What Is The Best Center Channel Speaker You Have Heard?

[@xXxAmadeuzxXx]

Sound like a bunch of politicians. Didn't even answer the question.

[@shaolin95]

Let's make a video about a question we won't answer... Nailed it! Useless

[@jaredhylton6591]

Not sure why this old video snuck into my feed, but I will add my answer. My speaker brand of choice is Paradigm and they offer amazing centers that can go all the way up to being a near copy of their large towers, but horizontal. However, with all of that said I still find that I always prefer skipping their center altogether and running "phantom" center. So my favorite all time center was my pair of Paradigm Persona 3f without a center that meant they were creating the phantom center themselves, essentially giving me a virtual 3rd 3f roght between them where it was impossible for a real one to be.

[@gino3286]

why not use three identical centers ? one above a bass box for each L and R channel and one in the center ? the center channel usually is only limited in the very low bass Then add one

[@ericlegrue6775]

There was no useful information in this whole discussion on center channels. No one cares about your tours of $900000 systems at shows. Most people can't put a tower in front of the TV so after that, then get to the question. If you haven't reviewed alot of center channels then say I can't really comment.

[@juicebox853]

This went on a tangent. How about just answering what is the be "center speaker" you have heard, not a 3rd LR.

[@mrbigjl]

Again, what is the best center channel speaker you've ever heard?

[@joentell]

The answer is the one that best matches your left and right speakers. No one uses a center channel by itself. A great center channel that doesn't match the sound of the left and right channels won't sound great. The answer is if you have great left and right speakers and a matching center, it will be optimal and also sound great.

[@Goodboy0953]

My Ultima Voice Gem

[@shaolin95]

@@joentell wrong

[@michaelhenry3234]

@@joentell But what are the best ones? Like 90% of the sound is coming from the center when watching average content, so in home theater situations it should really be the opposite: match the LR to the center. Some center channels are shittier than others, so I don't want to buy an LCR with a poorly designed center, even if the LRs are great. An MTM with poor dispersion is, for example, a center I would want to avoid.

[@joentell]

@@michaelhenry3234 I think @erinsaudiocorner has the most conclusive video about this.

[@amohtash]

You guys really don't help... The Question is what is the best center channel: your answers.25k speakers otherwise, no good one... Very helpful for people who are not billionaires

[@voiceofreason9238]

The best center speaker is the Klipsch RC-64 III. It's big and uses four 6.5" drivers, my favorite size for reproducing the human voice. It can play LOUD or soft and maintain it's characteristic clear sound without sounding thin when it's soft or compressed when played loud. The horn driver was designed to NOT sound shouty and it's not. The drawback is that it's big and expensive at $1900. You can use it with any L/R, dome tweeter or horn. Quality goes with everything.

[@TurboLoveTrain]

I use a Polk CS175i center channel for my computer 7.1 surround system and it sounds fantastic.

[@JohnDoe-pc9qf]

Paradigm CC-390 is the best I've heard. Picture an enormous center channel- this one is twice as big as that. 40 in long, 15 in deep and 70 lb.

[@cajuncountry]

No answer and one dude just setting up his camera....

[@paulcanniff4308]

lmao

[@J0NN1EWALK3R]

Wow, nothing from this

[@joentell]

What is the answer you were hoping for? You wanted to hear a us say a specific speaker right? But what if that center doesn't match the left and right speaker, I don't think that's ideal. A great measuring single speaker (center channel or not) is likely to be a great center channel as long as it matches the left and right. I've heard some people say that a wide dispersion pattern is preferable for a center channel but I haven't done a comparison myself.

[@J0NN1EWALK3R]

Ok let’s start with this, the best center is a matching LCR. Ok we are all on board with this, but I did notice no one likes to break it down more than this and say what brands they like better than others. Is the new JTR center better than the klipsch speaker it replaced? How was the center speaker from M&k sound that was reviewed from one of you guys and the SVS center and so on. You had the topic of best center, so talk about them. Will the companies get upset if you say one is better than the other in your opinion? Just seems like it’s pulling teeth to get some real talk about products. There’s only a small handful of people putting themselves out there with there opinions.

[@joentell]

@@J0NN1EWALK3R Let's set this straight. #1) Have you NOT seen my Speaker Leaderboard where I rank speakers? I guess not. I literally do exactly what you are asking for in my speaker reviews. As far as I know, I'm the only KZbin reviewer, or any speaker reviewer that has a ranking system like this. If you really want to know which I think is the best center, find my Speaker Leaderboard, look at the top 3 speakers in the best overall sound quality column, and use that speaker as a center. Done. #2) This was as question asked by someone commenting on the live stream. It's not like we had time to prepare a thought out answer. These are snippets pulled from our live podcast.

[@DailyHiFi]

Http://bit.ly/SpeakerLeaderboard

[@J0NN1EWALK3R]

Thank you very much to take the time for your responses, much appreciated.

[@bingdong8571]

CENTER CHANNEL SPEAKER people! Not mains used as centers. We understand that your better off with 3 identical speakers! Most people don't have room for that! Again, the ? Is what is the best CENTER channel speaker u have ever heard? Anything?

[@davidnaumann8086]

Golden Ear SuperCenter Reference

[@gee7092]

Main takeaway: The best center channels speaker isn't a center channel speaker.

[@calibre00]

I agree its all about integration for sure, the centre that matched my towers series (Jamo C97) had smaller woofers, 5.25 vs 6" woofers so went for the series up (C10 CEN) with same size & type drivers/ tweeter as the towers with a much larger enclosure and its great, can't audibly distinguish the centre when all three fronts are playing music in 'all channel stereo', to me thats the best test for integration.

