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SVS Ultra setup

2385 Views 13 Replies 5 Participants Last post by x-evil-x, Jul 2, 2021

GregLett

Discussion Starter · Jun 7, 2021

I've been thinking about my next setup when I get my room. Right now I'm not using a center or any surrounds.
I am really concerned about using a center and not getting the best sound. The Jamo center just seems as if it would not match up well with the LR. I thought about using the same speaker for the center but thet would put the screen at a less
than ideal height.

The next option is to use all bookshelf speakers. I looked at the SVS ultra and it's interesting. I also like the design of
their center channel speaker.
Then the idea of using the center all around came to mind. Has anyone tried that?

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Zorba922

· #2 · Jun 7, 2021

GregLett said:
I've been thinking about my next setup when I get my room. Right now I'm not using a center or any surrounds.
I am really concerned about using a center and not getting the best sound. The Jamo center just seems as if it would not match up well with the LR. I thought about using the same speaker for the center but thet would put the screen at a less
than ideal height.

The next option is to use all bookshelf speakers. I looked at the SVS ultra and it's interesting. I also like the design of
their center channel speaker.
Then the idea of using the center all around came to mind. Has anyone tried that?

In theory, identical speakers in vertical alignment at all bed layer positions = most seamless sound field and the only way to achieve TRUE "timbre matching." So if you found a horizontal center speaker that you liked and wanted to use 3 of them up front and/or 5-7 all around, why not?

In reality, many people use mismatched centers with great results---the key is getting a competent center (i.e. one that provides effortless dialogue clarity which usually includes adequate detail/dynamics for the 50% of the front sound effects that the center speaker also does). There's no shortage of "matching" horizontal centers that irredeemably suck, no matter how inflated the pricetag or pretty the cabinet.

You can get a sampling of those cases here:

Should your center speaker match the same Brand as your...

Should your center speaker match the same Brand as your Front Left and Front right speakers? The reason I ask is I purchased a speaker package but the center speaker is a little weak and awkardly shaped especially when mounted under the TV. It has some kind of European design which seem to be...

www.avsforum.com

PS. There are a lot of much better price-to-performance options than SVS Ultras available, esp. if your usage is mainly HT/TV/gaming rather than music.

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GregLett

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 7, 2021

Zorba922 said:
In theory, identical speakers in vertical alignment at all bed layer positions = most seamless sound field and the only way to achieve TRUE "timbre matching." So if you found a horizontal center speaker that you liked and wanted to use 3 of them up front and/or 5-7 all around, why not?

In reality, many people use mismatched centers with great results---the key is getting a competent center (i.e. one that provides effortless dialogue clarity which usually includes adequate detail/dynamics for the 50% of the front sound effects that the center speaker also does). There's no shortage of "matching" horizontal centers that irredeemably suck, no matter how inflated the pricetag or pretty the cabinet.

You can get a sampling of those cases here:

Should your center speaker match the same Brand as your...

Should your center speaker match the same Brand as your Front Left and Front right speakers? The reason I ask is I purchased a speaker package but the center speaker is a little weak and awkardly shaped especially when mounted under the TV. It has some kind of European design which seem to be...

www.avsforum.com

PS. There are a lot of much better price-to-performance options than SVS Ultras available, esp. if your usage is mainly HT/TV/gaming rather than music.

Thanks for the response.

What are some of the other brands to consider?

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GregLett

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 7, 2021

BTW. Music is important.

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theatherlover

· #5 · Jun 7, 2021

i got 7.1.6 all svs it is sick go for it

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GregLett

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 7, 2021

theatherlover said:
i got 7.1.6 all svs it is sick go for it

All the same type of speaker?

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Zorba922

· #7 · Jun 7, 2021

GregLett said:
Thanks for the response.

What are some of the other brands to consider?

BTW. Music is important.

If you prefer a smoother, slightly "warm" and easy going kind of sound for music while still getting adequate detail/dynamics for HT, I'd look at Emotiva, Chane A series, and (if WAF is a factor) Wharfedale Evos.

If you prefer a more forward (but not "bright"), maximum dynamics/detail "lively" sound for both music and HT, I'd look at Infinity Reference, JBL Studio 5xx series and Stage A series when any of those 3 are on sale (last sale ended about 2 weeks ago, so I'd expect another one by July 4th). If you don't want to wait, there's the Hsu CCB-8 if you are ok with big bookshelves instead of towers.

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GregLett

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 7, 2021

Thanks Zorba. I will explore the options.

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friedmud

· #9 · Jun 7, 2021

In my theater I have the SVS Ultra Center paired with SVS Prime Pinnacles for L/R and it is a completely seamless front stage. The Center is incredible (clarity and can go crazy deep) and the whole front stage hits amazingly hard and can go way beyond where my ears give out!

For music I don’t use the center in that system - I love the way the Pinnacles sound by themselves (with help from my Monolith 15” on the low end).

I also use SVS Elevations on the ceiling for Atmos and they are great.

In my living room I have a more modest 3.1.2 setup that is all lower end SVS (Prime Books, Elevations, SB2000-Pro) and it is perfect for all-channel music that I pump out there all day (playing right now in fact!) to fill my house.

Check my sig for all the specifics of both systems and ask any questions.

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GregLett

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 21, 2021

Zorba922 said:
If you prefer a smoother, slightly "warm" and easy going kind of sound for music while still getting adequate detail/dynamics for HT, I'd look at Emotiva, Chane A series, and (if WAF is a factor) Wharfedale Evos.

If you prefer a more forward (but not "bright"), maximum dynamics/detail "lively" sound for both music and HT, I'd look at Infinity Reference, JBL Studio 5xx series and Stage A series when any of those 3 are on sale (last sale ended about 2 weeks ago, so I'd expect another one by July 4th). If you don't want to wait, there's the Hsu CCB-8 if you are ok with big bookshelves instead of towers.

What do you think of the Whardale Evo 4.2?

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Zorba922

· #11 · Jun 21, 2021

GregLett said:
What do you think of the Whardale Evo 4.2?

I have them for a 2.2 music setup, love 'em. For HT I would go with a different speaker though, like the ones I mentioned earlier.

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GregLett

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jun 21, 2021

Zorba922 said:
I have them for a 2.2 music setup, love 'em. For HT I would go with a different speaker though, like the ones I mentioned earlier.

Music trumps HT for me so they will be a good candidate plus I love the look.

Thanks.

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theatherlover

· #13 · Jul 2, 2021

GregLett said:
All the same type of speaker?

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yes

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x-evil-x

· #14 · Jul 2, 2021

I have the ultra towers with the ultra center and the center is very good. I Wouldn't go 3 ultra centers unless you can keep them all at the same level and don't go turning the left and right(vertical) speaker.
That said I think doing 3 ultra bookshelf across the front would also be good. One review I read mentioned they used a 3rd ultra bookshelf and liked it more than the ultra center.

For a center channel you want that midrange under the tweeter if you want an actually good center. MTM for a center channel is not great. The off axis of an mtm turned horizontal is bad. But if its in a bedroom and the bed is within 2-4 feet its probably fine.
The ultra towers are a mtm design with cascaded crossover for the bottom and top woofer 3.5way design. The two 8" woofers on the bottom handle up to 180hz or so where they crossover to the top section.

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