Can I mix and match my front speakers?

[admin_exported]

I currently have 5 B&W M1's connected to a decent receiver, but have never been entirely happy with the dialogue from the centre speaker. I am therefore looking to buy a new centre, aware of conventional wisdom which says that all three front speakers should be from the same brand and quality to avoid differences in timbre. However, two separate dealers have recommended the KEF3005SE as a better centre and worthy upgrade, despite my reservations.

Does anyone have any practical experience or knowledge on the subject? I'm not sure whether these speakers would be a good match, nor whether the 'one brand' rule is something I need worry too much about.

Any help is appreciated. 

 

 

 

[professorhat]

Hi Jon,
Keeping the same brand (and even the same series within the brand) is very important for the front three speakers, but less so for the rears. However, I can tell you I use the B&W 685s as my fronts, the HTM62 as the centre and the M1s as rears. It works exceptionally well and the price of the 685s and HTM62 (plus stands) would be much less than purchasing the whole 3005SE series, but would give you a system well in excess of it in quality of sound. This would also let you use two of your existing M1s for 7.1 as well!
Just a thought...

 

[fr0g]

To be honest.

It doesn't matter as much as many people say.

Unless all your front 3 speakers are the same speaker, then they are different...

I would however try to keep them tonally similar...which of course same make usually try to be.

I upgraded my MS stereo speakers to Dali ikon 6, and retained the MS 905 centre for a while...

I since upgraded to a Dali Vokal 2 centre, and while it is undoubtably a better speaker, it hasn't made 10% of the difference the main speaker switch did.

In fact in my early days of 'surround' I always had a different centre, and you don't notice.

maybe some are different, but for TV and films, it isn't as essential IMO, although if you're an SACD or DVD-A listener (in surround), then maybe.

i would get the best centre you can, regardless of make...after all, when you watch TV, MOST of the sound comes from the centre.

 

[Anonymous]

same brand + same series = same balance = same SOUND!!!

 

[professorhat]

Mmm, definitely going to have to disagree with Mr fr0g here. Okay, it's definitely possible to get different makes of speaker matching but it would involve a lot of auditioning, especially with the front two speakers and the centre. It's a hell of a lot easier just to ensure you get the same series in the same brand - the reason quite simply is, the manufactures have designed them to work together.
I guess it really depends how serious you are on home cinema. It's the equivalent of me using my Onkyo 905 AV amp for my Hi-Fi requirements - I know I could improve it by buying a stereo amp, hooking up the pre-outs etc., but, to be fair, it's good enough for my hi-fi requirements which I don't spend anywhere near as much time listening to as I do watching movies. I suspect for fr0g, it's the opposite...