Advice center?

Posted by: rhawkins on 05 October 2003

Does anyone have any recommendations of what to audition for a centre speaker? I’m using SBLs at the front and credos at the back, and an AV2 V175/180. I had been using a KEF 100, but a bit of experiment with DTS es ect. Has convinced me of the benefits of using a reasonable centre rear, so I ‘m moving the KEF to the rear and driving it with a nait.
Budget is not really fixed yet, but naims Axent is probably out of reach.
Any thoughts gratefully received

Regards

Posted on: 05 October 2003 by Manu

Naim Axess, perfect match with SBL.

Emmanuel

All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.

Posted on: 05 October 2003 by Martin C

Hi Rhawkins,

I had the same question more than a year aog, beofre they have Axess/Axent. I am using SBL as front and Intro as rear.

Naim recommended ProAc response CC one (very old fashion looking, costs GBP 600), they said the tweeter is similar to SBL, I have demo'd ProAc and Linn Trikan (GBP 450), I prefer the sound of Trikan and the shape mix SBL too!

But if I knew thatthere would be Axess, I would definitely get it, even it's double the price, centre speaker are very important for AV set up.

I may sell my Linn and get the Axess in the future. That would be after I get the Fraim.

Hope it helps

cheers
Martin

Posted on: 06 October 2003 by rhawkins

hi
thanks for your help. Does anyone know the price of the Axess? and does anyone have any expierience of B&W centers?

thanks
Richard

Posted on: 06 October 2003 by Geoff P

quote:
thanks for your help. Does anyone know the price of the Axess? and does anyone have any expierience of B&W centers?

I started out with a full set of 5 CM series speakers from B&W. The center which I still use is a CCM.
It seems pretty good to me. It is not a large speaker but it has 2 low/mid frequency drivers with ubiquitous B&W yellow Kevlar cones.
It does NOT like being on a shelf in a unit and it needs to be a fair way out from the rear wall to avoid "boominess".
I have mine on a stand in "free space" which works well.
It is quite happy as a "large" speaker in surround setup and looks quite nice in pale maple wood finish.

regards
GEOFFP

Posted on: 08 October 2003 by rhawkins

Using an SBL for a centre would make sense, if wasn't for the height. I remember a few years back Meridian did a 5.1 dem using big floor standers. The centre speaker was too big to fit under the screen, - so they pup it off to one side, the soud quality was fair but dialog comming from way off to the left just made the whole thing a bit silly!