Home cinema 5.1

[Theegoods]

Hello everyone,
I need your assistance as I am "building "my home cinema 5.1 and I am not quite sure which are the best choices for my setup in terms of picking a center speaker and then the surround speakers.I would also like your advice on a sub that I am pretty sure to buy and this is emotiva xs12.
Starting, I bought the Denon x1700h as my AVR (little beast as your have stated) and as my fronts the Elac's Debut 3.0 db63 bookshelves.My first dilemma begins picking the best center to compliment the Elac's so I am between Elac unifi 2.0 uc52(previous gen) and center of the same debut line debut c63.I have concluded from deep research that the LCR should be from the same line not even brand so my first approach was to buy the dB c63.This one is an mtm 2 way center (which should avoid as it is mtm as I have read) but would match perfect tonally (perfect timber match) with my fronts achieving the full potential of the immersion that is the case.On the other hand the uc52 being 3 way with a concentric driver will be super perfect for dialogues and have much better off axis dispersion.The takeaway will be that it will clush to my fronts and have a big tonal mismatch,as there is a big difference in the materials each speaker is made of?To clear this dilemma I asked Elac about it by email and here is their answer: "You’re right. The sound throughout all speakers at the front should be homogenious. So, the center should sound similar to the main speakers for keeping the illusion of moving objects in the room allive.
But, the similarity of the basic sound of the Debut and the UniFi series is high enough to combine both series with each other. Using a center out of the UniFi series has also the advantage that the coaxial high-/mid-range system offers a good speech understandability and a good directivity which also is an advantage for speech reproducttion.
So, from my point of view, you can go ahead with the UniFi center."should I choose finally the Uc52?
The other dilemma is about the surrounds.I was ready to pull the trigger for the wharfedale diamonds 12.1.but again if I lose even a small feeling of the surround immersivness as they have a different sound signature fundamentally, should I pick the db53's of the same line or maybe another choice.the price gap between them is about 80€ cheeper the wharfedale's.
Thanks in advance guys

 

[Newman]

I would pick a DB63 or DB53 bookshelf for centre duties. Even if you have a centre TV console with a low-profile gap for a centre speaker, I would rather rethink that arrangement than put a typical centre speaker in it.

The UC52 uses the same drivers as the UB52, which Amir gave a headless panther review. I would avoid it.

cheers (and welcome!)

 

[Chrispy]

Another thought is do you really need a center? Is it just for you and your prime seat or for more seats? If you really need a horizontal center, rather than use ideally identical speakers across the front, then I'd probably get the model matching your L/R speakers (or maybe even with some brands a center from further up their lineup). Personally I prefer full match for 5/7 ch setups, but for surrounds less critical....

 

[BJL]

Hello everyone,
I need your assistance as I am "building "my home cinema 5.1 and I am not quite sure which are the best choices for my setup in terms of picking a center speaker and then the surround speakers.I would also like your advice on a sub that I am pretty sure to buy and this is emotiva xs12.
Starting, I bought the Denon x1700h as my AVR (little beast as your have stated) and as my fronts the Elac's Debut 3.0 db63 bookshelves.My first dilemma begins picking the best center to compliment the Elac's so I am between Elac unifi 2.0 uc52(previous gen) and center of the same debut line debut c63.I have concluded from deep research that the LCR should be from the same line not even brand so my first approach was to buy the dB c63.This one is an mtm 2 way center (which should avoid as it is mtm as I have read) but would match perfect tonally (perfect timber match) with my fronts achieving the full potential of the immersion that is the case.On the other hand the uc52 being 3 way with a concentric driver will be super perfect for dialogues and have much better off axis dispersion.The takeaway will be that it will clush to my fronts and have a big tonal mismatch,as there is a big difference in the materials each speaker is made of?To clear this dilemma I asked Elac about it by email and here is their answer: "You’re right. The sound throughout all speakers at the front should be homogenious. So, the center should sound similar to the main speakers for keeping the illusion of moving objects in the room allive.
But, the similarity of the basic sound of the Debut and the UniFi series is high enough to combine both series with each other. Using a center out of the UniFi series has also the advantage that the coaxial high-/mid-range system offers a good speech understandability and a good directivity which also is an advantage for speech reproducttion.
So, from my point of view, you can go ahead with the UniFi center."should I choose finally the Uc52?
The other dilemma is about the surrounds.I was ready to pull the trigger for the wharfedale diamonds 12.1.but again if I lose even a small feeling of the surround immersivness as they have a different sound signature fundamentally, should I pick the db53's of the same line or maybe another choice.the price gap between them is about 80€ cheeper the wharfedale's.
Thanks in advance guys

I suggest using the same make and model for all five speakers. That is what I did (actually for the seven main speakers in an Atmos 9.1.6 system) and the sound is coherent in ways that are difficult or impossible to achieve when mixing and matching.

 

[Newman]

Well....let's just say that "same speakers everywhere" is an easy recommendation to the beginner.

But note that since the various speakers do different jobs and in different room alignments, it is possible to surpass "same speakers everywhere"... but it's not easy nor easy to discuss. Not for this thread.

cheers

 

[Theegoods]

Well....let's just say that "same speakers everywhere" is an easy recommendation to the beginner.

But note that since the various speakers do different jobs and in different room alignments, it is possible to surpass "same speakers everywhere"... but it's not easy nor easy to discuss. Not for this thread.

cheers

I am aware that it is not easy for sure.I am not going to change my setup in the future so I want to make the best choices to match my exact fronts elac db’s63.

 

[Theegoods]

I would pick a DB63 or DB53 bookshelf for centre duties. Even if you have a centre TV console with a low-profile gap for a centre speaker, I would rather rethink that arrangement than put a typical centre speaker in it.

