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Best Value 5.0 System with a small center channel

482 Views 8 Replies 9 Participants Last post by shadyJ, Feb 11, 2014

goldark

Discussion Starter · Feb 11, 2014

Kind of an odd request here. I won't go into all the details but due to the setup of my room/entertainment center/television, I require a center channel 4 inches in height or shorter.

Not sure how to go about researching such a system, but does anyone have any recommendations? I'd like to keep the costs of the entire 5.0 system below $700 if possible.

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adupree

· #2 · Feb 11, 2014

Have you thought about just a nice 2.1?

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csgamer

· #3 · Feb 11, 2014

Quote:
Originally Posted by adupree /t/1517177/best-value-5-0-system-with-a-small-center-channel#post_24341302

Have you thought about just a nice 2.1?

Excellent advice, skip the teeny weeny center. Under 4 inches,

Or could go 4.0 or 4.1.

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zieglj01

· #4 · Feb 11, 2014

Quote:
Originally Posted by goldark /t/1517177/best-value-5-0-system-with-a-small-center-channel#post_24341090

I require a center channel 4 inches in height or shorter.

Not worth it - go 4.0 - or 2.1

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Get a new cabinet for a larger center speaker. The center is the most important speaker, so this is not where you want to make such a dramatic compromise. At a budget, Ikea has something around the $200 mark branded as "Besta." For around the same price you can get an open Bell'O stand. Pretty sure something like this can hold a Receiver and a decent enough center channel http://www.amazon.com/BellO-PVS4204HG-Audio-Furniture-46-Inch/dp/B004NEUJQY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392104702&sr=8-1&keywords=bell%27o+tv+stand

Ashley Furniture has a Hindell Park W695-48 which I think is perfect for multiple AV devices, and a crap load of media storage. Plus it looks nice.

This is the one I plan on getting. MSRP is around $1000, but you can get it for about $600-650.

Anyway, for a 5.0 speaker package for under $700, Ascend CBM-170SE + CMT-340SEc + HTM-200SE 5-Channel System $698 (Thanksgiving sale still up!!!)
http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/showthread.php?5525-Black-Friday-Thanksgiving-Sale !

Just hang on to the center until you have the cabinet to put it in. Or do what I do and set it on top of a box until I have the cabinet.

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RayGuy

· #8 · Feb 11, 2014

Quote:
Originally Posted by zieglj01 /t/1517177/best-value-5-0-system-with-a-small-center-channel#post_24341376

Not worth it - go 4.0 - or 2.1

You can simulate a center channel by placing your front speakers so that they present a nice coherent centered image at the listening position. You won't miss the center channel if that is done correctly. However, if you find that you do miss the center channel, you can always add it on later. No point in replacing your furniture unless you have to.

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shadyJ

· #9 · Feb 11, 2014

The OP is probably including a receiver in that budget to. Its too tight to get a good 5.1 system in. I would go for 2.0, and I would get a couple of active monitors with good extension like JBL LSR308s or Mackie MR8s. And you can not get a good center under 4" period, so just skip it.

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