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Does a center channel have to match the right and left front speakers?

post #1 of 26
11/20/11 at 7:07pm
Thread Starter 
I have Dynaudio Confidence 1 speakers on the left and right. The Dynaudio's have an Esotec tweeter. For music listening I'll just use the right and left channels, but for watching movies, I'm going to add a center channel speaker. To maintain good sound for watching movies, is it best to only get a Dynaudio speaker that has the same tweeter. Or can I get a less expensive but good center from another manufacturer who doesn't use that particular tweeter and still good good quality sound without the tweeters mixing badly (which is what the Dyn dealers tell me but of course that's in their interest)? Thanks.
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post #2 of 26
11/20/11 at 7:15pm
Yes it's best to match. Ideally you'd have identical speaks for the front three, but the "matching" center is next best. Mismatched front stage is generally not recommended. No center at all is better than a mismatch.
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post #3 of 26
11/20/11 at 7:22pm
It's called timbre matching.
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post #4 of 26
11/20/11 at 10:09pm
The confidence speakers use the Esotar tweeter, or at least the current line does. It is supposed to be an excellent center (I am looking at getting one, but they are really expensive).

I think perfect matching is a bit over-rated. I think it is more important to have a well-designed center that makes the dialog intelligible for a wide listening area. And it should sound comparable to the left and right. Identical matching is nice, but it is not always possible given the geometry people are working with in home theater (under TV, over TV, in cabinet, on wall, etc).
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post #5 of 26
11/20/11 at 10:27pm
It doesn't "have" to match, but as GTZ mentioned, "timbre" matching is what helps you provide a seemless front sound stage for your H.T.

The L/C/R is where a person should focus on a perfect match IMO.

Of course, if having a seemless front stage isn't a priority, then you could save money and buy a lesser priced center.
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post #6 of 26
11/21/11 at 1:01am
Thread Starter 
Thanks to all for the help. The money considerations may make a seamless front something I compromise. I'm looking at an Aperion Verus Grand Center, which is 6 ohms and the Dyns are 4 ohms, but I think my 5 channel amp can handle that. Do any of you have any experience with this center? http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/...69,89,806.aspx
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post #7 of 26
11/21/11 at 6:33am
You've gotta do what you gotta do, but timbre matching is very important. You don't want the center providing a different tone and pitch than the mains. Some people don't care or maybe don't hear the difference, but if you can swing it definitely timbre match. I would never pair the Aperion with Dynaudio (the latter providing much nicer products IMO), but you're the one that has to live with it. Just remember, a completely different speaker brand/line means a change in sensitivity, impedance, crossover, pitch, tone and looks.
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post #8 of 26
11/21/11 at 5:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LD2 View Post

Thanks to all for the help. The money considerations may make a seamless front something I compromise. I'm looking at an Aperion Verus Grand Center, which is 6 ohms and the Dyns are 4 ohms, but I think my 5 channel amp can handle that. Do any of you have any experience with this center? http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/...69,89,806.aspx

dude mismatching the LCR speakers should be the last mistake to commit. as other members already mentioned, getting no center is better than getting a mismatched center. if you can't afford the confidence center, get a cheaper Dynaudio center from the focus/contour lines, which is still better than what you are going to do. but since you insisted after seeing all the sincere comments from us, why should we still care? that's your own money and HT, and you are the one to get all the punishments from using the Aperion thingy.

sigh, what a waste to the C1 ...
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post #9 of 26
11/22/11 at 9:19am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all the help. I actually called Aperion and they said the same thing: that I need to try to match the center and that their speaker would NOT match at all the sound quality of the Dynaudio, which the guy at Aperion said he knew very well. I have to hand it to Aperion for being honest and not pushing the sale. Of course, they pay shipping both ways during the 30 day trial, so they have to look out for cases where the customer will probably not be satisfied.
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post #10 of 26
11/22/11 at 10:52am
Kudos to Aperion for their honesty.
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post #11 of 26
11/22/11 at 6:35pm
Add me to the list of those who think that having no center is better than having a mismatched (sonically) center. Maybe you can luck out and find a used Dynaudio that matches.

Does your AVR have the capability of creating a phantom center? If so, that would be a very good option.
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post #12 of 26
11/23/11 at 12:55am
Thread Starter 
Mike, I don't have an AVR yet (but will probably be a used Integra 9.9). I'll have to find out if it can do a phantom center. Thanks for the tip.
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post #13 of 26
11/23/11 at 4:43am
Ideally, the center should not only match the left/right, but actually be the same as the fronts... it won't always be perfectly obvious that the center is not matching, but somehow it just won't sound believable. The human ear is a very good instrument...

Also, keep in mind that in HT the center makes probably the biggest difference... so this is not the place to skimp.

If you can't afford to buy a matching center right now, use a phantom center (as previously suggested) and keep putting money away until you can afford your Dynaudio... keep your eyes open for a used one as well...
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post #14 of 26
11/23/11 at 5:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LD2 View Post

Mike, I don't have an AVR yet (but will probably be a used Integra 9.9). I'll have to find out if it can do a phantom center. Thanks for the tip.

