HT Center channel position

[tool49]

Hello all, A few month back I built my own floorstanders and I'm pleased with them. (System picture) They are on a MTM configuration. Now that I have watched a few movies I realized that some effect over power the voices and make watching a movie a bit unpleasant in 2.1 mode. I was thinking of building a center channel with the exact same configuration and speakers but in a smaller sealed box giving me a very similar simulated response curve as the previous ones till approximately 100Hz. The center channel would obviously be positioned in a horizontal configuration.

Now since a 1 ft^3 box is still rather large and that my speakers require a minimal baffle width of 8.5 in I was wondering if it would be a good idea to place the center channel under the television. I could always build a stand to hang it over the television but if underneath is good, it could even become my tv stand!

Thanks,
Sébastien

[Timn8ter]

I'm beginning to believe that if you do use a CC for movies it becomes the most critical speaker in the system as the LR mains carry less of the program material than the CC does. I've put the CC on top and under the display and it never helps the problem of the voices coming from the wrong spot. Perhaps the only real solution is a stereo CC through a perfed screen. Beyond that, just try it both ways and see which way you like it.

[johninCR]

An alternative that I've tested with good effect which would work especially well since you have an MTM setup is to use 2 speakers for the center channel. I found top and bottom to work best. Just use the same drivers and make 2 TM's to run off of the same mono signal. Identical drivers with the same signal gives you a good centered sound. Left and right doesn't seem to work as well off axis as top and bottom do.

[Timn8ter]

I've considered that too. Is there a downside to having two CC?

[rabbitz]

I've got mine under the TV on a shelf that tilts upwards so the tweeter fires to the same level as the mains at the viewing position. Works well and gives a seamless pan across the viewing area.

[Lusso5]

Originally posted by johninCR
An alternative that I've tested with good effect which would work especially well since you have an MTM setup is to use 2 speakers for the center channel. I found top and bottom to work best. Just use the same drivers and make 2 TM's to run off of the same mono signal. Identical drivers with the same signal gives you a good centered sound. Left and right doesn't seem to work as well off axis as top and bottom do.

Originally posted by Timn8ter
I've considered that too. Is there a downside to having two CC?

Wouldnt there be interference from a set-up like that - two identical sources producing a mono signal in the same direction: comb filtering ?

[Timn8ter]

Originally posted by Lusso5





Wouldnt there be interference from a set-up like that - two identical sources producing a mono signal in the same direction: comb filtering ?

I've heard that concern too.

[johninCR]

He's using MTM's already. We're talking about an HT center channel. Even if there was some interference it wouldn't be noticeable except when doing a tone sweep. Also, most all rooms have more of a negative effect than the small amount of comb filtering that may occur. Any negative is far offset by having the dialogue coming from the center of the screen. At a theatre, do you think the dialogue comes from a solitary speaker? Do you notice comb filtering causing a problem?

I think all too often people get so tangled up in theory that they miss the real world application. Far too much emphasis is placed on the flatness of response. eg I have some Adire HE8.1's which measure quite flat in their little BR cabs. I take them out of the cabs now and use them OB and they sound much much better, but they don't measure flat at all in the current set up. I use line arrays as well, which have a lot of interference and comb filtering going on in their response, but they still sound great.

[tool49]

Gee thanks guys for the response, I will try your suggestions. I mean under the television, tilted upward. Perhaps I should buy a projector with a sound transparent screen and place the center channel behind it in the middle of the image. But seeing how I'm short on cash to even try and build two center channel, I will first try with one underneath or on top and then a second one as cash come in and maybe in a few decades I will be able to afford a nice projector

Thanks,
Sébastien

[Timn8ter]

It's good to have goals.