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Help: 5.1 Systems with a Center less than 5.5" high

post #1 of 11
3/12/09 at 6:10pm
Thread Starter 
Hi,

Need help finding a 5.1 speaker setup with a center channel less than 5.5" in height. Some other requirements are timbre matched (same types of drivers/tweets), a flat frequency response down to at least 100Hz, but 80Hz is preferred, towers for the front left and right (for music) and a total price under $2000.00

In my 14' by 22' living room I have the following:
Sony Grand WEGA KDF-50WE655
Motorola QIP 72161
Toshiba HD-A2
Denon 2808CI
Infinity TSS-750 5.1

Here is what I found so far:
Deftech: heard the mythos tower and liked it. matches well with the procenter and monitors
Definitive Technology - ProCenter 1000

Jamo: never heard them, but in my price range and have towers
S 60 CEN Center Speaker - Specs

Home Theater Direct: never heard them, but in my price range and have towers
HTD Flat Panel Speaker

Gallo: never heard them, like the looks, but no tower (at least that I can afford)
A'Diva Speakers | Inwall Speaker | Home Theater Speaker | 5.1 Systems | subwoofer

Do you know of others or have an opinion on any of the above???
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post #2 of 11
3/12/09 at 7:54pm

Re: Help: 5.1 Systems with a Center less than 5.5" high

Hi Jeff,

Why does the center have to be less than 5.5"? You are not thinking of putting this in a cabinet, are you?

The center is the most important speaker (for movies) in the setup. Limiting it to such a small size will really limit your enjoyment.
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post #3 of 11
3/12/09 at 8:29pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Help: 5.1 Systems with a Center less than 5.5" high

Hi Dave,

Kind of I guess, its going into the opening below the TV. Here's the stand:
South Shore 4219-601 - City Life TV Stand in Chocolate

I thought about getting a "big" center and placing it on top of the TV with an omnimount center channel shelf, but I don't think the TV could support a 20+ lbs center on top and it would 5' off the ground. The area I'm using for the center on the stand is 19" off the ground.

So i'm stuck with the 5.5" center height restriction.
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post #4 of 11
3/12/09 at 9:22pm

Re: Help: 5.1 Systems with a Center less than 5.5" high

Very thin AND good center channels are tricky to build, so............

This is the only high-quality center I know of (it is exactly 5.5" tall):

Infinity Cascade Model Three C, $799.

And lower on the price scale (3 11/16" tall):

Yamaha NS-C310 at $249.

Don't forget you don't HAVE to use a center channel: doing a search on "phantom center" will reveal more info on this (I run my own system this way).
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post #5 of 11
3/13/09 at 3:50am

Re: Help: 5.1 Systems with a Center less than 5.5" high

If you can't find a center channel that fits your shelf and sounds great to you (and a phantom center isn't the option for you) then I'd get creative and try and find a way to either raise the shelf or build an additional shelf on top of the existing one. The center channel is too important to limit your choice based on such a small height.
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post #6 of 11
3/13/09 at 1:15pm

Re: Help: 5.1 Systems with a Center less than 5.5" high

Putting a speaker in a cabinet can degrade the sound no matter how good it is. Speakers need room to breath. Putting a speaker below the TV adds additional challenges. I built a custom rack to hold my 21lb. speaker on top of my TV. I looked at the omnimount and it appears that it would work as well.
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post #7 of 11
3/13/09 at 6:54pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Help: 5.1 Systems with a Center less than 5.5" high

Thanks to everybody for all the advise and ideas!

Dave: I am reconsidering the shelf on top of the tv.
Gene: The way the pedestal portion of the stand is constructed, I might be able to raise it and keep the factory look without to much trouble. It would require the most work of all the options, but get me everything I want.
Lance: That Infinity Cascade center is sweet I'm going to keep an eye out on Harman's ebay store for it. I like Infinity speakers, especially the beta 20 bookshelf.

Thanks again and please keep the suggestions and idea's coming...
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post #8 of 11
3/14/09 at 12:02am

Re: Help: 5.1 Systems with a Center less than 5.5" high

Quote:
Originally Posted by gene c
If you can't find a center channel that fits your shelf and sounds great to you (and a phantom center isn't the option for you) then I'd get creative and try and find a way to either raise the shelf or build an additional shelf on top of the existing one. The center channel is too important to limit your choice based on such a small height.

That would be the way I would do it too.
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post #9 of 11
3/14/09 at 8:36am
Thread Starter 

Re: Help: 5.1 Systems with a Center less than 5.5" high

I have a large extra piece of matching 3/4" MDF I was sent to replace a damaged piece. I think I can cut 2 new matching pieces to raise the pedestal to 8" or so. For the metal poles, I'm sure I could find something like it and cut it to size.

Here's a pic of my setup:
Picasa Web Albums - Jeff - Home Theater
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post #10 of 11
3/16/09 at 4:58am

Re: Help: 5.1 Systems with a Center less than 5.5" high

Im using an JBL LX series in a cabinet below Plasma.
The opening is 5.5" but the speaker is 6"
The cabinet has a lip at the top front that allowed me to slide speaker in at an angle with the shelf and sit just behind top lip.

Bazzle
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post #11 of 11
6/9/09 at 8:43pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Help: 5.1 Systems with a Center less than 5.5" high

Well I figured I post an update to the thread

I raised the shelf on the the tv stand to 8" using 1/2" threaded pipe and floor mount flanges painted flat black. The pipes and mounts came with a nice industrial grease coating, brake cleaning took care of that and the paint went on nice. Each flange on top and bottom is fastened with 4, 3/4" #10 woods screws and the end result is very sturdy and nice looking, however sparse at the moment. here's a pic from my BB: Picasa Web Albums - Jeff

Tomorrow I should receive The Speaker Company TSBL-HT package and the TC2 center at 6.5" should fill the space very nicely!

I'm very happy I modified the TV stand and didn't compromise on the size of the center. Just hope the TC2 delivers
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