A phantom center typically means no center; simple as that. Some receivers add a processing feature that "phantoms" the center because it supposedly divides the dialog in a better manner to the main speakers. Personally I think it's marketing hooey, but YMMV. Go with no center at all and sit dead smack in the middle of the main speakers; it'll sound just fine.
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post #15 of 26
11/23/11 at 7:17am
Not to be rude, but this is about the hundredth thread about 'centers matching the mains' in the past month. I wish people would search before posting the same questions over and over and over.
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post #16 of 26
11/23/11 at 9:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Macstatic View Post

Not to be rude, but this is about the hundredth thread about 'centers matching the mains' in the past month. I wish people would search before posting the same questions over and over and over.

Why expect any different when there are multiple threads each week about "I need a system for $500/$1000/$1500" where it is clear that they didn't read any of the other threads with similar budgets before posting their question. Apparently, their information literacy skills were exhausted getting to this website (lol)
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post #17 of 26
11/23/11 at 9:38am
Right now I'm using Salon2 for Left & Right front and a KEF 201/2 as a center (I'm in the process of getting another pair of identical 201/2 to do 6.1).

The Salon + KEF sound perfectly timbre matched to me.

The Dynaudio are accurate speakers. Sure, it is best to get an identical speaker. But any high quality accurate speaker will do just fine as the center speaker.
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post #18 of 26
11/23/11 at 9:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Macstatic View Post

Not to be rude, but this is about the hundredth thread about 'centers matching the mains' in the past month. I wish people would search before posting the same questions over and over and over.

As my 8 yr old daughter would say, "Get over it".
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post #19 of 26
11/23/11 at 10:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AcuDefTechGuy View Post

Right now I'm using Salon2 for Left & Right front and a KEF 201/2 as a center (I'm in the process of getting another pair of identical 201/2 to do 6.1).

The Salon + KEF sound perfectly timbre matched to me.

Matter of luck.

Quote:
The Dynaudio are accurate speakers. Sure, it is best to get an identical speaker. But any high quality accurate speaker will do just fine as the center speaker.

Not in my experience. When I review speakers as stereo pairs, my resident center channel speaker remains in place but is not used. Occasionally, I will turn it on and the discordance is almost always very striking and annoying.
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post #20 of 26
11/23/11 at 11:01am
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Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson View Post

Matter of luck.

Not in my experience. When I review speakers as stereo pairs, my resident center channel speaker remains in place but is not used. Occasionally, I will turn it on and the discordance is almost always very striking and annoying.

This has also been my experience, although my system is not nearly as nice as Kal's.

I'll say it again: don't used mismatched brands up front.
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post #21 of 26
11/23/11 at 11:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson View Post

Matter of luck.

Not in my experience. When I review speakers as stereo pairs, my resident center channel speaker remains in place but is not used. Occasionally, I will turn it on and the discordance is almost always very striking and annoying.

I guess I'm lucky twice since when I use my Linkwitz Orion as Left/Right and KEF 201/2 as center, I also get perfect timbre matching.
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post #22 of 26
11/23/11 at 11:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuance View Post

This has also been my experience, although my system is not nearly as nice as Kal's.

I'll say it again: don't used mismatched brands up front.

Well, I'm not going to disagree with you or Kal.

Personally, I would get another identical Dynaudio.

Thus, I'm in the process of getting another pair of KEF 201/2 (identical matching 6 speakers).

But if the OP can't, then it's not the end of the world.
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post #23 of 26
11/23/11 at 1:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AcuDefTechGuy View Post

Well, I'm not going to disagree with you or Kal.

Personally, I would get another identical Dynaudio.

Thus, I'm in the process of getting another pair of KEF 201/2 (identical matching 6 speakers).

But if the OP can't, then it's not the end of the world.

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post #24 of 26
11/23/11 at 2:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AcuDefTechGuy View Post

Well, I'm not going to disagree with you or Kal.

Personally, I would get another identical Dynaudio.

Thus, I'm in the process of getting another pair of KEF 201/2 (identical matching 6 speakers).

But if the OP can't, then it's not the end of the world.

Enjoy those extra pair of Kef's, by the way. You've got some really nice speakers (plural).
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post #25 of 26
11/23/11 at 3:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LD2 View Post

I have Dynaudio Confidence 1 speakers on the left and right. The Dynaudio's have an Esotec tweeter. For music listening I'll just use the right and left channels, but for watching movies, I'm going to add a center channel speaker. To maintain good sound for watching movies, is it best to only get a Dynaudio speaker that has the same tweeter. Or can I get a less expensive but good center from another manufacturer who doesn't use that particular tweeter and still good good quality sound without the tweeters mixing badly (which is what the Dyn dealers tell me but of course that's in their interest)? Thanks.

Abso-freaking-lutely! Ideally all three will be the exact same speaker but a matching center will be fine.
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post #26 of 26
11/23/11 at 10:07pm
Timbre match
http://forum.blu-ray.com/speakers/12...-matching.html
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