Vocals from centre channel are almost inaudible

Hey all,
Just put together my home theatre system.

Viera 50u50
Pioneer VSX-822k
Flaunce AVHTB set (2x towers, center, two bookshelf)
Lenovo IdeaCenter Q180 (running XBMC)

Its in a pretty small room, and I can't change much in regards to acoustic treatment, because I live in an apartment and can't mount anything on the walls so easily.

My problem is that high range vocals in movies are almost inaudible compared to the rest of the movies I'm watching.

I have turned off the dynamic range settings, and have boosted up the centre channel level by 8db but still not enough. This is after using the MCACC to set it up.

The centre channel is placed under the TV on a TV stand unit. It is angled up a little to compensate, and has almost direct line to ear height.

One concern I have is that the centre speaker is on one of the tv unit shelves.
Another I have is that it has something to do with the Dolby Pro Logic II sound processing, but even the other processing gives me this problem other than stereo sound.

Anything else that I am missing??

Please help,
Thanks

If there was any defect then how would the MCACC calibration have worked? I definitely heard the center come on just as loud as the others.

Ill try switching them as you suggested and will see what happens.

I should add that the deeper vocals and sound still come out just fine. Its only the higher range tones.

Thanks for the replies.

I think saying that the vocals are almost inaudible was a little excessive. If I pump up the center channel then I can hear the voices, its just that increasing the center ruins the surround experience.

The tweeter is not blown. Tested with some music.

The crossover seems to be a possibility. Is there a way to test this? I don't want to have to go through with everything to return it unless I can confirm this first.

Thanks for the help everybody.

If I pump up the center too much, then the lows coming from the center channel overpower the rest of the speakers and the sound is too focused directly center.

Im comparing it to normal sound. Id expect that when they mix the audio for a movie they make it such that one can hear people speaking.

The speaker is on a shelf below the TV. The actual speakers have direct line of sight to where listeners sit, but the enclosure itself isn't entirely unobstructed. I tried to place the speaker on the TV surface to see if it was any brighter. While it was slightly better, it still wasn't great. The other problem is that the speaker is kind of big and blocks part of the image, and the IR receiver. Id mount it above the TV, but my walls are solid and can't run speaker wire behind it.

Thanks

The center is slightly "inside" the shelving. I tested the speaker on top of the unit (where I won't leave it because it blocks part of the screen and the IR receiver). I could eliminate the IR problem, but need the remote to switch inputs because I use an HTPC directly to the TV (HDCP issue that can't be resolved through software). Either way, still blocks part of the picture.

Ill try a full reset and then will try MCACC again. The lowish frequency tones used for the MCACC come out perfectly, and MCACC worked great for that. The issue I am having is with higher frequencies.
Ex. When watching transformers, the robots voices come out great, but when humans talk it sounds too quiet.

Can't find an option for dialogue enhancement. Ive looked through all of the menus and the manuals. I may return this receiver because of the HDCP issue, but probably not b/c I got it for a great price and the sound for music is great.

I could just leave the center channel boosted, but then there is an issue of having the mids from that speaker too loud. I need to compensate this by lowering my towers, but then Im loosing out on my lows. I don't have a sub in my system (keep my neighbours happy).

I may just have to figure out how to move the center somewhere higher and with no obstruction.

Thanks for the help everybody.

Great forums,
you guys are quick and helpful.

Are there any test sounds that I could play above the crossover point to see if there is anything coming out of the tweeter?

I have a HTPC set up to the TV, and then through ARC is playing to the receiver. Does ARC carry the full audio, or is optical the better connection here?

Also, any advice as to what tones I should play to test the tweeter? Should I disconnect my towers first, or is there a way to test it otherwise?

Thanks for all the help

Should add that I can't create a direct HDMI connection from the HTPC to the receiver because of an HDCP issue.

The only crossover I have any control over is for the sub (which I dont have anyways). All of the lows are directed to my towers. Im talking about the lower toned vocals (really just mid-tones).

Ive tried using both the Neo;Cinema setting and the Pro Logic II : movie setting. Both produce similar results.