Center channel speaker - Powered?

[Ex_Vintage]

Is there such a thing? After some casual surfing for a powered center channel speaker, I came up with nothing. I can think of some scenarios where a powered center channel speaker would come in handy. There are plenty of powered bookshelf speakers out there, but nothing in a center channel.  Anyone have any ideas?

[Deleted]

Nov 29, 2020 22:33:42 GMT -5 Ex_Vintage said:

Is there such a thing? After some casual surfing for a powered center channel speaker, I came up with nothing. I can think of some scenarios where a powered center channel speaker would come in handy. There are plenty of powered bookshelf speakers out there, but nothing in a center channel.  Anyone have any ideas?

I haven't seen any "active" or amplified center channel speakers. Usually such a product is called a "soundbar". Ideally, ya'd want an exact sonically matched center channel to your stereo book shelfs. In other words it would be difficult to beat the sonic match if you could acquire and utilize 3 of the same exact bookshelfs for Left Center and Right whether active or passive. 

[Ex_Vintage]

Nov 29, 2020 22:38:40 GMT -5 @shimei said:

Nov 29, 2020 22:33:42 GMT -5 Ex_Vintage said:

Is there such a thing? After some casual surfing for a powered center channel speaker, I came up with nothing. I can think of some scenarios where a powered center channel speaker would come in handy. There are plenty of powered bookshelf speakers out there, but nothing in a center channel.  Anyone have any ideas?

I haven't seen any "active" or amplified center channel speakers. Usually such a product is called a "sound bar". Ideally, ya'd want an exact sonically matched center channel to your stereo book shelfs. In other words it would be difficult to beat the sonic match if you could acquire and utilize 3 of the same exact bookshelfs for Left Center and Right. 

Agreed. 2 possible problems with the 3 bookshelf approach.. First, the center channel is typically designed differently to focus on dialog reproduction and  2nd, unfortunately, many active bookshelf speakers are sold as pairs and not singles.

[405x5]

Nov 29, 2020 22:33:42 GMT -5 Ex_Vintage said:

Is there such a thing? After some casual surfing for a powered center channel speaker, I came up with nothing. I can think of some scenarios where a powered center channel speaker would come in handy. There are plenty of powered bookshelf speakers out there, but nothing in a center channel.  Anyone have any ideas?

Don’t let the word “center” get in the way. There are plenty of powered loudspeaker systems out there that could pull center channel duty quite nicely if you wanted to configure a system in such a way.

[Deleted]

Nov 30, 2020 9:36:37 GMT -5 405x5 said:

Nov 29, 2020 22:33:42 GMT -5 Ex_Vintage said:

Is there such a thing? After some casual surfing for a powered center channel speaker, I came up with nothing. I can think of some scenarios where a powered center channel speaker would come in handy. There are plenty of powered bookshelf speakers out there, but nothing in a center channel.  Anyone have any ideas?

Don’t let the word “center” get in the way. There are plenty of powered loudspeaker systems out there that could pull center channel duty quite nicely if you wanted to configure a system in such a way.

405x5 hit it right on the center.  IMO there needs to be no difference between the L&R and the center speaker.  In fact in my system, the L, R and C are the exact same speaker, a very high quality Emo rather small but very high output with wide dispersion tweeter.  My center sits on its side, however could be vertical if my situation allowed.  Perfect voicing across the front sound stage.  An Emo XPA-5 sends 300 watts/4 ohms to all three. 

I see no reason for the powered center speaker unless he has only two channels of power for the front.?
  

[Ex_Vintage]

Nov 30, 2020 20:54:29 GMT -5 @tllfkacn said:

I see no reason for the powered center speaker unless he has only two channels of power for the front.?
  

Exactly. I have an instance where I would like to use some equipment that I have laying around. I have a 7.1 processor and a 2 channel amp. To use that "stuff" in a 3.1 bedroom set-up, my only way to get the 3.1 is to purchase a 3 channel (or greater) amplifier. It would be nice to use a powered center to complete the system. In other instances, for a minimum setup, one could use  a pre-pro and all active speakers to realize a system. Also, as I had mentioned, most active speakers are sold as pairs.

[Deleted]

Nov 29, 2020 22:46:38 GMT -5 Ex_Vintage said:

Nov 29, 2020 22:38:40 GMT -5 @shimei said:

I haven't seen any "active" or amplified center channel speakers. Usually such a product is called a "sound bar". Ideally, ya'd want an exact sonically matched center channel to your stereo book shelfs. In other words it would be difficult to beat the sonic match if you could acquire and utilize 3 of the same exact bookshelfs for Left Center and Right. 

