Matching speakers from different manufacturers (1 Viewer)

[chris.y]

I was wondering if someone can suggest a clean way to match speakers from different manufacturers. I have a set of MB Quart QLS-series speakers (1030's in the front, a 330 in the CTR and and 530's as surrounds).

I'm thinking about putting a plasma over the fireplace and this would mean the original fullsize 330 won't work for me. Instead, I need to get a wall-mounted center channel to go above the screen. MB Quart doesn't make a wall-mountable center channel so I'm pretty much forced to go with another manufacturer.

Is there a clean way to do this besides test out several center channels? I've heard that if the sensitivity levels match that's helpful, but I haven't heard much else. Someone recommended an NHT L5 as a mountable center channel, but I have no idea whether it would work or not.

 

[lee ison]

if they are from different manu. I doubt if you will ever be able to match the timbre. this will cause you to be more aware as sound moves from front to the surrounds. it won't be cohesive.

 

[Philip Hamm]

The only way to really truly timbre match is by using the exact same speaker. Some speakers match better than others, even across different manufacturers. I have a set of old Mirage speakers as my rears, and they match with my front B&W 602 better than a previous setup with B&W 302s in the rear. There's no generalization that really works, some speakers will sound good together, some won't. Most well designed speakers will do decently well together. Placement means a lot also, particularly with the center, so there's no way to really tell for sure if something is going to work outside trying it in your room.

 

[chris.y]

Thanks. It sounds like trial (and error!) is the only way to go. I'm most worried about movies that have a lot of side to side sound effects and movies with great center channel use like the opener to The Fellowship of the Ring.

Since we don't really use the fireplace, maybe my wife will let me deploy the center channel in front of the fireplace.

;-)