Looking for a big bad center channel

[Oddball]

Nothing wrong with my current center, but that "upgrade" bug is biting...

SF Sonetto II is really an admirable center speaker, but I chose it before I added a bigger LR towers to my 9.5.4 setup. It definitely keeps up well and its transparency and dynamics don't seem to be impaired in the new setup (usually listen to -10dB volume max), but in pursuit of excellence, always worth exploring alternatives?

The prime candidate is Revel C426Be, although won't be able to audition it and not really willing to travel (far) just to arrange that. But it's reputation, reviews, size and price ($2.8K for a new unit, usual street price more like $4.5K) make it really appealing.

Given that in that price range there are not many alternatives, it seems like the best deal, but assuming that the budget was up to $6-7k and deal could be had on the other potential candidates - which ones should be considered. Some of the ones I can think of are Perlisten S7c, Sonus Faber Olympica Nova CII, B&W HTM81 D4, perhaps big Paradigm center or bigger KEF reference? Except for the Perlisten and KEF, unlikely would be able to audition others.

If anyone has been dealing with the same dilemma, or has a word of advice, input will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Holmz]

Does the center channel need to be a similar sound to the Left and Right speakers?
And similar crossover order?

 

[StigErik]

Ideally, the center channel should identical to the L and R speakers. That goes for the surrounds as well. Or at least have the same frequency and phase response.

Would you use two very different speakers in your stereo setup… ? And why not?

 

[Holmz]

Ideally, the center channel should identical to the L and R speakers. That goes for the surrounds as well. Or at least have the same frequency and phase response.

Would you use two very different speakers in your stereo setup… ? And why not?

Thanks @StigErik, I am sure @Oddball will ask you follow up questions if he needs answers.

 

[Oddball]

Obviously ideally one would have the same LCR. That is difficult if one wants to have towers with a flat panel display as towers will not clear the flat panel hight, even if small ones. The only way would be to lift the flat panel display, but for various reasons I decided not to. Next less than ideal decision was to buy the towers that don't really have a matching centre. I really loved Heco towers but not the centre. Also got decent deal on them.

Was thinking of Revel bigger towers (F228Be and 328Be) and "matching" Revel C426Be, but would have to travel pretty far to audition them.

I am primarily listening to movies and shows using 9.5.4 system and for 2 channel music and use 2.0 (might be 2.2 at one point). So centre is really only for the movies and shows at the moment. Speaker should cover MLP and 1 position on each side from about 7-8 feet distance and its position is vertically aligned with the MLP, with the centre tweeter being some 3 feet lover and angled to MLP ear level. I am yet to go over all the reviews of the speakers I mentioned, but since these requirements are relatively simple, would expect their dispersion to cover what I need.

In terms of crossover matching, my front towers are 3-way with crossovers at 290 Hz and 2.75 kHz and Revel C426Be would be also 3-way with crossovers at 210 Hz and 2.1 kHz. Not a perfect match - Revel F328Be towers would be a better match with 240hz and 2.1khz. But then compared to Perlisten S7c that is 4 way with crossovers at 500Hz, 1.1kHz and 4.4kHz, Revel C426Be would be a better match.

The biggest problem in the equation is the room that is a multi-purpose, irregularly shaped loft. Unfortunately don't have the ability to change the room for anything significantly better, primarily as my wife does not want to move and I don't want to move far from the kids, so this loft is just 2 floors down in the same building.

So all technicalities on the side, a centre speaker that can play reasonably loud (100-ish dB) and very clear as well as reasonably track the frequency response would be uneducated match to my towers and room. While any input is appreciated, I would really value experience of the people that were chasing a big bad centre at some, hopefully more recent, point.

 

[Holmz]

Obviously ideally one would have the same LCR. That is difficult if one wants to have towers with a flat panel display as towers will not clear the flat panel hight, even if small ones. The only way would be to lift the flat panel display, but for various reasons I decided not to. Next less than ideal decision was to buy the towers that don't really have a matching centre. I really loved Heco towers but not the centre. Also got decent deal on them.

Was thinking of Revel bigger towers (F228Be and 328Be) and "matching" Revel C426Be, but would have to travel pretty far to audition them.

I am primarily listening to movies and shows using 9.5.4 system and for 2 channel music and use 2.0 (might be 2.2 at one point). So centre is really only for the movies and shows at the moment. Speaker should cover MLP and 1 position on each side from about 7-8 feet distance and its position is vertically aligned with the MLP, with the centre tweeter being some 3 feet lover and angled to MLP ear level. I am yet to go over all the reviews of the speakers I mentioned, but since these requirements are relatively simple, would expect their dispersion to cover what I need.

I would seriously consider starting with 8.5.4 And seeing if that is good enough.
Instead of MLP +/- 1 seat there are 2 of us,, so it is MLP +1.
Literally the first time I hooked the TV up in a 2,0.0 the mrs said, “move the speakers out because the TV sounds just fine.”
I had to physically turn off the amp for her to finally believe that the sound was not coming from the center.
I have even be caught myself wondering if the TV sound was on at times.

In terms of crossover matching, my front towers are 3-way with crossovers at 290 Hz and 2.75 kHz and Revel C426Be would be also 3-way with crossovers at 210 Hz and 2.1 kHz. Not a perfect match - Revel F328Be towers would be a better match with 240hz and 2.1khz. But then compared to Perlisten S7c that is 4 way with crossovers at 500Hz, 1.1kHz and 4.4kHz, Revel C426Be would be a better match.

Yeah no…
You also need to know what the crossover is? 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th order? LR, butterworth, etc.

The biggest problem in the equation is the room that is a multi-purpose, irregularly shaped loft. Unfortunately don't have the ability to change the room for anything significantly better, primarily as my wife does not want to move and I don't want to move far from the kids, so this loft is just 2 floors down in the same building.

^this^ is not the biggest problem.

So all technicalities on the side, a centre speaker that can play reasonably loud (100-ish dB) and very clear as well as reasonably track the frequency response would be uneducated match to my towers and room. While any input is appreciated, I would really value experience of the people that were chasing a big bad centre at some, hopefully more recent, point.

I got a center channel made by the same manufacturer as my towers. It blends well, but is not really that great until one gets way off axis.
At that point poeple on the sides can still get good sound.

If Revel do not do a center channel with a wide dispersion, then give it a miss.
Or if there is no one sitting off to the side, then IMO, give em a miss.

This all assumes that your AVR/AVP does 8.5.4 as well as it does 9.5.4.

 

[Oddball]

Tried phantom centre in each of my prior and current setups, but not really my cup of tea. Works relatively well at dead centre of MLP, but as I move left or right have a feeling something is a bit off.

Went with Revel as it was the best deal by far, and will get 60 day return window. Revel C426Be has pretty wide dispersion and measures pretty well. Let's see how it compares to my current SF Sonetto II centre that is 25% smaller in size and more than half the price (when listed prices compared).

Revel PerformaBe F226Be Tower & C426Be Center Loudspeakers Review

We reviewed the Revel Performa F226Be, a three-way floor-standing speaker, and the C426Be, a monster three-way center speaker using four 6.5" bass drivers to see if they live up to the brand reputation.

www.audioholics.com

Thanks to all for the input.