Agreed. 2 possible problems with the 3 bookshelf approach.. First, the center channel is typically designed differently to focus on dialog reproduction and  2nd, unfortunately, many active bookshelf speakers are sold as pairs and not singles.

Never heard of a hifi center specifically designed for "dialogue" but I do agree that speakers are generally sold in pairs. Ideally, the center channel should be sonically matched. If that entails buying a pair of speakers to obtain that ideal center then just consider the remainder a parts item to sit on the shelf 

Another option may be available to you. At least in my case I purchased from a company that is known to customize speaker design. I purchased a custom center channel which in position is horizontally arranged rather than vertically arranged as my mains are. Point being, even though the center channel was a custom one off by the manufacturer it was still sonically matched to the mains. 

[ttocs]

Nov 29, 2020 22:46:38 GMT -5 Ex_Vintage said:

Nov 29, 2020 22:38:40 GMT -5 @shimei said:

I haven't seen any "active" or amplified center channel speakers. Usually such a product is called a "sound bar". Ideally, ya'd want an exact sonically matched center channel to your stereo book shelfs. In other words it would be difficult to beat the sonic match if you could acquire and utilize 3 of the same exact bookshelfs for Left Center and Right. 

Agreed. 2 possible problems with the 3 bookshelf approach.. First, the center channel is typically designed differently to focus on dialog reproduction and  2nd, unfortunately, many active bookshelf speakers are sold as pairs and not singles.

I was questioning something a few weeks ago and decided to check only the audio content in the center channel. I played a couple movies and discovered full range sound including music and sound effects (not LFE which are much louder and in the .1 channel) and the frequency went down to the very low 20Hz range. So while I agree its main focus is for dialogue, it's not just dialogue.

I've experienced how good the sound can be in a couple different 5.1 home theater systems when all the same large speakers are used for the 5 main channels plus a subwoofer for the .1 LFE just as Dolby prescribes. It helped me to know how it can sound and became something to shoot for.

I would suggest getting a garage sale receiver for powering the center channel and use a matching speaker to the L&R as others have suggested. I bought an old Onkyo stereo receiver for $20 that I used for the Rear speakers until I bought more amps a year later.

[gus4emo]

Nov 29, 2020 22:33:42 GMT -5 Ex_Vintage said:

Is there such a thing? After some casual surfing for a powered center channel speaker, I came up with nothing. I can think of some scenarios where a powered center channel speaker would come in handy. There are plenty of powered bookshelf speakers out there, but nothing in a center channel.  Anyone have any ideas?

Definitive Technology has center speakers with a built in powered sub, if you want to try that...

[DYohn]

If by "center channel" you mean a horizonal MTM, PSI Audio makes a couple of self-powered monitors that can be used that way.

[Deleted]

Nov 29, 2020 22:46:38 GMT -5 Ex_Vintage said:

Nov 29, 2020 22:38:40 GMT -5 @shimei said:

I haven't seen any "active" or amplified center channel speakers. Usually such a product is called a "sound bar". Ideally, ya'd want an exact sonically matched center channel to your stereo book shelfs. In other words it would be difficult to beat the sonic match if you could acquire and utilize 3 of the same exact bookshelfs for Left Center and Right. 

Agreed. 2 possible problems with the 3 bookshelf approach.. First, the center channel is typically designed differently to focus on dialog reproduction and  2nd, unfortunately, many active bookshelf speakers are sold as pairs and not singles.

.....  the center channel is typically designed differently to focus on dialog ......

Can you explain what you mean by that and give a specific example of such a speaker other than an mtm.  Any high quality speaker reproduces dialog very well, clear and undistorted.  If one wants to hear the center channel dialog louder in a movie you can turn up the gain on the center channel.  Movies when one cannot clearly hear the dialog is usually the fault of the movie soundtrack (common issue) and not the center speaker.  I do understand the problem of single bookshelf for a center.  My memory is short but somehow I was able to purchase 3 ea identical speakers from Emo.  If that is not possible I would be sure the center speaker is an exact voicing match to the L&R speaker you purchase.  An MTM center is fine if it is in the same brand speaker series.  I would never buy a MTM center that is of a different brand as voice matching is critical IMO (nit-picky ears) for the best sound stage.