Center Channel Options for Revel F206

[davkj]

I have a HT setup in the living room with F206 towers that I set up last year. Currently the CC is an ancient Paradigm CC-370 v2, that needed a tweeter transplant. It was meant to be a stop-gap until I had a reason to replace. The speaker works fine, but there are times where the dialog is a bit unclear. With the apparent discontinuation of the Performa3 speakers, I've considered migrating to a C205 before they are gone. I expect it to be better than the Paradigm, but am not certain the C205 is better than a 3-Way like the Monoprice THX-365C which is less expensive.

Does anyone have any experience with the C205 vs. the THX-365C? And no, I am not considering the C208, it's too big for the intended location.


Additional info - Onkyo TX-RZ50 powering Center and Surrounds, BelCanto eOne Integrated powering F206. 24X14 room with speakers on long wall about 11' apart off center on long wall. Center on BDI console around 22" off floor. CC-370v2 is MTM w/ 6.5" woofers, 1" tweeter. Rythmik E15.

 

[rynberg]

Unless you are only listening to dramas/comedies or at modest volume, I would never use a center channel with 5-1/4" woofers. I would still recommend finding a way to incorporate the C208, but barring that I would consider the Monolith over the C205. Or going higher end, a KEF R6 Meta. At least the Monolith has a wide radiation pattern like the F206.

(speaking as someone with F206 and C208 as LCR)

 

[Bettersound59]

I have a HT setup in the living room with F206 towers that I set up last year. Currently the CC is an ancient Paradigm CC-370 v2, that needed a tweeter transplant. It was meant to be a stop-gap until I had a reason to replace. The speaker works fine, but there are times where the dialog is a bit unclear. With the apparent discontinuation of the Performa3 speakers, I've considered migrating to a C205 before they are gone. I expect it to be better than the Paradigm, but am not certain the C205 is better than a 3-Way like the Monoprice THX-365C which is less expensive.

Does anyone have any experience with the C205 vs. the THX-365C? And no, I am not considering the C208, it's too big for the intended location.


Additional info - Onkyo TX-RZ50 powering Center and Surrounds, BelCanto eOne Integrated powering F206. 24X14 room with speakers on long wall about 11' apart off center on long wall. Center on BDI console around 22" off floor. CC-370v2 is MTM w/ 6.5" woofers, 1" tweeter. Rythmik E15.

I have had the THX-365C. The C208 is a fantastic center channel-- clear voices, great radius across even to M106s left and right as a front 3. The Monolith 365C is nowhere in the same category. I have not listened to the C205, which I acknowledge you are inquiring here.

 

[kyuu]

Unless you are only listening to dramas/comedies or at modest volume, I would never use a center channel with 5-1/4" woofers. I would still recommend finding a way to incorporate the C208, but barring that I would consider the Monolith over the C205. Or going higher end, a KEF R6 Meta. At least the Monolith has a wide radiation pattern like the F206.

Dual 5-1/4" woofers are quite sufficient to handle the power levels needed to get quite loud in most home settings, assuming the drivers are of decent quality and are implemented well, which should not be in question for the C205. 5-1/4" is also just about ideal for crossing over to a 1" tweeter. If you're not running a sub then they may not get low enough, but if you're not running a sub then you should know you need bigger drivers.

The one issue is really the horizontal dispersion endemic to horizontal MTM designs. However, I think what people fail to take into consideration is that the MTM is really ideal for the center channel (and excellent for the main L/Rs also) due to getting decent bass extension with high power handling in the necessary form factor for placement in the limited vertical space underneath a TV. The horizontal dispersion issue is the one issue, but you have to spend up and find a way to accommodate the much larger size of a good 3-way to get around it. That's not practical for everyone, and, depending on the particulars of one's setup, the horizontal dispersion may not be that big of a deal.

Since the OP has been using a traditional MTM as his center, there's no universe where the C205 isn't a straight upgrade.

 

[rynberg]

Dual 5-1/4" woofers are quite sufficient to handle the power levels needed to get quite loud in most home settings, assuming the drivers are of decent quality and are implemented well, which should not be in question for the C205.

The data do not support your statement, depending on what you mean by "quite loud". Look at the low frequency distortion performance of the M105 (yes, I realize the C205 has two woofers instead of 1):

At best, you will have to cross the C205 over at 100 Hz or slightly higher to avoid distortion at lower frequencies, which can cause location issues with the subwoofer(s). A small MTM is a substantial compromise to sound quality -- and while everyone has to make their own choices to fit their particular listening environments and budget, it's disingenuous to act as if those compromises aren't there.

Compare that to the performance of the C208 and I rest my case:

 

[kyuu]

Comparing against a bookshelf with a single woofer? You're literally halving the amount of woofer there. I think a more apt comparison would be to the C25, which Amir reviewed:

Considering the C205 is from the Performa3 line, which is supposed to be higher performance than the Concerta2 line of the C25, I would expect it to perform better and probably quite close to the C208.

Or for another point of comparison, the W553L, another Revel with dual 5-1/4" woofers:

Yes, the C208 with its dual 8" woofers does a bit better, but not by a huge margin. I would never argue that someone with the money and space for a C208 wouldn't be better served by one. I'm merely saying that if you don't want to get that spendy and/or don't have the space for monster center, dual 5-1/4" woofers can and do perform quite well.

 

[Buckchester]

I recently went from a Paradigm cc370 v2 to a Revel C208. I had to change my cabinet too because I couldn't fit the c208 in it. Overall I'm very satisfied with the change. The sound is definitely better. Noticeable, but not significant. Unless I'm playing it loud. Really loud.

 

[Laserjock]

I have F208s and the C208 but haven’t decided to put the C208 below or above the 100” panel I just got recently.
Ended up acquiring an Elac Uni-FI UC52 inside the Standmount Designs center speaker location.
It’s been doing a pretty good job.

 

[CapMan]

I use a C205 with F206s at the front. No complaints using it for streaming 4K movies from Amazon/Netflix. I've never noticed any distortion and the dialogue is always clear. My room is 4x4m and I don't listen at crazy volumes. I had the option of a used C208 but it was just too large for the room and pragmatism won the day.