Tell Me The Easiest Way To Maximize The Listening Field Of My Center Channel?

1. Anonymous Says

   “They seem to think I am OVER THINKING what is going on, and I just want to hear everything I possibly can. ”
   Do not apologize for trying to learn how to properly setup and use your gear. That is a part of this hobby that many do not appreciate.
   My advice:
   * First – not having identical front 3 speakers is a problem. Sounds will tone-shift as they move around. A set of 3 lower-end speakers will actually give you a better movie experience than using a mix of higher end speakers.
   * Second – Chances are the Proficient audio speaker is more forward/harsh than people like for music. But this probably works well for dialog and the center speaker track of most movies.
   WHAT TO DO:
   Get a pen-style laser pointer or a cheap level with a laser included. Use this along side the speaker cabinents to ‘see’ where the speakers are pointing.
   You usually want the center speaker pointing right at your head. You can use rubber door-wedges to angle the speaker up or use rubber erasers or some such to get the angle correct.
   Now – you want to toe-in the left/right speakers some amount. There are 3 amounts of toe-in you can try:
   A – So the two speakers sound intersects 2 feet in front of your primary seat (the classic music angle)
   B- So the two speakers sound intersects exactly on your primary seat
   C- So the two speakers sound intersects 2 feet behind your primary seat.
   Fire up a favorite movie, turn OFF the TV and sit and listen with these 3 different amounts of toe-in. (You turn the TV off so you can focus on the sound.)
   After you pick the best angle – re-run the receivers calibration routine.
   Hope this helps.

2. Mircea Says

   Additionaly…when setting the distance of the speakers[in your receiver,s settings] you can set the delay[the distance] of your center speaker much more less than the left and right ones…

3. Lance Says

   You could get a sound meter from radio shack or other electronic stores and set the speakers up manually…this is what I do…I have found that the audyssey program in my receiver does a great job for movies but I also like to listen to music over the home theater system and the Audyssey doesn’t do as good a job for music CD’s as it does for movies so I end up having to tweak by hand and the meter helps, but I also have to use my ears and discernment…what I have found is that small changes can have a huge effect even changes in the bass or midrange will have effect on the perceived treble….but just for basics your center channel should be clear of obstructions, if its on a shelf, it should be forward with no lip protruding past the drivers, to avoid early reflection, early reflections are the most damaging as your ears cannot distinguish between the reflection and the sound coming from the speaker and this blurs the sound far field reflection will be heard as echo by your ears and your ears will be able to discern the difference… (by the way this is true for all speakers in your set no early reflextions) also the tweeter should be at ear level while you are in your ideal seating position, the distance fron the center channel speaker should be the same distance it is to the right and left front speaker while seated in the ideal seating position…I know that some of these parameters and not always posable due to room abbreviations and practicality but the goal is the ideal even if it is not always practical….sometimes compromises must be made but they are compromises…..

4. Maniac Says

   By maximizing the field are you talking about dispersion? Do you feel the center speaker does not perform well off axis? If so you could orient it vertically instead of horizontally, this will give it a wider dispersion in the horizontal axis. Also, an MTM design like this has comb filter problems in the X axis when oriented horizontally. By orienting it vertically you eliminate this in the X axis and move it to the Y axis where it is less critical. Other that this there isn’t much you can do. There isn’t anything in the receiver’s processor that will change the dispersion characteristics of the speaker.
   A better center speaker design will have a midrange and tweeter in the center with a woofer on each side. If designed correctly the woofer to midrange crossover will be low enough to eliminate the comb filter problems.
   As for the Jones’s it depends on what they have, maybe they have Bose in which case you are already way ahead of them:-)
   mk

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