Naim Ovators and surround music

Two points:

1. Naim does not presently manufacture center-channel loudspeakers, and has never manufactured a BMR-driver center-channel loudspeaker, but
2. A professional 5.1 monitoring setup will typically use five identical loudspeakers, i.e., there is no center-channel type; all of the loudspeakers are the same. You could use five S-400s to achieve this end.

If, on the other hand, you are looking for a home-theater setup with a potentially compromised center-channel design, there are probably plenty of manufacturers out there that will oblige.

Thank You David for Your answer.

I realise that professional and optimal set up dedicated mainly to audiophile suround music should consist of the five same speakers.

This option is very expensive and for me not affordable.

I only thought, that perhaphs by some miracle there is a center speaker which could go along with Ovators.

Probably I made a stupid assumption and shouldn't look for anything like that. 

Percivale,

You could always be lucky.

My main speakers for a few years now have been Living Voice, and bloody marvellous they are, but they were not voiced the same as my Art Skibo Centre. I lived with a Skibo for a fair few years and 7 months ago took a punt on a Audio Physic Centre. I did this expecting it to be a step up, and I liked the idea that it had forward rather than backward facing ports. It is undoubtedly better than the Skibo, but by some miracle it is also tonally the same as my main speakers.

When I bought the Audio Physic I did so on the basis that I could return it. If you are willing to put in some effort you might also be lucky.

M

I haven't bought Ovators yet. But bearing in mind their unique BMR-driver it would be much more difficult to find something to match with them

I don't  know the price of Living Voice, but perhaps it will be a better idea for me to look for a complete set up made from Audio Physic loudspeakers or B&W series.

It's a pity that Naim hasn't thought about making loudspeakers for audiophile surround music.

OK.  To match a Centre Speaker to your front stereo speakers :

Select a stereo amplifier with MONO and BALANCE controls at your dealer.   Connect an Ovator to one channel, and your choice of Centre Speaker to the other.  Thus you will be using them as Stereo pair.

Play some music - use either a mono source, or just press the MONO button on the amplifier.

Switch between left and right speakers to hear if the Ovator and Centre Speaker are tonally matched.  Repeat until you find a Centre Speaker you think suitable.

I've given this advice several times already on these forums, BTW.  Perhaps I should format it as a FAQ, although I wonder how many people bother to look at the FAQ section before posting a query.

Dungassin

Quiet right ...but, most dealers stock a limited catalogue of makes, for various reasons. The last time I bought a pair of speakers I ended up getting various makes from various dealers, and paid postage. Pure luck that I chanced on Kevin and Living Voice.

M

When I did it, I was using Royd Edens as fronts, Royd A7s as rears, with a Rega Vulcan Sub.  I just took one of the Edens to a local dealer, and finished up buying a B&W CC3.

I realise the OP doesn't already own the Ovators, so that makes life a little more difficult.  Alas his profile doesn't tell us where he is, so it's difficult to suggest a local dealer for him.

Thank You all for valuable comments.

I concluded that  - due to unique characteristic of Ovators - looking for a suitable center would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

one Cambridge Aero

You could try running without a centre speaker.  That works reasonably well as long as your listening position is about midway between the 2 fronts.