• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Center Channel Help

hjames19

Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2024
Messages
25
Likes
6
Hi,
I just started putting together a home theater system (100% movies and Xbox) a few weeks ago. I was told to start with a 2.1 so that’s what I did. I had no idea until a couple days ago that the center channel was the most important part in a home theater system. So I did this backwards unfortunately.

I need help choosing a center channel. My current options are.
ELAC Debut2.0 c6.2
ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UC52
SVS Prime Center

I’m not against a good 3 way bookshelf for a center channel either.

I’m leaning towards the Uni-Fin but the link to Erin’s info on that center says it’s voice matched to its Uni-Fi counterparts. And I was told to match my front 3 speakers with the same brand and series.

My current set up is.

- ELAC Debut2.0 F6.2 (Front Left & Right)
- ELAC Debut2.0 B6.2 (Surrounds or Front Heights I haven’t decided yet)
-RSL 10s Mk2 (will arrive next month - it’s on back order)


Thanks for any advice!
 
Matching brands and series doesn't really tell you much - if you can, try to match measurements. Spinorama.org can help.
 
Matching brands and series doesn't really tell you much - if you can, try to match measurements. Spinorama.org can help.
Ok. I’ll take a look there. This sounds like it’s out of my league lol. I’m a complete newb when it comes to this stuff.
 
Matching brands and series doesn't really tell you much - if you can, try to match measurements. Spinorama.org can help.
It looks like they don’t have the ELAC Debut2.0 F6.2 or the ELAC Debut2.0 C6.2 as options.
 
I made a set with the first Debuts. The center was a good match and good quality. You don't have to make this complicated, just get the Debut center, it's affordable and I see no reason to think it is worse than the old one.
 
I subscribe to at least timber matching the Front speakers in a HT setup. So I'd stay with the ELACs.

Just looking at the specifications for the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UC52 indicate a better speaker.
  • 3-way design with custom 1" soft dome tweeter concentrically mounted in a 4" aluminum cone midrange and two 5-1/4" aluminum cone woofers
I'd go for the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UC52.

The Surrounds will be more impactful than Front Heights. Do them first.

Enjoy!
 
Last edited:
I made a set with the first Debuts. The center was a good match and good quality. You don't have to make this complicated, just get the Debut center, it's affordable and I see no reason to think it is worse than the old one.
Well I was mainly trying to decide between the Debut2.0 c6.2 or the Uni-Fi2.0 UC52 because they are about the same price right now. About a $20 difference I think.

But was conflicted about what I’ve been told regarding keeping the brand/series the same across the front three speakers.
 
Last edited:
Well I was mainly trying to decide between the Debut2.0 c6.2 or the Uni-Fi2.0 UC52 because they are about the same price right now. About a $20 difference I think.

But was conflicted about what I’ve been told regarding keeping the brand/series the same.
Ah, I see, the price difference is greater here. Uni-fi is the better speaker and coaxes are great for center. If you have full frequency range room correction in your amp it will level things nicely. If not then I don't know how well they'll match.
 
Yeah, Crutchfield has them discounted right now.

I have the Onkyo TX-NR6100. It has AccuEQ but I’m not sure how well it works. I haven’t used it yet.
 
Hi,
I just started putting together a home theater system (100% movies and Xbox) a few weeks ago. I was told to start with a 2.1 so that’s what I did. I had no idea until a couple days ago that the center channel was the most important part in a home theater system. So I did this backwards unfortunately.

I need help choosing a center channel. My current options are.
ELAC Debut2.0 c6.2
ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UC52
SVS Prime Center

I’m not against a good 3 way bookshelf for a center channel either.

I’m leaning towards the Uni-Fin but the link to Erin’s info on that center says it’s voice matched to its Uni-Fi counterparts. And I was told to match my front 3 speakers with the same brand and series.

My current set up is.

- ELAC Debut2.0 F6.2 (Front Left & Right)
- ELAC Debut2.0 B6.2 (Surrounds or Front Heights I haven’t decided yet)
-RSL 10s Mk2 (will arrive next month - it’s on back order)


Thanks for any advice!
From my experience, a center channel that is voiced similarly to the mains provides a smoother path to integration. (I have a suspicion that similar cross-over topographies in the front channels might be desirable, too, though I have no hard evidence to support it.) Pink noise played through each of the front channel should sound nearly identical at the listening point after gain matching. I also caution against getting a center channel that needs to be crossed over to the LFE at frequencies higher than 100Hz. None of this was brought down from Mt. Sinai, just my experience.
 
From my experience, a center channel that is voiced similarly to the mains provides a smoother path to integration. (I have a suspicion that similar cross-over topographies in the front channels might be desirable, too, though I have no hard evidence to support it.) Pink noise played through each of the front channel should sound nearly identical at the listening point after gain matching. I also caution against getting a center channel that needs to be crossed over to the LFE at frequencies higher than 100Hz. None of this was brought down from Mt. Sinai, just my experience.
Thanks for the info.

Which of the ELAC centers would you recommend pairing with the Debut2.0 f6.2’s?
 
Thanks for the info.

Which of the ELAC centers would you recommend pairing with the Debut2.0 f6.2’s?
The ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UC52 is timber matched to your existing speakers and of a superior design to the ELAC Debut2.0 c6.2 which are of a typical MTM design and subject to Lobing.

If they are near the same price this is a no brainer.
 
 
Thanks for the info.

Which of the ELAC centers would you recommend pairing with the Debut2.0 f6.2’s?
I don't know the ELAC line well enough to say. I leave advice that specific to those who do.
 
Yes and no. I'm aware of problems with them but I don't perceive much problems with horizontal speakers and I don't have room for a vertical one. Then again I'm much much more picky listening to music than watching movies.
Using three of a kind in front is an easy and simple way if there's room for it. And of course coaxes work nicely.
 
I also caution against getting a center channel that needs to be crossed over to the LFE at frequencies higher than 100Hz. None of this was brought down from Mt. Sinai, just my experience.
LFE is set at 120Hz and should not be touched. Crossover to sub is a totally different matter and that is normally 80Hz. I think you're talking about the sub channel xo but just to make sure.
 
I thought I was clear. We're talking about the frequency at which the center channel crosses over to the LFE.
 
LFE is never directed into the center channel so there is no xo between them. Center to subwoofer has an xo.
 
Are there any graphs for the Debut2.0 c6.2 like Erin has for the UC52?

Wanting to look at the horizontal dispersion.
 
You can't use another of the same speaker as l/r as center?
 
Back
Top Bottom