Dan Pham

Center Speaker-Can't Understand dialogue

I have a jbl tlx center speaker which is equivalent to the Northridge ones right now. For the life of me, whenever we watch movies, we can't understand the dialogue! We have to resort to subtitles to watch movies. I've calibrated my Home Theater with the sound meter from Radioshack, but it still doesn't help. I've cranked up the middle too, and still it sounds muddy. Not my ears either, my wife and friends can't understand either. I'm running Canton silk domed speakers for my fronts. What do you all suggest?

Thanks,
Danny

Sam A

what loudness compared to ref level do you usually watch at? cant you turn it up?

double check delay settings and recalibrate.

Dan Pham

Yes, I cranked the center up 4 db. That makes the center speaker much louder than the others. When calibrating with the RS Soundmeter, aren't the speakers supposed to be all equal?

I don't do anything with delay settings. I just keep it at Digital Surround Sound.

EricSm

I think what he meant by setting the delay, is that on almost all DD compatible receivers you can go in and set separate distances for the speakers in relation to your seated position.

What is the center channel's height in relation to your seating position? I find that some crafty velcro, doorstops, and clever angling of the speaker down from the top of the tv really helped the clarity of the center channel.

Sam A

"I just keep it at Digital Surround Sound. "

explain this statement. sounds like you are usind a DSP instead of discrete DD or DTS. that would definately cause your problem.

Garrett Lundy

maybe you're watching foreign films?

"Did you know that more people are murdered at 92 degrees Fahrenheit than any other temperature? I read an article once. Lower temperatures, people are easy-going, over 92 and it's too hot to move, but just 92, people get irritable."

AlanZ

He's describing the same problem that led me to realize that I didn't even need a center.....the Phantom Center is coming for you!!!!! Muah ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!

Okay, seriously.....I had a similar problem....try this: Choose "no" for your center channel on your receiver or pre/pro. Toss in a movie and play one of the scenes in question in DD/DTS. What was the center channel info will be sent to the mains. If all of sudden it sounds intelligible, then it's some sort of issue with the center speaker, whether that be calibration, driver, whatever.

Nhan_H

Maybe the tweeter's busted? Can you use Avia or some kind of DVD with sound frequency tests to check on the tweeters?

Ryan Tsang

I would not be so quick to blame your equipment or your setup. I have separates and I use $1000 bookshelf speakers (I use one, not the pair) as the center and sometimes I have to have subtitles on. I have my center on a dedicated stand in front of my RPTV so it is not only freestanding, but it is angled to the sweet spot.

I had a hard time with Master and Commander because of the accent. Man on Fire too, I had to resort to subtitles for several lines.

If this is happening to every movie, and it's not justyou......well.....maybe it is the speaker

Sam A

question for alanZ or whomever, if you do go the phantom center route, does it send the signal -3db to the left and right or does it just split the signal. was wondering cause sound coming out of 2 speakers is 3 db higher than 1 speaker with the same signal.