While a Coax will outperform the typical horizontal MTM for center channel duty, the off axis response isn’t that wide.
My experience has lead me to the best option is to cover the entire fundamental vocal frequency range of 200hz to 5khz without a crossover out to 45 degrees off axis
The only drivers that can do that at 2.5-3.5“ fullrange drivers. But these little drivers can’t handle much power so multiples are needed
I settled on a 5 element horizontal Bessel array of 3” fullrange drivers crossed to a 6” upfiring woofer. I should be able to share the design shortly but I can say this for sure…….it’s by far the best center channel experience I’ve had to date. The 5 drivers behave as one 12” driver would with flat response out to 45 degrees up to around 7kHz and is down maybe 3db out to 10khz. The upfiring woofer uses the flat screen for boundary gain and is low passed 1st order so no baffle step is needed for the 5 element array. The woofer also helps to lock dialogue and sounds to the screen better.
My experience has lead me to the best option is to cover the entire fundamental vocal frequency range of 200hz to 5khz without a crossover out to 45 degrees off axis
The only drivers that can do that at 2.5-3.5“ fullrange drivers. But these little drivers can’t handle much power so multiples are needed
I settled on a 5 element horizontal Bessel array of 3” fullrange drivers crossed to a 6” upfiring woofer. I should be able to share the design shortly but I can say this for sure…….it’s by far the best center channel experience I’ve had to date. The 5 drivers behave as one 12” driver would with flat response out to 45 degrees up to around 7kHz and is down maybe 3db out to 10khz. The upfiring woofer uses the flat screen for boundary gain and is low passed 1st order so no baffle step is needed for the 5 element array. The woofer also helps to lock dialogue and sounds to the screen better.
