Help me to design the ultimate Center-Speaker

[ctviggen]

That 3db rule for line sources is only when you're close enough to have the line source act like a line. Get far enough away, and it'll be a point source.

I've been over people's homes who have center channels on stands below their screens and I never once localized the sound to be below the screen. As for center v. no center, I've tried both. In many instances, no center is just as good. In action movies, though, I find a center channel to be better.

 

[johninCR]

That 3db rule for line sources is only when you're close enough to have the line source act like a line. Get far enough away, and it'll be a point source.

I've been over people's homes who have center channels on stands below their screens and I never once localized the sound to be below the screen. As for center v. no center, I've tried both. In many instances, no center is just as good. In action movies, though, I find a center channel to be better.

The nearfield/farfield transition distance is not a difinitive line. The change is gradual and you don't lose the benefit of the distance that is within the nearfield, so no matter how you slice it you get a lot of benefit even if the array length isn't optimal.

I'm not advocating short arrays which can introduce a slew of problems and a big room like the original poster has needs some nice tall arrays. He wanted big sound and that's what arrays do, plus the other benefits previously mentioned tip the scales in favor of arrays for HT. Driver cost and extra construction are the compromise.

 

[Cloth Ears]

You say you have arrays for left and right already.

I would STRONGLY suggest you switch to phantom centre, and at least give it a try.

I would be almost certain you will end up spending the funds earmarked for your centre speaker on something more worthwhile.

I'd suggest you try this also.

And there's another option (although I've misplaced the article and lost the reference - but I think it was by Paul Klipsch). PLEASE don't do this without researching it some more! You can stabilise the stereo image by running the positive signals from your 2 L/R outputs to a third amplifier/speaker set-up, and locate that speaker centrally behing the listening position. The third speaker should be the same as the 2 L/R mains. The signal in the thrid speaker (I think) should be the differences between the L/R channels - with none of the shared signal.

The article I've (hopefully temporarily) lost included set-ups for feeds from both line-level and speaker-level inputs.