different centre speaker to front L+R speakers (1 Viewer)

[david stark]

Does anyone have any experience of using drastically different speakers for thier main front L+R pair and the centre channel?

The reason I ask is that I have a 5.1 set up now with a centre speaker (rega senta) that matches my front pair (rega ara's - bookshelf speakers). I will probably be buying another pair of front speakers based purely on quality for audio so I'm wondering if the set up would sound ok if I leave the centre speaker I have at the moment, but with a different set of front speakers.

anyone have any experience of using different front/centre combination compared to matching set?

 

[Robert James Clark]

Though using identical speakers (or identical sounding speakers) is the much preferred method, in the short term you can definitely have decent results from using a good center channel, even if it doesn't match the fronts.
What should you look for? No hollowness, no cabinet resonances, an even response across the spectrum.
Listen to male voices in movies and music and listen for any chestiness or "cupped hands" sound qualities.

If your current speakers pass you should have no problems...