M
MDK210
Junior Audioholic
In HT you have two camps; phantom center and center purist (regardless of style). Additionally, some believe in matching brands/series while others feel you can use alternative brands/series. One thing I've often seen over the years is that if you are pro center then almost everyone that is educated in speakers recommends to get the best one you can afford since the majority of HT can and often does run though it with most classifying it as the "anchor" of a HT system. Makes sense so far...
However, if this the case then why is HT audio advice still focused on getting the biggest left and rights (LR)? This is more inline with the thought process of 2-ch systems and the idea that a proper 2-ch setup can stereo image the center (aka phantom) which is beneficial for both music and movies. Manufacturers appear to indirectly support this phantom format since they often have inferior center speakers compared to their LR counterparts in the same series especially at the beginning of HT. Factor in articles/videos from sources such as Audioholics that suggest a center MTM configuration is the lesser of evils if you need to go with a horizontal center but the optimal setup would be to have a duplicate LR used as a C which only adds to the confusion for beginners. Some manufacturers such as Ohm sell vertical style center channels but due to the nature of HT and requirement of having a center as close to the TV as possible it's hardly done properly either due to personnel, financial, or size constraints. Companies saw this and created horizontal speakers giving the illusion this was the ONLY way to have a center channel design but it feels as if they never took it seriously and more of an afterthought especially early on in HT.
With all this data out there why is it almost anytime we discuss HT it's LR and Subwoofers? I can understand surrounds given the role they play, or lack thereof, and subwoofers are always fun to talk about albeit people have them placed incorrectly more often than not yet the center is overshadowed by the LR discussion. If the center is as truly important as HT purist claim and document it is such then why is the advice given never to spend the most on a center and find LR's to match it? Call any dealer and ask for a HT setup and they probably sell you $10K speakers with a $100 center channel as if they can impress you with the LR then it all must sound amazing right? So, if you are pro center do you have the most expensive center your brand makes? If you pro phantom center does your brand LR even make a quality center?
However, if this the case then why is HT audio advice still focused on getting the biggest left and rights (LR)? This is more inline with the thought process of 2-ch systems and the idea that a proper 2-ch setup can stereo image the center (aka phantom) which is beneficial for both music and movies. Manufacturers appear to indirectly support this phantom format since they often have inferior center speakers compared to their LR counterparts in the same series especially at the beginning of HT. Factor in articles/videos from sources such as Audioholics that suggest a center MTM configuration is the lesser of evils if you need to go with a horizontal center but the optimal setup would be to have a duplicate LR used as a C which only adds to the confusion for beginners. Some manufacturers such as Ohm sell vertical style center channels but due to the nature of HT and requirement of having a center as close to the TV as possible it's hardly done properly either due to personnel, financial, or size constraints. Companies saw this and created horizontal speakers giving the illusion this was the ONLY way to have a center channel design but it feels as if they never took it seriously and more of an afterthought especially early on in HT.
With all this data out there why is it almost anytime we discuss HT it's LR and Subwoofers? I can understand surrounds given the role they play, or lack thereof, and subwoofers are always fun to talk about albeit people have them placed incorrectly more often than not yet the center is overshadowed by the LR discussion. If the center is as truly important as HT purist claim and document it is such then why is the advice given never to spend the most on a center and find LR's to match it? Call any dealer and ask for a HT setup and they probably sell you $10K speakers with a $100 center channel as if they can impress you with the LR then it all must sound amazing right? So, if you are pro center do you have the most expensive center your brand makes? If you pro phantom center does your brand LR even make a quality center?
