Mix and Match, problems/issues/suggestions

[busterbrown885]

I currently have the following home theater audio equipment. Onkyo TX-SR 706 receiver, 2 of the Athena S.5.2 satellite speakers that I use for the rear channel surround sound, 2 of the Athena AS-B1 speakers that are used for the front left and right , 1 of the AS-C1 center channel speaker. I am taking delivery on a new 55" Vizio XVT553 TV.
The center channel speaker I now have is quite large and I am looking for something smaller but higher quality.

As I started to research this, most articles indicated that the speakers should be matched. Does this mean replacing all the speakers I have, is it possible to purchase just a center channel and keep the rest of the set up?

Another thought was to use the 2 Athena speakers that are now front channel as additional surround making a total of 7 speakers and buying a new front channel and 2 new front speakers.

What problems would I likely face with a mix and match? Are the Athena speakers a good speaker?

If I did a mix and match, what would be the recommendation for the center channel and front speakers?

Budget would be in the $300 to $400 max.

Thank you

 

[AVRat]

Yes, it is best to have the front three matched so that a coherent front soundstage is maintained. When sound pans across the front, you want a smooth transition, not something awkward in the middle. It is not as critical for the surrounds to match the fronts.

Personally, with a nice 55" display, I'd want a nice large center channel, and IMHO your's isn't all that large. Going smaller, depending on how small, is going to compromise the sound.

I'm assuming your looking for something like this: http://www.definitivetech.com/Products/products.aspx?path=Center Channel Speakers&productid=Mythos Three. While this may be higher quality, and maybe better sound quality, you may not experience a discernable difference.

 

[digicidal]

The Athenas were a pretty good speaker - read the other posts about this as they were first acquired and largely dismantled by Klipsch and are now part of the acquisition by Audiovox.

I have a pair of their small line array speakers - nothing special but for the size they're pretty nice. Although they are not the same voicing and would require (to sound best) replacing your F/C/R speakers all at once - I would recommend trying to audition some PSB's - they should have a very similar sound since they're both designed from similar perspectives and are both Canadian brands which used the same facilities in speaker testing.

Also (although they went the same way - i.e. Klipsch>Audiovox) you should try something from the previous Energy C line. I would expect them to be even closer in sound to the Athenas than the PSB's (although I would expect the PSBs to sound a little 'better' - but speaker preferrence is subjective so I can't say that YOU would think they sounded better).

You can find speakers from both brands in almost any price point - however, I cannot comment on how likely it will be to get more speakers from Energy down the road - at least new ones. I'd recommend PSB for that very reason alone, since they are not likely to go through significant changes due to new ownership.

Sadly there isn't really a possibility to go with a different Athena center unless you can find some backstock or a used speaker somewhere as I don't believe Klipsch continued with the brand - although I could be mistaken.

Also, I concur with AVRat - you should probably be looking for a LARGER center channel - not a smaller one. Unless you are sitting really close to the TV, the simple size of the new screen itself will (probably) dictate moving your L/R speakers a little further apart - thus moving the sweetspot back another foot or two. In order to keep everyone on the couch happy... a bigger center may be necessary.

 

[busterbrown885]

When you say bigger, do you mean higher, wider, longer or all 3 dimensions? One of the concerns is that I will not be able to place this on top of the TV due to the thiness of the panel. I was thinking of placing it in front of the tv but the height will block out part of the screen. I may be able to place it on a book case which is behind the TV but it would seem that the sound would have to travel further.

I see these new soundbars which seem to be longer but not as high or deep.

Is it a simple matter of multiplying the dimensions and getting the largest that will work or is there some other measurment you are talking about relative to size?

 

[digicidal]

For the most part I was meaning wider in referrence to the TV itself - however (depending on the design) wider for the center channel may be beneficial as well. The trick is in spreading the soundstage equally (or as much as is possible) across the physical listening area. You can view examples of that here in the 'university' section - or on Dolby's site - as well as many others.

Since the center channel will handle nearly all of the dialog and a decent portion of the effects during a movie - you would (ideally) want to have all three L/C/R speakers be exactly the same speaker. Unfortunately your setup is very similar to mine and this is where the horizontal center channel is born. It's not the way it should be - but having a speaker pointed at the back of your TV, or blocking it by being directly in front of it, isn't going to make for a better viewing experience (but it will be a better listening experience). I'm currently getting ready to upgrade my setup and am struggling with the issue of center placement and model as well.

