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Monoprice THX-365C Center Channel Speaker Review (by Erin)
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Alice of Old Vincennes
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I'm using a kef Q150 as a center channel to match my L/R and it looks and sounds great. Bought it used excellent condition.
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I've read you want to point it off-axis, so for a center, aim it over your seats. For L&R, toe them out (and aim overhead). Otherwise that would be an interesting speaker to see a spinorama for.
GabrielPhoto
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I considered comparing them but having to pay shipping both ways if it does not workout kind of push me away to test others instead. I love their subs but not sure about the speakers.
More Dynamics Please
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ASR's measurements and review of the older model Hsu HB-1 MK2 showed some decent performance for the price with and without EQ, especially in the area of power handling where it absorbed "tons," which sparked interest in seeing how the newer CCB-8 would measure.
HSU HB-1 MK2 Review (Horn Speaker)
This is a review and detailed measurements of the HSU HB-1 MK 2 bookshelf speaker. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $169 each as of this writing (normal price $199). I can't say I am a fan of the industrial looking horn but otherwise, the HB-1 looks fine: As you see, it uses a...
www.audiosciencereview.com
i suppose i should have been a bit more specific with my comment on standard tweeter / mid arranged bookshelves when compared to their mid / tweeter / mid counterparts. i was intending this comment for a given family of speakers. for example the vertical contour plots (essentially the horizontal plots when a bookshelf speaker is laid on its side) for the JBL stage, studio and HDI family of bookshelf speakers is at worst equal to and in most cases outperforms the center specific speaker in that family. the same holds true in the polk xt, studio and reserve series.
the narrowing of the horizontal dispersion in most MTM center speakers spans 2 octaves (and sometimes more) in the frequency range dominated by vocals - not ideal for a speaker intended to deliver vocal intelligibility to an audience. the bookshelf counterpart also experiences narrowing of its vertical dispersion (horizontal when laid on its side) but the narrowing is a shorter span in the frequency range of usually one octave or less.
the narrowing of the horizontal dispersion in most MTM center speakers spans 2 octaves (and sometimes more) in the frequency range dominated by vocals - not ideal for a speaker intended to deliver vocal intelligibility to an audience. the bookshelf counterpart also experiences narrowing of its vertical dispersion (horizontal when laid on its side) but the narrowing is a shorter span in the frequency range of usually one octave or less.
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GabrielPhoto
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Well, I decided to get my hands on the c208 to see if the big price delivers a similarly big experience enhancement vs the 365c. I also got the rc263 so I am testing all of them "side by side".
We shall see soon!
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I see a bump in that region, but just to rule out something, set the curtain at 500 Hz on the center speaker and reupload the file.
Hi - not sure I can do that, I’m running the room correction on a Marantz AVR?
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Are you using the MultEQ Editor app?
Audyssey MultEQ Editor app - Apps on Google Play
Audyssey MultEQ Editor app for Denon Marantz AV Receiver products
Which Marantz AVR?
Hi - it’s an NR1608 - the slimline model. I wasn’t aware of the app. Doesn’t look like my model is supported , I’d need to upgrade to the 1711 modelAre you using the MultEQ Editor app?
Audyssey MultEQ Editor app - Apps on Google Play
Audyssey MultEQ Editor app for Denon Marantz AV Receiver productsplay.google.com
Which Marantz AVR?
Sorry if a little late to the party, but I just discovered this thread while looking for centers myself. Link to Arendal 1723 Monitor/Center tested polars (1723S will be of little difference as its the same toppled MTM design with smaller woofers):
https://www.audioholics.com/bookshelf-speaker-reviews/arendal-1723/conclusion
Really wanted to like Arendal, but the imo shady practice of only showing vertical polars for their centers, as well as stating in writing to me they don't have horizontal polars for their centers (unbelievable coming from a company that actually has good engineering)...well they have likely lost my business for a full HT setup. 15-20 degrees just doesn't cut it for me, as reflected sound matters too.
AH constantly pounds on them they need a real 3-way center lol.
