Two Center Speakers???

[CyrusTalon]

I have a Yamaha receiver, and am using JBL Home Surround System (SCS145.5). I really do not have a good place for the center speaker, but I do have room for two centers if I purchase a second centre (from JBL website $49).

Will there be a problem if I run these two sets of speaker wire into the center output clips on my receiver? Will both speakers get the correct amount of signal, or will it be halved???

Thanks

 

[JAD2]

Odd question. If you dont have room for one which is all you need, how could you have room for 2????

 

[mike c]

do you intend to put one on top and one below the TV? or do you intend to put them side by side?

the signal won't be halved, the power will be ... you might strain your receiver because it will now see a 4 ohm load (not 2 x 8ohms) from the centers

JAD, the SCS series are satellites (so you can put them in your pocket if you want )

 

[CyrusTalon]

Yes, I would put one on each side of the TV (behind actually, so they are not seen). I just wondered power / signal wise if this was ok.

 

[jonnythan]

Is that your room??

If so, I think it deserves a much better audio system than that JVC

 

[mike c]

whats that below the tv? fireplace?

it might not be a good idea to hide the speaker behind anything, you'd be cancelling any benefit of having a better speaker than that of the TV itself ...

I would simply suggest you get better front left and right speakers. and just set the receiver to "NON" center ... it will then matrix the center using the left and right speakers.

 

[WmAx]

It is not wise to place two speakers covering this frequency range, and intended to be one channel, at a significant spacing[you state one on either side of the television] relative to the wavelengths produced. The result will be substantial comb filtering of the signal response at differing angles. I suspect that you will reduce the effective focus of the center channel by a substantial degree, and lose localization stability that is usually inherant of a single channel center channel.

-Chris

 

[CyrusTalon]

Well, I am not trying to go all out on this setup. I didn't have a lot of money to spend in the first place, so an additional center speaker is the only option I really have. The room as a whole (24' x 24') is not really condusive to a surround system anyway. As you can see, I have the L & R speakers on top of the book shelves. Similarly, the surrounds are mounted along the crown mould just slightly behind the couch. The sub will have to sit on the counter top once I drill a hole for the line from the receiver. So as you can see, I dont really have a place for 1 centre. But because the TV sits up raised slightly (about 3 inches) I have the current center sitting behind the screen so that the sound still comes out pretty well (its not like I am going to get THX certified!!). My main question was just if this would cause any problems with the Receiver, etc...

 

[RMK!]

Dual Centers

It is not wise to place two speakers covering this frequency range, and intended to be one channel, at a significant spacing[you state one on either side of the television] relative to the wavelengths produced. The result will be substantial comb filtering of the signal response at differing angles. I suspect that you will reduce the effective focus of the center channel by a substantial degree, and lose localization stability that is usually inherant of a single channel center channel.

-Chris

My suggestion is to try it out. In my system, I have used a single matched center channel above (3") the screen, dual centers placed side by side above screen and dual centers (one on each side) separated by a 44" display. There is another 3' or so on each side from the centers to my mains. For the first time, the RCL drivers are alined verticallyand perhaps that is why this config sounds so much better than the other two but with this setup, movie dialog has never been clearer and the overall sound in 5 channel mode is amazing.

 

[WmAx]

Well, I am not trying to go all out on this setup. I didn't have a lot of money to spend in the first place, so an additional center speaker is the only option I really have. The room as a whole (24' x 24') is not really condusive to a surround system anyway. As you can see, I have the L & R speakers on top of the book shelves. Similarly, the surrounds are mounted along the crown mould just slightly behind the couch. The sub will have to sit on the counter top once I drill a hole for the line from the receiver. So as you can see, I dont really have a place for 1 centre. But because the TV sits up raised slightly (about 3 inches) I have the current center sitting behind the screen so that the sound still comes out pretty well (its not like I am going to get THX certified!!). My main question was just if this would cause any problems with the Receiver, etc...