One possibility is to get a center channel stand (basically a regular stand that's short) of 12-18" and put the center channel on that in front of the TV & media cabinet. You could also search for or construct a solution to allow for a center channel stand behind the TV - however your center should be no further back than the front of the TV itself.. and preferrably in front of it by 1" or so (since if it's flush with the front you basically have a speaker with a front baffle that is the size of your whole TV). Then again with the stand you have a speaker very close to the floor - so reflections might be a problem unless you have a plush carpet on the floor.

Here is all I've really managed to determine from my own listening (which is simultaneously guiding my speaker selections and making the choice nearly impossible at the same time):

Regardless of orientation, the L/C/R speakers must be of the same brand and line of speakers so they are perfectly voice-matched. Additionally they much use the same type/size drivers in a similar complement. For example if I'm looking at towers for the L&R speakers from brand X that have 2 6.5" bass drivers and a ribbon tweeter - then the center channel must employ at least one and preferrably two of the same 6.5" woofers and an identical ribbon tweeter. When considering planar speakers for the L&R - then a planar center is the only option (for me at least)... which is why I've decided I can't go that route even though I'd love to.

Whatever the brand or line you prefer - the closer in design the center is to the L&R fronts - the more uniform the sound when dialog or effects pan across the entire front. Those of us that don't have the luxury (or layout) to have a acoustically transparent screen and projector - have to make some compromises to speaker type and placement to make it all work. However, going too small on the center - especially in relation to the LF & RF speakers - is probably as bad if not worse than going with a different brand center which at least uses similar drivers with a similar crossover and similar sensitivities.

 

[Pyrrho]

I currently have the following home theater audio equipment. Onkyo TX-SR 706 receiver, 2 of the Athena S.5.2 satellite speakers that I use for the rear channel surround sound, 2 of the Athena AS-B1 speakers that are used for the front left and right , 1 of the AS-C1 center channel speaker. I am taking delivery on a new 55" Vizio XVT553 TV.
The center channel speaker I now have is quite large and I am looking for something smaller but higher quality.

As I started to research this, most articles indicated that the speakers should be matched. Does this mean replacing all the speakers I have, is it possible to purchase just a center channel and keep the rest of the set up?

Another thought was to use the 2 Athena speakers that are now front channel as additional surround making a total of 7 speakers and buying a new front channel and 2 new front speakers.

What problems would I likely face with a mix and match? Are the Athena speakers a good speaker?

If I did a mix and match, what would be the recommendation for the center channel and front speakers?

Budget would be in the $300 to $400 max.

Thank you

Since it is a very good idea to keep the front three speakers voice matched (so that the sounds do not change when they pan across the front), I think you should forget about replacing the center and just enjoy what you have. To do things right, you would need to replace all three front speakers, and with your budget, that is not going to get you an improvement in sound.

 

[Pyrrho]

When you say bigger, do you mean higher, wider, longer or all 3 dimensions? One of the concerns is that I will not be able to place this on top of the TV due to the thiness of the panel. I was thinking of placing it in front of the tv but the height will block out part of the screen. I may be able to place it on a book case which is behind the TV but it would seem that the sound would have to travel further.

I see these new soundbars which seem to be longer but not as high or deep.

Is it a simple matter of multiplying the dimensions and getting the largest that will work or is there some other measurment you are talking about relative to size?

In that case, you might want to get different furniture to accommodate your new TV and center speaker. Mounting a flat panel screen on the wall is a good idea (unless you are renting). You can also get a piece of furniture that has a large enough shelf for your center speaker just below the screen. If you buy a speaker to fit the space you now have, you will most likely be compromising the sound of it, and also have the problem of it not matching your right and left front speakers. I strongly recommend changing your furniture to fit your current gear instead, as it will be more likely to sound better than way.

 

[AVRat]

I have a similar situation. I had a small riser built, painted black so the TV screen cleared the top of the center speaker. The TV base looks to be about as wide as your center, to hide the riser, and it doesn't look like you need much height to clear the center, maybe a few pieces of 3/4" plywood.