Edit (additional info):
Maybe they could at the very least move the tweeter up, and get the woofers closer together. New box/crossover tweaks/sku needed, but at least there would be no additional driver costs.
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GabrielPhoto
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yep I cannot support such shady tactics either
I agree, they should NOT show the polar plot from the vertical monitors on the center product pages without a disclaimer. I don't evaluate the company based on this action in isolation though. The fact theat they are transparent at all with measurements is better than most audio companies. At least a savvy customer can identify that the polars are identical and thus cannot be representative of the center horizontal dispersion.
The performance per dollar, build quality, and 10 year warranty are positive indicators that Arendal does respect their customers. I won't defend the center polars and think they should modify the product pages, but I won't write them off entirely for it.
I also wish Arendal would add another competent 3-way center to the market, but understand why they don't. The large waveguide central to the Arendal design philosophy would make a 3-way center humongous. There is likely not a wide market for such a large center. All of the 1723 and 1961 towers are 2.5-way, so they just don't source a dedicated midrange driver at all. A 3-way wouldn't fit seamlessly into the lineup.
For me, this just disqualifies Arendal products for consideration in a surround system with an acoustically opaque display. I use three 1961 monitors behind an acoustically transparent screen so I don't have to worry about the horizontal MTM dispersion issues.
My own evaluation of the incorrect/sneaky polars is semi-important, but I sense great dishonesty with them saying they don't even have the horizontal polars. Real respect for customers (savvy or not) right there.
Big centers...somehow Revel C208's keep selling. I did mention they could tighten up the toppled MTM making the center somewhat taller and at least address some of the lobing issues...no new drivers/3-way needed.
How do you like the 1961 monitor trio? I have been thinking about that in an AT screen setup. Alas I worry about projector fan noise in high altitude fan mode (I am at 7000 ft), especially when my rrom's noise floor is already a low 26dBA (therefore thinking about direct display too).
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I’ll preface this by saying I haven’t had a chance to listen to the c208 or the Arendals at this point, just been doing a lot of reading.
In trying to decide between a c208/f208 or f206 vs Arendal 1723 THX monitors as my next LCRs, the 3-way setup of the c208 vs the dynamic range benefits of the Arendal seem to be the big trade-offs. I would be using dual Monolith 15’ subs, hence why I’d probably be skipping the Arendal towers and just go with the monitors.
I might be reading into it wrong, but Arendal seems to claim their speakers have better dynamic range than a lot of the 3-way setups out there because of their dedicated 8 inch mids. Even the c208 uses a very small mid driver (around 4 inches I believe?). I currently have a 3-way center (the SVS Ultra Center) and don’t like the idea of switching to a MTM design, but part of me does wonder how big of a deal it is given that anyone that really cares is usually pretty well within the sweet spot of the combined LCRs (in my case, my L and R towers are towed in pretty aggressively, which gives me even more reason to do this).
Not saying when the time comes that I won’t go with the c208 (I’m sure it would be a huge upgrade), but I’m not going to lie that having a completely matched front stage minus the horizontal Arendal 1721 center (that is really the same as the monitors) isn’t super appealing. I am using a normal TV in my setup, so a transparent screen with 3 horizontal monitors or towers isn’t an option. I thought about doing matching R3 or m106 bookshelves, but I’d have to raise my TV more than I would like. I am also afraid they wouldn’t provide a large enough presence/SPL for my large room - I’d be moving away from dual/tripple 6.5 inch 3-way speakers with dedicated mid ranges, to single 6.5 inch bookshelves…). In the past when I had towers with 8 inch woofers in the room, I loved their sense of scale and presence, so when/if I upgrade, I really want to go with something larger.
Not looking for advice on this (I’m pretty happy with my current home theater calibration). Just sharing my thoughts. I think the fact that Arendal wants their speakers to all use the same general drivers/wave guided tweeter, as well as its insistence on the larger drivers plays a big factor here. Maybe moving the woofers closer together like was suggested would help, but not sure.
I haven’t heard anyone actually complain about their centers who actually purchased one, and it seems like a lot of their customers would be the type that would, but who knows.
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