how to match center speakers? (1 Viewer)

[Joseph Anlacan]

i have a b&w dm305 for my L&R mains and a b&W cc3 for my center. i've heard of the new 303 and LCR3 and want to upgrade. would anyone know if it's worth the upgrade? also, if i only upgrade either mains or center, would the speakers still match?

 

[Phil Iturralde]

All "timbre matched" HT Speakers by one Manufacture have these two things in common, . . .
1) Identical tweeter size (high frequency driver),
2) Identical tweeter material (All - soft dome; or titanium; or aluminum; etc.)
To a lesser extent, the crossover point, . . . if the 4 point speakers (Front R&L and Surround R&L) are identical, then the crossover might be slightly different for the Center channel speaker.
Just noticed your from the Philippines, . . . how far is San Juan from Batangas, Batangas??
Phil
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http://www.geocities.com/p_iturra
[Edited last by Phil Iturralde on July 14, 2001 at 10:13 AM]

 

[Joseph Anlacan]

Thanks for the input. So I guess I would have to replace all three front speakers because the B&W 303 uses different drivers from the older 300 series. How important is timbre matching when it comes to the surrounds?
BTW, Batangas, Batangas is about 2 1/2 hours drive from San Juan, Metro Manila. There's a San Juan in Batangas but that's another place. You know somebody there?

 

[Philip Hamm]

I'm not really familiar with the 305 and 303. Is the 303 going to be a bookshelf? If so, the best way to go would be to get a third 303 for the center. I have three DM602s as my front soundfield, and let me tell you there is absolutely no substitute for identical speakers. I love them. My rears are 601S2, they're close but not exactly the same. IMO it's pretty important for the rears to match. I noticed a huge difference when I went from my previous 302 rears to the 601S12 speakers.
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Philip Hamm
AIM: PhilBiker

 

[Phil Iturralde]

there is absolutely no substitute for identical speakers.

Well, if your decoration police let's you do that, then that recommendation agrees with Dolby Labs http://www.dolby.com/tech/L.mn.0002.5.1Guide.s.pdf

 

[Philip Hamm]

Any center channel speaker that is not identical to the L/R mains is a major compromise. I had "center" speakers for years, when I decided to give an identical a try, and now I will never go back. Let your ears decide. I agree that in some situations it is imporrible to have an identical center. While this may be an acceptible substitute for some, including Dolby Labs, the ideal situation is identicals.
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Philip Hamm
AIM: PhilBiker

 

[Joseph Anlacan]

The B&W 305 is a floor stander. It would be difficult to place an identical one as the center speaker. Any ideas on how to solve this?

 

[Philip Hamm]

This is where the compromise comes in unfortunately, and one reason that I like bookshelf speakers. I'd recommend the LCR3 if they make one.
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Philip Hamm
AIM: PhilBiker