Does a center channel speaker really work in a tv stand?

[Jeff]

I started off off with a Marantz SR5010 receiver and B&W 683 S2 floorstanders.

Then I got this TV stand:

http://www.bello.com/avsc2155.php

I set up the 683's 0.5 meters from the wall as recommended and they sounded just awesome.

Then I got the B&W HTM61 S2 center channel speaker, which was almost a custom fit on the center channel shelf provided.

I am a bit confused here. B&W has marketing literature that shows the center channel close to the wall or in tight places such as a tv stand, but the manual talks about pulling it away from the wall. That is somewhat incompatible with the tv stand I bought. The HTM61 is still pretty new, but the voices are not as clear as they were when I was just using the 683's. with no center channel speaker. The speaker is still breaking in and might become more clear over time. I wonder if the lack of clarity is at least partly due to the speaker being crammed into the top shelf of the tv stand. I had read negative reviews of the HTM61 S1, but the S2 is supposed to be an upgrade, and more clear. The HTM61 sounded good at Best Buy.

Is having the HTM61 on the top shelf of this tv stand a problem?

 

[bigboss]

Can't help thinking that your Marantz may be a little under powered for your lovely speakers.

Have you run Audyssey again? Try adjusting the dialogue level on your Marantz and see if it helps.

 

[his dudeness]

if you can pick up a spl meter to check your levels,ive found audyssey sets center and sub a bit low.

 

[Q5]

+1 on both the suggestions above.

 

[Jeff]

If it matters, I bi-amped the 683's and bi-wired the HTM61.

 

[The_Lhc]

If it matters, I bi-amped the 683's and bi-wired the HTM61.

No, it doesn't matter, unless you wired it up wrong.

 

[Jeff]

I meant as far as possibly being underpowered. Bi-amping the 683s would double the power to them. A 200 amp for the high frequencies and a 200 amp for the low frequencies, each speaker.

 

[grdunn123]

Biamping won't give you double the power. I would play with Audyssey a little and up the centre level until you're happy. As suggested, use a SPL meter but don't just put up with the settings Audyssey gives you.

 

[Jeff]

I think there is too much base due to the speaker not having enough space around it. I would call it boomy. I put the foam port plugs in and it seems to help. I might also put accoustic insulation in the gap between the back of the speaker and the back of the tv stand. Any recommendations here?

 

[bigboss]

Have you got a dedicated subwoofer? If yes, set your speakers to "small" in speaker settings.

 

[Sorreltiger]

You could also try tilting the centre speaker upwards towards you. I use a pair of grey rubber door wedges (which don't look unsightly IMO).

 

[Jeff]

Does setting it to "small" cause it to set a predetermined crossover frequency?

I don't have a subwoofer but I have wondered if it would help by moving some of the bass away from this speaker. Does the bomminess' I hear occur at a particular frequency? If so, what would be that frequency?

 

[bigboss]

Get a subwoofer then. When you set your speakers to "small" the lower frequencies get diverted to the subwoofer, allowing the speakers to concentrate only on higher frequencies. The boominess will go.

 

[Jeff]

Does setting it up as small speaker cause it to use a certain crossover frequency?

Would setting it up as small speaker cause my HTM61 to essentially act like an HTM62 or would I still get at least some benefit from the HTM61?

 

[FunkyMonkey]

If you can set cut off frequency, set centre to 80Hz and fronts to full band.
Then do the SPL thing.
And get a subwoofer.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

IMO an unclear or muffled sound ois not a low bass issue - more low/mid. Try the absorbsion behind the front. A crossover of 80hz without a subwoofer would limit its output below 80hz. There will be little below that anyway.

 

[Jeff]

Would the two 6.5" bass drivers still have something to do or would this cut them completely out?

 

[FunkyMonkey]

IMO an unclear or muffled sound ois not a low bass issue - more low/mid. Try the absorbsion behind the front. A crossover of 80hz without a subwoofer would limit its output below 80hz. There will be little below that anyway.

My understanding is that the sub 80Hz from centre would got to the fronts. Which is fine.
I would also employ room correction such as Audyssey

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Experiment Jeff..Even try a high crossover with lfe sent to fronts (160-250) and centre set small. I suspect boominess is in this range rather than sub 80hz.

 

[Jeff]

The return policy still allows me a little more time to return the HTM61. I could still return it and get the HTM62 if I wanted to. If I go to the measures to reduce the boominess of the HTM61, would I be just as well off with the HTM62, which costs a few hundred dollars less, or would I still be better off with the HTM61? I didn't know I could pass some of the low frequency to the front left and right speakers. In all of my playing around with the settings, I still haven't seen that. I thought that option was just for a subwoofer, which I don't have. If I was inclined to get a sub, would it then matter if I had the 61 or the 62?

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Particularly in a larger room the 61 should produce a better sound in the mid range. Either will probably give the same boomy result since it is more likely a room issue than a speaker issue. Always using a sub myself I am not sure but I think is sides are set to large and centre to small then sub crossover frequencies may well divert to the fronts. Raise the crossover to Max (250hz) and see what it sounds like - does the boominess go away? If still no joy then (and anyway) ask your dealer their opinion.

 

[Jeff]

Particularly in a larger room the 61 should produce a better sound in the mid range. Either will probably give the same boomy result since it is more likely a room issue than a speaker issue. Always using a sub myself I am not sure but I think is sides are set to large and centre to small then sub crossover frequencies may well divert to the fronts. Raise the crossover to Max (250hz) and see what it sounds like - does the boominess go away? If still no joy then (and anyway) ask your dealer their opinion.

I did as you said and it is a big improvement.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Glad you have found some improvement. Now spend the next 5 years (like many of us) tweaking and experimenting. I am looking into my own ideas since my centre can sound a little boxy in its enclosed unit

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Against the normal small/80hz starting point I am trying fronts large and 160hz crossover since the fronts are considerable more capable in the bass region whilst the centre and rears are standmounts. Early days but first impressions is its opened up the centre/speech without degrading bass nor presentation. I guess it will always depend on the source balance LFE/mains but I'll give this setup a few days before changing back and comparing.

 

[Jeff]

Now that I have the 683's and the HTM61 I wish I had 685's, HTM62, and a subwoofer instead. I still feel like the bass is exaggerated. Maybe it is because I have never had a system capable of so much bass before and I am not used to it. And yes, I listened to it before I bought it, but it sounds different at home.