I will start by asking what your budget is, and then others with more knowledge will be able to chime in on recommendations for you.
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Center channel upgrade help
Worthwhile center channel upgrade from Panasonic Ramsa WS-A500?
The main focus is TV/Movies and the current setup is a 5.1 system composed of Panasonic Ramsa WS-A500's and a WS-A550 for the sub. The center channel is enclosed in a cabinet. I'm wondering how much a worthwhile center channel upgrade would be and what would be worthwhile upgrading to.
The main focus is TV/Movies and the current setup is a 5.1 system composed of Panasonic Ramsa WS-A500's and a WS-A550 for the sub. The center channel is enclosed in a cabinet. I'm wondering how much a worthwhile center channel upgrade would be and what would be worthwhile upgrading to.
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
a soundbar is a good upgrade from tv sound speakers. it is normally not a close match for avr and bookshelves. if you get a samsung/vizio/bose soundbar it may be enough...but wont be on same level as cheapo avr and cheapo bookshelves.
I don't necessarily have a specific budget in mind aside from nothing too crazy. I'm also not exactly sure how much would need to be spent for it to even be a worthwhile upgrade.I will start by asking what your budget is, and then others with more knowledge will be able to chime in on recommendations for you.
I already have a 5.1 setup.a soundbar is a good upgrade from tv sound speakers. it is normally not a close match for avr and bookshelves. if you get a samsung/vizio/bose soundbar it may be enough...but wont be on same level as cheapo avr and cheapo bookshelves.
What do you define as nothing too crazy?I don't necessarily have a specific budget in mind aside from nothing too crazy. I'm also not exactly sure how much would need to be spent for it to even be a worthwhile upgrade.
I already have a 5.1 setup.
ok, didnt recognize that. when I lived in japan panasonic made top stuff. however Im not in the know on their gear now.I don't necessarily have a specific budget in mind aside from nothing too crazy. I'm also not exactly sure how much would need to be spent for it to even be a worthwhile upgrade.
I already have a 5.1 setup.
The Ramsa WS-500 is a 12" pro-style speaker with 99dB sensitivity and 200W power handling. He has 5 of them. For a lot of folks, we're already well into crazy.What do you define as nothing too crazy?
And that greatly limits the OP's options; very few designs can keep up, and the ones that do will sound similar... because they are. It's already the same CC as the rest of the speakers; what's to upgrade?
What don't don't you like about what you have now?
HAve fun,
Frank
It's someone else that's looking to upgrade and I suspect it might be because he assumes a center must be a special special speaker with extended range relative to the rest.The Ramsa WS-500 is a 12" pro-style speaker with 99dB sensitivity and 200W power handling. He has 5 of them. For a lot of folks, we're already well into crazy.What do you define as nothing too crazy?
And that greatly limits the OP's options; very few designs can keep up, and the ones that do will sound similar... because they are. It's already the same CC as the rest of the speakers; what's to upgrade?
What don't don't you like about what you have now?
HAve fun,
Frank
That said, I'm not really sure how a WS A500 stacks up and what would actually be considered an upgrade. I've always assumed that they weren't the best speakers, just that they were designed to get loud.
Any idea as to where the WS-500 sits or a ballpark of how much a worthy upgrade would be?The Ramsa WS-500 is a 12" pro-style speaker with 99dB sensitivity and 200W power handling. He has 5 of them. For a lot of folks, we're already well into crazy.
And that greatly limits the OP's options; very few designs can keep up, and the ones that do will sound similar... because they are. It's already the same CC as the rest of the speakers; what's to upgrade?
What don't don't you like about what you have now?
HAve fun,
Frank
On paper, it's hard to match its output, and sensitive speakers have characteristics that some folks love. The fact that you use 5 of the same means there is unlikely to be a CC that fits better. However, I suspect those speakers are not the kind my ears favor....I'm not really sure how a WS A500 stacks up...
How do I know?
