looking for really cheap center channel

[gdipilato]

i am looking to replace the center channel on my current speaker setup. My current setup is a logitech z5500 with two sony speakers hooked up to the fronts. Watching movies on this is actually really really good except for the center channel. The center channel on this has never ever been acceptable to me. Its so bad that sometimes i cant even understand what peaple are saying, especially if theres a lot of action going on. All i want is just something that will get me by so that i can at least watch movies. Eventually i will upgrade everything(reciever, speakers) but for now i just dont have the money. My dads center channel on his crappy HTIB blows mine out of the water. Heres what ive been thinking. Im leaning towards the dayton.

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-C125-Bass-Reflex-Channel-Speaker/dp/B0007LQ29A/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=audio-video&qid=1235948223&sr=1-12

http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-RM6752-Channel-Speaker/dp/B0009X09IQ/ref=pd_cp_etk_ce_av__1?pf_rd_p=413863501&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0007LQ29A&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1S6B8HSCQ60X3Q8PYAX9

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-674

 

[mperfct]

Go for it. If you don't have the money right now, just buy the cheaper one. You aren't going to find many diamonds in the rough at that price range...

....except Tom Andry did review these speakers http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/satellite/mcm-custom-audio-50-908 You could get all new 5.0 setup for $100. That's what I would do.

 

[Rickster71]

The Speaker Co may have something:
http://www.thespeakercompany.com/Center-Channel-C13.aspx

 

[alexwakelin]

If you have the room for it, I say go with the Speaker Company RC1. It has 5.25" woofers in it, compared to the yamaha and polk centers, which only have 3.25" woofers.

 

[gdipilato]

so it looks like either the rc1 speakers or the ones from parts express. They both have pretty good ratings.

 

[Fredhizzle]

out of all the choices I would go with the TSC center I recently purchased the LCR3 but I returned them after auditioning them they have a good return policy. The TSC might be good enough for you asuming you havent heard higher end brands. what you get for the price is good.

Btw look at ebay. Polk and infinity have authoridized stores on ebay at auction prices! you can get a nice center for cheap like a polk csi25 which i previously owned is usually on auction and you can get for 50. try your local craigslist if you live in a big city you are likely to find a good deal. I bought a brand new Infinity Beta C250 for $55

 

[Adam]

Just out of curiousity - you're powering the Sonys and planning on powering the new center channel with the Z-5500, correct?

Also, does the Z-5500 system or your source (e.g. PC sound card, DVD player) have a dialogue enhancer function? I have those options on my gear, and they are supposed to make it easier to hear dialogue in movies. If you have that option but haven't tried it, maybe give that a shot - it might let you save some money right now, and get you to a better system sooner in the future.

 

[Midcow2]

What kind of Sony speakers ?

i am looking to replace the center channel on my current speaker setup. My current setup is a logitech z5500 with two sony speakers hooked up to the fronts. Watching movies on this is actually really really good except for the center channel. The center channel on this has never ever been acceptable to me. Its so bad that sometimes i cant even understand what peaple are saying, especially if theres a lot of action going on. All i want is just something that will get me by so that i can at least watch movies. Eventually i will upgrade everything(reciever, speakers) but for now i just dont have the money. My dads center channel on his crappy HTIB blows mine out of the water. Heres what ive been thinking. Im leaning towards the dayton.

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-C125-Bass-Reflex-Channel-Speaker/dp/B0007LQ29A/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=audio-video&qid=1235948223&sr=1-12

http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-RM6752-Channel-Speaker/dp/B0009X09IQ/ref=pd_cp_etk_ce_av__1?pf_rd_p=413863501&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0007LQ29A&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1S6B8HSCQ60X3Q8PYAX9

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-674

What kind of Sony speakers ? If they are inexpensive, then buy a third on for the center. The reason I ask is thatyou could buy two pair of these Sony speakers and have a pretty good cheap ( er politically correct term inexpensive ) system. If possible to maintain timbre( a seamless front sound) the front speakers and centers should be designed to work together. Obviouisly three exactly like speakers is the perfect solution. I have these speakers in my garage system and they sound very good, especially for the price.

Sony SS B3000 $74.95 / pair plus shipping from B & h Photo
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/493591-REG/Sony_SS_B3000_SS_B3000_3_Way_Bookshelf_Speakers.html

Good luck,

MidCow2

 

[lsiberian]

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/KEFIQ2CBLKA/KEF/iQ2C-2-Way-Center-Channel-Speaker-in-Black-NEW/1.html

That is the best center you can find for 130 period. It's a Coaxial from a good brand at a low price.

I suggest you save to get it. It is well worth the wait. Then you can add a pair of these down the line someday.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/KEFIQ1BLKA/KEF/iQ1-2-Way-5.25-Bookshelf-Speakers-Black-pair-NEW/1.html:)

 

[GregLee]

I have Z-5500, and the center has sounded okay to me, but I've still looked for improvements. A zero-cost change that I think helped was to tilt the center speaker up a little, pointing over my head, and turning up the volume. A very low cost change was to substitute an old Kenwood speaker, LSK-2000, I got at the Salvation Army for around $18. A higher cost change I used on a different system, not the Z-5500, was to substitute an Axiom M2i for $128.