Home theater, center channel recommendations?

[olds97_lss]

Just curious what some of you guys have for a center channel.

What I have:
JBL 10" 150 watt down firing sub (unplugged)
2 4.5" JBL wall mount (rear R/L)
2 5" JBL bookshelf (front R/L)
Bose VCS-10 center channel (center)

We live in an apartment, so I enjoy rich deep tones with clear highs that fill the room. When we watch a movie, it feels like a theater, well, like a theater that I can pause to take a leak during.

The bose speaker sounds like crap. It sounds very hollow with absolutely no depth whatsoever. I have had the sub unplugged for about 4 months. The JBL book shelf speakers were a recent purchase. I have wired my big screens speakers directly into the center channel on my receiver. Our tv is basically a monitor with one RCA video cable and one S-Video cable going to it (DVD's). I wired it's speakers in because they sounded good when I had it set as an actual "tv" prior to building the rest of the system. They give the bose the extra depth that was missing. But, at a cost. Their highs aren't very clear and the bose just sounds like crap for all frequency ranges. Highly over rated.

I don't know if I'm going to find a center channel that does what I actually want. I want the thunder of my TV's drivers and the highs I get from the other 4 JBL's. I definitely want something instead the bose center channel.

I'm thinking something like this, but I need to find a store that sells it so I can hear just it.
JBL EC35 3-way Center Channel

 

[LST2]

i work at circuit city in the home theater dept. and polk makes a very very nice center channel.

a lower end one but still nice - http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Polk...32511/catOid/-12950/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

then the polk bad boy - http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Polk...93005/catOid/-12950/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

 

[hb1111]

i have difinitive technolgy i love them i have 2-10" onkyo down firing subs,and 2-15" side firing with klipsh surounds and a junk onkyo center channel i love the rumble

 

[thekonz]

I would stick with JBL, one for constitency in the room and other because they do make some good stuff. I think if you are going to use BOSE you need to have the whole package bc they do diffferent things than most speakers do. Real small but provide a big sound. I have not personally heard that speaker that you have on ebay, but I would suggest going to a local store like Best Buy, Circuit ity, Tweeter, or something of the like and listening to it yourself and then maybe finding it cheaper online or somewhere. Just pay for that insurance on speakers bc they can get messed up with UPS throwing them around.

 

[WoodiE]

For an apartment I'd have to agree with LST2, Polk makes great speakers and would be perfect for your needs.

If you really wanted to get a lil wild on spending I'd go Klipsch Reference speakers. You're going to pay a very good amount but these speakers are extreme!



-Michael

 

[redneckracer1979]

I would find a center channel speaker from JBL that would match up with what you have. All the companies recomend a center channel speaker with their speakers.

 

[rossb]

Your center should acoustically match with your mains. If you can't find (or afford) an acoustical match then eliminate the center channel, move your front mains closer to the video, and send the center info to your front mains.

 

[neobart]

I would also say stick with JBL, some that have the same type units as either the fronts or you rear speakers. That will give the most consistent sound picture.

 

[LST2]

could alwasy go with kef

 

[sweetdiesel]

What are you using to power these speakers? I would rather not skimp on the center channel since the majority of your dialogue comes from it.

I agree with the others, if your budget only allows for a center chanel upgrade, then get one from the same series as your mains and surrounds so that they will be timbre matched. If you are revamping your entire system, audition as many speakers as you can and bring your own listening material to the showrooms. As far as brands go, get what sounds good to your ears.

My system at home is comprised of Phase Technology Velocity Series speakers. V-12 front towers, V-6 for center and surrounds all powered by a Harman Kardon 7000 receiver. Sub is a 12" Dayton.

 

[olds97_lss]

I have a yamaha receiver that pushes 125 watts per channel for 6 channels. I only have 5 speakers hooked up though.

If I was doing a house that I owned, I'd drop more dough for some nice in-wall speakers. As it is, I'm in an apartment and I don't intend on buying a house for a very long time (many years). So, I basically just want a nice rich sound that isn't necessarily loud, but full.

It's hard to explain. I have an older rear projection TV, the receiver is the 4th I've bought in 6 years, the speakers all have been purchased (except for the crappy bose) within the past 2 years. Anyway, the TV is a 60 inch TV, but I rent DVD's and tweak things more for sound than I do for viewing. I like how sound takes you into a movie.

I was thinking the same as a few of you suggest. I'll probably end up with a JBL center. I just need to get to a store that has them and will let you listen to just that speaker without all the other crap turned on.

 

[sweetdiesel]

I don't know if I'm going to find a center channel that does what I actually want. I want the thunder of my TV's drivers and the highs I get from the other 4 JBL's. I definitely want something instead the bose center channel.

I don't think you'll get the heavy midbass/midrange sound that you are looking for from the bookshelves as your front mains. If you want greater sound levels in the lower octaves from the front you'll need to go with a speaker that has larger drivers. I made a huge leap in soundstage quality when I went with my towers. One option might be to pick up a set of tower speakers and use one of your bookshelf speakers for your center channel. It's all a compromise though, the towers take up more floorspace and are not wife/decor friendly.

What is the size of the room and layout of your current set-up?

 

[olds97_lss]

Well, we live in an apartment and I'm trying to be a decent neighbor. I'm just looking for a decent sounding one. I know I won't get all the lows without a larger driver in the center or fronts, but a tin can with a string on it is better than the bose center...

The living room is 14x16. The tv and couch face each other on the walls that are 14 feet apart. The bookshelf speakers are about 5' off the ground on shelves I made on the walls. The rears are at about 4' off the ground. The center are the speakers on the big screen, which are on the bottom and 5.5' off the ground is the bose center channel.

 

[olds97_lss]

I ended up going with a JBL EC35. I went to a few stores, listened to a few brands/styles and the JBL sounded the best. I was compairing to Infinity, polk, sony and a few other misc ones. The JBL was the most clear and has decent punch for the lows. Plus, I bought the display unit from my local bestbuy for $90. I had 4 different brands of center channel that I unboxed and plugged in so I could hear them all through the same amp. There was a klipsh one that sounded a little better, but considering the price I got on the JBL, I couldn't beat it.j

Now I just need to sell that bose it replaced... any takers?