I went to several DIY speaker events years ago. The speaker designers who attend bring together a wide range of design approaches. By listening carefully to a wide range of designs, your preferences can become apparent. Every speaker is a tradeoff, the first step is finding which tradeoffs sound best to you. That gives you have a basis for comparison.
http://techtalk.parts-express.com/f...iy-speaker-event-in-grand-rapids-mi-sept-2019
Find out what you like first, then start looking for good implementations. I'm on my 5th CC, but I was cheap, and it cost me... but my wife ended up happy with it.
Have fun,
Frank
I know he's listened to and liked electrostatic Martin Logans the best of any of the speakers that he's heard, but that's a *bit* out of any sensible budget.On paper, it's hard to match its output, and sensitive speakers have characteristics that some folks love. The fact that you use 5 of the same means there is unlikely to be a CC that fits better. However, I suspect those speakers are not the kind my ears favor.
How do I know?
I went to several DIY speaker events years ago. The speaker designers who attend bring together a wide range of design approaches. By listening carefully to a wide range of designs, your preferences can become apparent. Every speaker is a tradeoff, the first step is finding which tradeoffs sound best to you. That gives you have a basis for comparison.
http://techtalk.parts-express.com/f...iy-speaker-event-in-grand-rapids-mi-sept-2019
Find out what you like first, then start looking for good implementations. I'm on my 5th CC, but I was cheap, and it cost me... but my wife ended up happy with it.
Have fun,
Frank
ML e-statics are dipole speakers, very sensitive to room placement, and used in pairs, for stereo. Kind of the polar opposite of WS-A500s. They'd make a peculiar 5.1 system.I know he's listened to and liked electrostatic Martin Logans ...
Frank
Yeah, they're also out of budget and not an option anyway.ML e-statics are dipole speakers, very sensitive to room placement, and used in pairs, for stereo. Kind of the polar opposite of WS-A500s. They'd make a peculiar 5.1 system.I know he's listened to and liked electrostatic Martin Logans ...
Frank
But I don't expect he'll have much of an opportunity to go to a testing, so that's also not going to help unfortunately.
What paths to such knowledge can you recommend?
Doesn't matter how much you spend, or how good a speaker is, if you place it badly. Pull the center out of the furniture. Sound better?
If you still want to "upgrade":
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-RP-504C-Center-Channel-Speaker/dp/B07G3B5W8Y?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B07G3B5W8Y
If you still want to "upgrade":
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-RP-504C-Center-Channel-Speaker/dp/B07G3B5W8Y?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B07G3B5W8Y
Placement is certainly important, but this is only an upgrade if you have a liking for horn speakers such as this and the OP's system. That's why it's important to listen with one's own ears, to find which trade-offs are more favorable to your aural sensibilities. Only you know what sounds good to you.Doesn't matter how much you spend, or how good a speaker is, if you place it badly. Pull the center out of the furniture. Sound better?
If you still want to "upgrade": Klipsch-RP-504C-Center-Channel-Speaker
HAve fun,
Frank
His current speakers are horns. I assume he likes them, otherwise he would be looking to replace more than just the center. Although I would never have a horn speaker in my home, it's his taste that matters, not mine or yours. The selection of horn speakers in a typical center channel configuration (long and narrow) is surprisingly few, thus the Klipsch rec. That said, we are in agreement in that the OP needs to hear it for himself and decide if he likes the sound and if it is sufficiently similar in character to his current speakers to keep it around.Placement is certainly important, but this is only an upgrade if you have a liking for horn speakers such as this and the OP's system. That's why it's important to listen with one's own ears, to find which trade-offs are more favorable to your aural sensibilities. Only you know what sounds good to you.
HAve fun,
Frank
The PSA 110C or 210C might be a good center for that setup. Better quality than the Ramsa I'd guess.
https://www.powersoundaudio.com/collections/speakers/products/mt-110c
https://www.powersoundaudio.com/collections/speakers/products/mtm-210c
https://www.powersoundaudio.com/collections/speakers/products/mt-110c
https://www.powersoundaudio.com/collections/speakers/products/mtm-210c
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
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