Upgrading the Center Channel - Opinions? (1 Viewer)

[JohnnyZ]

My home theatre has Cambridge Soundworks speakers. The Fronts are Ensemble IIs. The Center Channel is the CSW Center Channel II. It seems my system would benefit from a better "anchor". I am never missing any surround sound action, but I think the dialogue could sound better / fuller.

I am looking at the JBL EC35 or the Yamaha NS-C225. I am worried about the idea of "matching" the center to the fronts.

The video is 92" projection screen (Sanyo Z4)...so it seems the presentation calls for something more..

 

[LanceJ]

Sound-wise CSW speakers are usually on the warm side, so personally I wouldn't advise using the Yamaha. The JBL would be better.

Personally I would go for the largest center possible:

1) because male voices will be reproduced more realistically

2) there is SO much happening in the center (even when crossed over at 80Hz there is still *lots* of bass-oriented stuff going on in that channel).

Even if you were using a much smaller monitor, I would give the same advice but with an image that big..........

How about this one from CSW, the MC500:

 

[Alan M]

Tonal matching the 3 front speakers is very important.Purchasing a center from Yamaha or JBL ,and hoping it matches is hit or miss at best.

Without a match,you'll disrupt your front soundstage.

 

[Arthur S]

I'm with LanceJ on this one. Especially with the 45 day return policy. No doubt in my mind that you will get a much fuller sound with the MC500. Dialogue intelligibility is a really tricky thing though. While it would not match your other speakers, if I was going for dialogue intelligibility, the M&K Center-750 THX Select with its tweeter, woofer, woofer design is said, by M&K, to provide "incredible vocal articulation" would be high on my wish list.