Center Channel: The Right One For YouJul 10 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Read my 'Conclusion'
The center channel is the most important speaker in a home theater system. It handles 50% of all music, and just about all vocals. If you buy a system only for music, or at least mainly for music. A center channel may not be so important because most people play music in either stereo mode or 4 channel DSPs. However, if you're like me who listens to both music, and home theater, then a center channel may be more important. I listen to music without the center channel, but I watch movies and TV though. Plus, my parents who are into opera listen to music in Dolby Pro Logic, so a center is more important. Well, let's go on with the review: -Centers Cost $$$, Which One Do I Want?- *You have to ask yourself... "Do I look music or movies?" Ok, now answer that... *If you picked music, I don't think that you should go out any pay way too much for a center channel, unless you use your center channel along with music. Let me make a good example here. Let's pretend that you're using JBL speakers... Now, JBL makes awesome speakers, and they also make two different center channels. The N-center, and the S-center. The N-center is a 2-way center channel that has a $199 ESRP, while the S-center is a 3-way center channel with a $299 ESRP. If you are into music, you should go with the N-center because it is still good, but much cheaper than the S-center. *If you picked movies, you should go with a more expensive center channel, such as the JBL S-center. The JBL S-center also has a 4" midrange driver that is dedicated specifically to dialogue, which means that you'll be getting better dialogue in your films. However, you're paying more money. *Well, here you can see which is the right center channel for you. Different brands often make different matching center channels at different prices. -It's Not The Reputation- *On just a quick note, I want to say that reputation does not matter. It depends on the main speakers you have, and how good the center channel is itself. It doesn't matter whether it's Sony or JBL, they all have different center channels. Take the Bose VCS10 for instance, it comes from Bose. However, the VCS10 is the worst center channel ever. It costs $200, and so does the JBL N-center, and you can guess which one is way superior. You have to research each different model, and you also want the center channels to match your main speakers, such as same brand or series. -Matching Front Stage- *Some people buy a center channel that's a different brand than the front speakers... But it's usually better to have a matching front stage. Some people don't hear a difference, while some do. But, it obviously is better to have a seamless front stage. For example, let's say you're using a pair of JBL ND310s in the front. They are part of the Northridge series... Then, you'd most likely buy a JBL N-center to match them. Because it is JBL, and also is part of the Northridge series. You wouldn't go off buying a Yamaha or Sony center channel. But, you have to really listen and see if it matters to you. Because some centers are better than others... But it's better to have a seamless front stage. -A Center Channel Is Not A Bass Machine- *A center channel is rated by how natural and clean the vocals are that it produces. Some companies decided to place powered subwoofers into the center channel. Well, the bass interferes with the vocals. For example, when you first listen to one with powered subwoofers built in, you can say that it sounds good. Then, listen to the same exact model without the powered subwoofers, or turn off the bass. Then you'll say, "That sounds much better!" Center channels aren't built to produce low bass. For example, most go down to 80hZ, which is decently low, but I expect them to hit the midrange and higher range frequencies rather than the low ones. What do you think subwoofers are for? You can't go cheap on them. Just buy one, and tuck it somewhere into your room. Don't expect the center channel to do all the dirty work. It's already hard for any speaker to hit the low frequencies with audible bass. By the way, you pay a lot more for those subwoofers that are built-in to the center, and they are not always good. -In Conclusion- *You just have to take a long look at how you listen to music or movies. If you rarely use a center channel, then there's no point in paying a large sum of money for one. If you're a movie buff, then you should consider paying quite a bit for one. Overall, for the normal home theater listener, it's the most important speaker. It handles 50% of everything, and all vocals. A 3-way is better than a 2-way, but they also cost more. Do your research, and listen to a few... Then you'll find the right one for you.  |
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