!

 

[mike c]

safest way would be to use an external amp for the secondary center speaker, that way, you can turn it on or turn it off at will

but you must research on the use of dual centers to check if its ok acoustically

 

[Nomo]

Why a second center? What do you feel is missing?

 

[TLS Guy]

I own the Denon AVR-5308ci A/V Receiver. I'm interested in adding an additional Center Channel and I'm not sure how to do that. I thought about using a speaker selector box between the receiver and the Center Channel connection, then connecting two Center Channel speakers to the switching box giving me the option of using one, two or both speakers at the same time. I'm not sure if this is is the right thing to do, surely don't want to do anything that could possibly damage my receiver or deteriorate the sound of the Center Channel. Any Advise?? PLEASE!!!

If one speaker does not cut it two will be worse. The reason comb filtering. (Interference between the speakers). If you don't like what you have get a better speaker. Keep in mind that most center channel speakers are severely compromised and wanting.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I can't even begin to imagine any reason for wanting two center channels. If you don't like the one you have, just replace it with a better one. Running two at once will not sound better than just running one, and is very likely to sound worse.

 

[Midcow2]

Have you thought about upgrading your center channel?

I own the Denon AVR-5308ci A/V Receiver. I'm interested in adding an additional Center Channel and I'm not sure how to do that. I thought about using a speaker selector box between the receiver and the Center Channel connection, then connecting two Center Channel speakers to the switching box giving me the option of using one, two or both speakers at the same time. I'm not sure if this is is the right thing to do, surely don't want to do anything that could possibly damage my receiver or deteriorate the sound of the Center Channel. Any Advise?? PLEASE!!!

Rather than two centers , what about upgrading your center channel ?

Here are two very good center channels. Not sure which front speakers you have you might want to upgrade with the higher end center channel that matches your front speakers to maintain timbre.

My personal favorite Definitive Technology CLR3000; i have it and it is phenomenal! http://www.definitivetech.com/loudspeakers/clr/clr.html

The AV123 Bigfoot (RSC200) is another very good center speaker:
http://av123.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,30/category_id,19/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,37/

 

[mike c]

omarbec, i have merged your two threads into this one.

as you can see, starting two threads will result to duplicate posts from people trying to help you.

 

[DaveHo]

Just in case you are still in doubt, two centers is generally a bad idea. The reasons have already been given.

 

[omarbec]

Why a second center? What do you feel is missing?center carries all dialog and my speaker is probably too small. I felt if I add another will solve the problem

 

[AVRat]

Which DT speakers do you have? How big is your room? Are you using a TV or proj/screen setup? More info helps.

 

[jvgillow]

Ian Colquhoun of Axiom Audio advocates two center speakers, one above the screen and one below the screen. Personally I think it's a bad idea but there are some out there who believe it's better. The setup that Axiom demoed at SOTU 2007 had that dual-center configuration.

 

[Midcow2]

Just curious ....

Why a second center? What do you feel is missing?center carries all dialog and my speaker is probably too small. I felt if I add another will solve the problem

Did you not like my suggestion of upgrading the center speaker. If you feel your current one is too small , a larger more robuset, newone would solve your problem.

There has been some discussion on multiple, but you need to be real careful with mutiple speakers carrying the same signal. Timbre really comes into effect as well as the phasing and distance. If all is not equal and you are not careful you can recreate the awful "reberb" effect from the 70s

 

[omarbec]

my center channel is Definitive Technology Mythos 7 placed on top os my 60" LG Plasma (hanged on the wall), room is 14x11. Thank you for trying to help.

 

[fredk]

Ian Colquhoun of Axiom Audio advocates two center speakers, one above the screen and one below the screen.

I believe the reason he does this is to center the dialog on the screen. I know of several others who have used this arrangement and seem to think it is an improvement over a single center above or below.

After reading about the serious design compromise of horizontal centers, I went with a pair of bookshelves above and below the display (no WAF ).

Since they use the same drivers as the standard center and mains for my system, there is no matching issue. I have not measured yet, but I can hear no difference in the volume/directionality of dialog from any of the speakers from any of the seating positions. In fact, I don't really notice any drop off in volume from the center to the edge of the room.

I also noticed with both or a single bookshelf below the screen that dialog (and even the soundstage for music) was centered towards the bottom of the screen.

So, the use of timber matched speakers in a vertical arrangement can lead to a very good results as a center channel. I wish I had a normal center to compare to.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yes, listen to TLS Guy!

I already tried using two Definitive Technolgy CLR3000 center speakers! It sounded terrible! Then I went back to using one center speaker and everything was GREAT again!

So don't use 2 center speakers due to the comb filtering effect.

 

[Tod]

I'm one of the ones who uses two and has no problem. They do sound great, and I much prefer it to a single one. Much of that may have to do with my situation though. I'm forced to sit very close to a very large screen - about 1 screen width away.

First, at that close a single speaker would be intolerably localized below the screen.

Second, the above/below speakers are nearly as close to me as they are to each other, which I would guess helps minimize any comb filtering. They're aimed to a point just behind the listening position, so perhaps that minimizes the amount of time/space the sound from the two speakers has to interact.

Maybe it wouldn't work well most of the time, but in some cases I believe there's no problem. It sounds quite lovely with both movies and multi-channel audio, and I have no plans to switch. Until I get something like the HTM1D that is....

 

[AVRat]

The issue is probably speaker position, but room acoustics more than likely is also playing a role. With that TV, the speaker I’m assuming is relatively high and needs to be tilted downward firing toward the listening position. As it is, it is probably firing over your head.

The second issue may be room acoustics. If you have a room boundary (wall) close behind the LP, the sound may be reflecting and your ears are getting a jumble of sound.

BTW, what are the other speakers/sub you’re using?