Actually, since you were already willing to compromise the visual integrity of the room by having a large television installed in the wall such seen in the attached picture, it would seem like you do have a place for a center channel, by the addition of an even smaller compromise. Cut a rectangular hole above the tv and cover it with a fabric framed grill that mounts flush with the wall and matches the wall in color. Place a center channel behind the grill. The only evidence of a center channel will be a texture change in the wall across a small area. You can do the same with the cabinets and install better left/right channels, by removing the wood panels from two of the doors(on left and right) and using a matching cloth material mounted on a frame. These are standard techniques used to install proper surround sound into settings such as you have.

-Chris

 

[CyrusTalon]

This is what I have:

Yamaha HTR-5830 AV Receiver
JVC HD-ILA tv (56')
JBL SCS145.5 Surround speaker system
LG DVD player (HDMI progres. upscan)

Included:
speaker wire
HDMI
component cables
Optical cables
Monster POwer center
and a few other goodies (tv screen cleaner, etc)

Complete setup cost me $3800
I then bought a 659 harmony, and some more speaker wire, optical cable, component cable (for sub) etc.

Over all, I am happy with it, but just need to add that second center on the other side of the TV I think...

Currently the sound seems a bit "skewed" to the left... I think a second center might fix that.

With the centres behind the tv, they cannot be seen, which makes this a nice option...

 

[JAD2]

JAD, the SCS series are satellites (so you can put them in your pocket if you want )

I didnt know, thanks, had me really confused if that wasnt the case!!

 

[CyrusTalon]

Yes, the speakers and satellites are only about 4 inches tall and 3 inches wide. The centre speaker is about 8" wide and 4" tall. You can see them sitting on top of the book cases and mounted along the crown mould in my pics above...

 

[jonnythan]

I think my choice would be to go with the built-in speakers over the JVC ones.

 

[Sheep]

I think my choice would be to go with the built-in speakers over the JVC ones.

GUH! Can you not read?! Its JBL!

And I agree. Those speakers are FAR to small for that room. You'd be better off having all in ceiling speakers.

SheepStar

 

[billy p]

Heck

move the darn chairs and get some nice floors then you can install a shelf just above tv for center channel but I know WAF will stay no
Otherwise very nice room!!

 

[jonnythan]

GUH! Can you not read?! Its JBL!

Hey, don't laugh at my dyslexia

 

[mulester7]

Over all, I am happy with it, but just need to add that second center on the other side of the TV I think...

Currently the sound seems a bit "skewed" to the left... I think a second center might fix that.

With the centres behind the tv, they cannot be seen, which makes this a nice option...

.....total agreement, Cyrus.....I plan to "try" dual centers just above and just below a 96 inch diag screen....that application would apply more to what WmAx pointed out....I say go for the dual unseen centers behind the TV in your situation....I assume you'll be paralleling both centers off the center output of the receiver....that could bring a hair more heat from the receiver, but you should end up with a more bold authoritative center-sound from the paralleling.....you'll probably end up dropping the volume of the centers a bit to match the main's, but just do what your ears tell you to on that......

 

[Ax-man]

I run an Axiom 6 ohm VP150 wired parallel with an Axiom 8 ohm VP100 (3.43 ohms to the HK receiver) above and below our TV without any ill effects. I've tried using a single center both above and below the screen but I find the two centers do a much better job of planting the dialog to the center of the screen.
I spoke with the Axiom folks prior to this setup and they informed me there should be no problem, and there hasn't been. I was also considering using two M60 floor-standers on either side of the TV but was told that sitting off axis may produce off axis dialog.

Try the two centers Cyrus, can't hurt!

 

[WmAx]

It's not nearly as bad as to place the speakers on the top and bottom, as opposed to the left and right extremes of the television. The center image can not remain stabilized when you go off axis in the case of horizontal Left - Right placement on either side of a large television screen. You are essentially regressing to the phantom center image technique created by stereo speakers when you do this; it can not keep the image stabilized in the center when you are in asymmetrical position relative to the two channels. The Top - Bottom system will also have problems, but they are far less likely to create a practical issue. Of course, if the only seating position(s) are essentially in dead center, symmetrically placed relative to the center channels, then it will not be an issue.

-Chris