Centre Speaker

I use a castle keep and it works very well with my 4 IMF TLS80s.

17,

A problem is that you need the centre to be tonally accurate with your fronts, otherwise when something sweeps across the soundfield you will notice it, esp. speech in my experience.

One approach is to simply matrix/phantom the centre using your current main speakers and see how this works for you.

Another is to try and get a third main speaker for the centre - which can be inconvenient for a number of reasons; and centre speakers do have a specialist role that makes the use of a standard speaker arguable.

I went through a number of centre speakers before I got to one that I could live with, but it was an heuristic exercise.

The rejects were all good, but I was just pulled out of the moment as the 'tonality' issue raised its head.

M

Thanks for your replies

Yikes that sounds worrying, there's no easy way I would find a single Utopia is there? Maybe I should start with one of the better Focal offerings and hope they have a tonally similar sound, or at least similar enough to be acceptable. Her indoors would string me up if I went through a stream of centres buying and selling. The problem is we don't have any dealers within 100 miles to try and get home demos. Do you think that might work?

17,

I'd really start by JUST using your fronts - your processor should have a phantom setting - i.e. the centre signal is fed out through your main speakers.

If that doesn't satisfy, or you are just plain curious, I'd speak to a Focal dealer or two, they should be able to give you some decent advice.

I wouldn't repeat my path.

M

Cheers, OK I'll see if the AV2 can do that. It would be a lot easier for us if we could do that as adding a slightly larger centre would mean rearranging the lounge which in turn would mean relocating books to the spare bedroom, which in turn would mean moving other stuff into our bedroom.......

17,

Just turn off the centre on your AV2 and you should be sorted - let me know what you think.

M

It'll be a shame if you can't incorporate a dedicated centre speaker for cinema duties - makes a big difference.

I tried it but neither of us liked it, The utopias have pinpoint imaging and did a good job of replicating it but not always, depending on the soundtrack I suppose, sometimes the stereo sound became dominant.

So still hunting for a centre

Hi 17,

Can't say I'm surprised - that is why I also use a centre, but at least you have had a listen and know that it is worth spending time looking further.

If you lived closer I'd lend you my first 'Yamaha' centre that is sitting in the loft!

Cheap & cheerful, but I used it for a few months before starting to look for something better.

I'd give a couple of Focal dealers a call, and get some comparative advice.

When I bought my main speakers a few years ago I ended up paying out for posting and packing a few times, as well as traveling to listen to a couple of other pairs, before finally plumping. I think it is worth spending time and energy reading, borrowing and above all listening; fending off the urge to just buy something, until you find something that you know you can live with for a number of years.

The centres I have listened to include models from KEF, Tannoy, Yamaha, & LINN. I currently use an ART centre, which was PURE serendipity.

None of the others were 'bad', they just didn't tonally match the main speakers I was using.

M

What are the chances of Focal supplying a single speaker that matches 17's front main speakers if politely asked? You never know... 

To be honest the little speaker we have now is close tonally it just doesn't have any weight behind it and is a bit crap really. We did listen to a couple before we bought it, the local hifi shop is pretty good loaning stuff out but they are only a tiny outfit and in an area with low demand for quality so have a very limited stock. The nearest Focal dealer is about a hundred miles away so it looks as if we will have to do a few journeys before getting it right. As I remember they didn't have much in the way of Focal speakers in stock so less likely to get a home demo. Good advice about getting in touch with more than one dealer if we want a home demo.

I suppose the other problem I might have is that I have a yearning to try going active with my main system which would mean a change of main speakers but that wont be for a couple of years yet (if at all). With that in mind I'm reluctant to spend too much, say about £500 - £700, hopefully the lower-mid price range speakers will be similar tonally to the Utopias, there's no way we can afford to get a Utopia centre, what are they,about £8000? Well I guess it will be interesting