The UC52 uses the same drivers as the UB52, which Amir gave a headless panther review. I would avoid it.

cheers (and welcome!)

So you suggest putting a DB63(as my fronts)or DB53 speaker (as my side surrounds will be) and put it horizontally as a center?I wouldn't put a dedicated center too exactly under my TV either (because the gap is small.I will put it further down but with a tilt towards my ears)so your recommendation is under consideration.the main thing is what is the advantage of using another Db63 or db53 instead of a dedicated center? What are the benefits (in our discussion compared toDC63 or UC52?so uc52 crap stuff?

 

[Theegoods]

Another thought is do you really need a center? Is it just for you and your prime seat or for more seats? If you really need a horizontal center, rather than use ideally identical speakers across the front, then I'd probably get the model matching your L/R speakers (or maybe even with some brands a center from further up their lineup). Personally I prefer full match for 5/7 ch setups, but for surrounds less critical...the set up

 

[Theegoods]

The setup is in the living room.mainly for two seats but all the seats are 5 maybe 6.but the most use will be strict for 2 persons and if friends come 4persons.Using a non dedicated center as someone suggested and specifically a DB63 or DB53 is it a good-better or bad choice?

 

[Chrispy]

The setup is in the living room.mainly for two seats but all the seats are 5 maybe 6.but the most use will be strict for 2 persons and if friends come 4persons.Using a non dedicated center as someone suggested and specifically a DB63 or DB53 is it a good-better or bad choice?

If you need the horizontal center the C63 looks fine.

 

[Theegoods]

If you need the horizontal center the C63 looks fine.

Thanks.So another bookshelf as a center out of question?

 

[Theegoods]

So you suggest putting a DB63(as my fronts)or DB53 speaker (as my side surrounds will be) and put it horizontally as a center?I wouldn't put a dedicated center too exactly under my TV either (because the gap is small.I will put it further down but with a tilt towards my ears)so your recommendation is under consideration.the main thing is what is the advantage of using another Db63 or db53 instead of a dedicated center? What are the benefits (in our discussion compared toDC63 or UC52?so uc52 crap stuff?

To give further details I planned to place the dedicated center lower than the FL fronts in first place(the gap under the is small right now ).so to give you more detail,.the FL fronts are placed at 110cm height.the position of the seated persons are 100-110cm height.if I put another DB63 upright as a center it will be at 60 cm height as I measured it.what do you think? consider the dedicated center would be even lower as it is shorter than the bookshelf.is it a problem for LCR not being in the same height?from my point of view the height difference as I seat on my sofa is not significantly big what do you suggest?

 

[Newman]

So you suggest putting a DB63(as my fronts)or DB53 speaker (as my side surrounds will be) and put it horizontally as a center?

Vertically. Horizontal would have similar problems to a low profile centre.

 

[Theegoods]

Vertically. Horizontal would have similar problems to a low profile centre.

so a DB63 bookshelf upright as a center is the Ideal pick right?to give you more details.the FL fronts are placed at 110cm height.the position of the seated persons are 100-110cm height.if I put another DB63 as a center it will be at around 60 cm height as I measured it.what do you think? it's not considerably low right?

 

[Newman]

so a DB63 bookshelf upright as a center is the Ideal pick right?

That's the way I see it.

to give you more details.the FL fronts are placed at 110cm height.the position of the seated persons are 100-110cm height.if I put another DB63 as a center it will be at around 60 cm height as I measured it.what do you think? it's not considerably low right?

The tweeter will be no lower than it would be for a low profile centre speaker.

The recommendation is to preferably keep the height difference to no more than 30 cm.

Also, your FL/FR fronts might be a little high? Speakers are usually designed to have the tweeter at ear height, or the midpoint between tweeter and midbass at ear height. Seated ear heights are typically around 90-100 cm.

cheers

 

[Theegoods]

Yeah ok.I suppose the heights are fixable no worries.thanks man.I will go all the way for another DB63 bookshelf for center duties.And a pair of DB53 as side surrounds.So I will have to pair them with a sub.And my thoughts are the emotiva sx12 but it's still unavailable in Europe.any other thoughts?

 

[Raj21p]

Go with the UC52 its 3 way concentric design gives far better dialogue clarity and off axis response than the C63, and tonal mismatch is minimal. For surrounds, the DB53s are the best match, but the Wharfedales will work fine if budget is tight. The Emotiva XS12 is a solid sub choice.

 

[Chrispy]

Thanks.So another bookshelf as a center out of question?

No as I mentioned earlier, identical speakers across the front would be ideal, altho a tv can get in the way of placement....

 

[kyuu]

One point not being brought up so far that I've seen is why the toppled MTM configuration is so common for center channels. The center channel doesn't just handle dialogue, but many if not most movie/TV mixes lean heavily on the center channel for most everything. It's arguably more important than the mains. You generally want something that can handle dynamics without heavy distortion or compression. When you're limited in vertical space, that means multiple woofers arranged horizontally.

Personally, I think the stigma against the toppled MTM is overblown. For usual listening distances, you won't have any issues with the lobing between drivers for your average couch. Just make sure you have a decent design with a window of plus or minus 20 degrees from on axis. I am using MTMs across my front LCRs, with the center horizontal, and have no issues with dialogue intelligibility or tonal shifts.

 

[Eric Natural]

...the FL fronts are placed at 110cm height.the position of the seated persons are 100-110cm height.if I put another DB63 as a center it will be at around 60 cm height as I measured it.what do you think?

all three LCR tweeters at listeners ear level is your target.
I've found mixed results with dolby surround-types over the years. Di polar, bi polar, direct radiating. Same brand as the fronts or not the same. I don't think it's as critical as the fronts by large measure considering the several room correction dsp that are available in 2025.
Best of Luck