[@schemkesa]

You need good off axis response, so dual concentric seems the best design

[@E4xtream]

Didn't answer the question at all.

[@alexandsimba]

Answer: Get WMTW Center channel if you are watching stuff often in your home theater with other people (living room). If you are watching stuff by yourself often (my bedroom gaming setup), then you have a lot more freedom to choose a center channel. Just make sure your left and right speakers have great imaging. If you center channel ends up being too low or too loud, then you can disconnect the center channel and do phantom center.

[@daveroski]

Yeah you should be specifying your favorite brand and model. If I asked what your favorite sneakers are. Would you be like. I tried on those $1000 ones. Haha

[@musicman8270]

Bowers htm72 s2 is my current and all time best center. Midrange is most important for the center. Humans concentrate on the human voice and its hard to reproduce. Bowers are knowm for their higher end frequencies but they really shine with their mids.

[@celluloidtherapy5003]

The GoldenEar Super Center, is the best of what I have heard.

[@AexoeroV]

Hey, which one, the reference?

[@celluloidtherapy5003]

@@AexoeroV Hi there! Yes, the reference center, although the step-down model sounds equally good, in my honest opinion.

[@AexoeroV]

@@celluloidtherapy5003 step down is the xxl? in my country there is just 3 supercenter, the reference, the xl and the x, no xxl here!

[@benjwal]

Dear Experts, cant thank you enough. i was about to buy Paradigm 600 Center and i trust its the best as you say it sirs. but unplugged KEF 650C (its super) and replaced with my Center Channel Martin logan 20i, this is just minutes before i type it does sound much much better i wish to listen to it post this you tube update. ill share my experience.... asap.... thank you it sounds much much better ill share pictures of my fireplace and TV above it.

[@charlesmarchiano9531]

Is it possible to connect a sound bar as a center channel speaker?

[@dtemp132]

Possible, yes, depends on the soundbar, but you shouldn't.

[@cmammen]

Triad Gold 3 way ridiculously perfect

[@keepingupwiththejones2933]

Clearly the correct answer is Channa Sony television 😅🤣

[@tkusterb]

I wish they had answered the question.

[@timvonr2802]

Best for most people in using and playing is in or Onwall LCR‘s … Actually I always was unhappy with my center (heco metas) and since i did a better setup and plugged the bassport I quite like it.

[@rexdparrish3169]

I agree.....nothing. like I say, unless you have heard it, you have never heard it.....

[@FalconsATL]

Didn’t name one center channel speaker! 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@shaolin95]

Hilarious to see a photo of the terrible c2+ on the thumbnail

[@RichBriere]

I've left comments on Hundreds of Posts......all very polite. This will be different.......This is BY FAR the Goofiest Video I've ever seen. To the Gent on the Bottom Right..... You stole the show by being Completely Unprepared. Sad.

[@briansilvia7307]

The best I’ve heard is the def tech with the built in powered sub . I think the center should be as full range as you can get to add that dynamic .

[@hansiangng2808]

Did you have the chance to hear the Goldenears ? It also digs deep.. on specs at least.. Thanks.

[@shamrock4840]

Does that screw up timber matching w other speakers?

[@shaolin95]

Except that center is average at best

[@corymarcotte5853]

LCR AT EAT HIGHT. Use a projector

[@nofrali7677]

The best Center I've heard is Wharfedale 4.C. It's a big one, but IT sounds amazing. I got it for 500 Euros. Best speaker for "normal" money / price ranges.

[@amb86]

Hi Martin, may i know if you own them and what did you upgrade from? Tks

[@sanonmars]

I have the same with Evo 4.4 towers. Earlier I had Diamond 220 LCR and then replaced centre with Klipsch RP450C. D220 and Klipsch was not good combination. But now with Evo its great. Now upgrade will be atmos AVR and power amplifier to extract excellent low end from towers and centre.

[@bunnyrabbit008]

Wharfedale Zaldek 3 way 130W and I LUV IT!

[@bunnyrabbit008]

But the Zaldek is huge 60cm width

[@bunnyrabbit008]

Nofrali, give me a hi 5 mate !

[@tedjones112]

A CoAxisl design like Kef or HSU CCB8

[@sanonmars]

3 way.

[@TruthHasSpoken]

Need to redo the whole video and answer the question. Or just delete this.

[@bunnyrabbit008]

Wharfedale Zaldek 3way 130w 6 Ohm

[@MyFatherLoves]

Genelec 8361a

[@michaelwyckoff9207]

Git dat money bro.

[@hdtvkeith1604]

That is the beauty of the Arendal speakers, their centers are as close to identical to their LR speakers especially if you use their monitors over their towers.

[@shaolin95]

Lol a terrible 2way as center. Hardly something I would call "beauty"

[@katstutrakatsturatorren]

@@shaolin95 perfect timbere matching or more horizontal dispersion but not timbre matched. you need to pick your poison. if you are the far left or far right of the cinema, we all know the person is fucked either way because they are too close to the surround or far L/R speaker. For my room I've doen the measuremrnts and 20 degrees is beautiful for most except far left and far right. far left/far right are fucked no matter what i do even with trinnov. for referrence i have 1723 and Revel performa setups so swap the speakers between rooms.

[@demonreturns4336]

So people talk about having LCR match Center channel handles dialogue and special effects L & R handle soundtrack music Why exactly does timbre matching matter? Especially for movie watching purposes Having identical L/ R makes sense for obvious reasons, but the center? Unless one likes to listen to music employing L/C/R then……

[@1165mac]

The best center channel is getting a third copy of our left and right for sure.