CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

OK audiophiles without getting into too much detail would 2 bookshelf speakers (side by side) work ok as a center ? Or would the second tweeter screw up the whole effect ? I am building a speaker and I was just curious. Thanks. Jeff

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 2649 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

I honestly can't tell you how it would sound, as I've never seen it nor seen anyone else do it. BUT, I myself have used 2 loudspeakers for center channel use.

I used a pair of floorstanding JBL CF120 towers, laid horizontal on the floor, woofers in the center with the tweeters at the outer ends.

It immediately brought my vocals to life when watching movies, my little Jamo center channel sounded so quiet compared to the big JBLs, and it really sounded like a theater's vocals. My receiver has multiple assignable amplifiers so I used 2 for the center channel so that each speaker had its own amplifier.

I know some will have other opinions on that type of setup, but in a pinch of you don't have the money or want for DIY, I think it was a great sounding way to go. At the distance I was sitting, the imaging was perfect. I miss having those setup, and like you, am in a pickle on what to do for a really good center channel.

I say try it out how YOU think it sounds best, and go from there.

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

I have 2 polk rti a9's and am planning on turning at least one of them into my next center. My front and surrounds are A9's also so it makes sense to have an A9 center to me. The plan is to use the MTM in a vertical on top of the woofers in the horizontal. I would love to use both speakers and have a very massive center. From what I have been told so far 2 tweeters is not something I should use. Not even if they are side by side though ? It would look like an upside down T and the top of the center would be 19 inches lower than the left and right but as I have been told that is not a bad compromise. I would love to add the other woofers (3) from the second A9 to the bottom( although its probably not necessary) and put the MTM from the 2nd A9 next to the first one. From what I have read the mids would be fine but the tweeter probably not. If that's the case then I will just go with the one A9.

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

Anybody think 2 MTM's side by side is a bad idea ? I would love to hear some input before I saw another speaker cabinet. Thanks.

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

I finally finished making my center channel speaker. Its 28 inches tall, 32 inches wide, weighs 103 pounds. It will run 500 watts per channel RMS @ 8 ohms and matches the rest of the system perfectly. I ended up using one A9. I ran a Y splitter out of the integra to the left and right on a Yamaha M80 amp. Ran the MTM off channel A and the 3 woofers off channel B. Oh yeah, and it sounds f*cking amazing.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2014 11:06 pm Post subject:

As always:

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

I haven't finished the grills yet. Will post a pic then.

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

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jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

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jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

pretty bad pics but I guess you get the idea. I sure aint much of a carpenter but the sound is really a night and day difference and to me that's what really counts. The vocals are loud and clear, more like a movie theatre than ever and the sound just flows around the room. I don't have the vocabulary to explain it so I'll just say I love it.

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

Well, after a few days and several movies and TV shows I am pleased to say how much I love my ugly ass center channel. I had an A9 on its side as a center for awhile and it wasn't bad but using it in this way is night and day difference. The more I hear it the more I am amazed by how good it actually improves the entire soundfield. My wife loves it. Vocals are crystal clear and running in full range it brings so much more presence to the room. I am running it with a Yamaha M80 amp using a Y splitter off the integra. I changed it to just using channel A left and right. The one issue I have (which really doesn't seem to matter) is that I cant use the test tone from the integra to set the level on the woofers as the crossover cuts it out. Maybe someday I will have someone with woodworking skills make me a pretty cabinet. The upside is in the dark when movies are on you cant see it at all. You sure can hear it though.