Question about center channel placement?

[ky_polkie]

This is driving me crazy and I was hoping someone could help me out.

As you see below my theater setup is suboptimal for a center channel.

I now have a pair of RT55i on the middle shelf to each side of my TV. The RT800i you see in the picture are now gone.

I also now have only 1 CS400i which I have on the top left shelf.

The problem I have is that the center sound is obviously not coming from the center of the screen. There is not enough room in front of the TV for the center channel.

Any advice? Has anyone run into a similar scenario?

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5931/img1543qbl.jpg

[Conradicles]

You could ditch the center for now and go phantom. It works good if you set your AVR up properly. Nice system by the way.

[comfortablycurt]

You could use something like this B-tech center channel wall mount...

http://www.amazon.com/B-Tech-Center-channel-speaker-mount/dp/B0002YCKLQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1247023508&sr=8-2

...and mount it on the wall above the TV. You'd want to angle the speaker downwards a bit so it's pointing towards ear level, rather than firing above your head.

[Conradicles]

But it would look horrible Curt.

[ky_polkie]

You could ditch the center for now and go phantom. It works good if you set your AVR up properly. Nice system by the way.

Thanks for the reply. Optimally I would like to use a center channel.

Like I said I have the RT55i and CS400i up front now.

I have a Denon AVR-3806 receiver.

http://ca.denon.com/AVR3806_large_front.gif

[ky_polkie]

But it would look horrible Curt.

I'd have a really hard time passing that one by the wife. But it is an interesting idea.

BTW --- getting a smaller TV is NOT an option!

[comfortablycurt]

But it would look horrible Curt.

That's a matter of opinion.;) I think it would look just fine myself.


You could always put the center channel in the fire place...:p



I'd have a really hard time passing that one by the wife. But it is an interesting idea.



Just don't even tell her about it. Install it while she's at work, and convince her that it's always been like that...lol


edit-I just realized how hard it would probably be to run the wire for the CC in the wall...that's probably not really an option after all.

[Conradicles]

What you could do is build a cubby into the wall above the TV if you are good with Sheet Rock. Then angle your center down as Curt said and all is well.

[comfortablycurt]

What you could do is build a cubby into the wall above the TV if you are good with Sheet Rock. Then angle your center down as Curt said and all is well.

That would probably be your best bet, and would probably yield the highest WAF.

[disneyjoe7]

I consider a Polk in wall speaker painted to match wall, above TV.

[leroyjr1]

If you slide the TV all the way back how much room would you have in front of the tv?

[BeRad]

Well, You could always build out from the wall above the TV. Given that the TV/Fireplace is extending beyond the shelves on either side, a section extending another 8 inches above the TV wouldn't look that bad as long as you brought it right up to the roof. Also make it more narrow than the section the TV/Fireplace is in.

Build the frame with a plywood compartment for the speaker. Mount it, drywall it, tape and paint. (don't forget to get that cable up in there before you finish it! :)

Wow... I just read what I typed. If you can follow that you are a better man than I.

[nguyendot]

Whats behind that wall directly above the tv?

If nothing, since it sticks out from the wall - cut out a hole and slide the center in there.

[kcoc321]

What you could do is build a cubby into the wall above the TV if you are good with Sheet Rock. Then angle your center down as Curt said and all is well.
I would second or third that..it would be the cleanest.
Buy a basic cabinet from a Home Improvement Center of your choise and paint it to match the rest of the trim.

Easy Saturday project. If you cut the hole right you would not even have to do any sheetrock patching.
:)

Also remember to run 'smerf' tubing ie 2" pvc tubing to the tv area, so you have easy wiring access.

[ky_polkie]

I have thought about the cubby idea as well. I'm just worried it won't look perfect.

I believe that behind the wall it is an empty space. The fireplace is gas so there shouldn't be anything back there as far as a chimney goes.

I also think that an in-wall center is an idea that is growing on me.

The cheapest in-wall Polk center seems to be list price of $649. That's simply too much for me.

I have used monoprice's line of in-wall speakers in a few of my friends' home theaters and am really impressed with their sound. It won't exactly timbre match my RT55i but then again neither would a new Polk center.
Monoprice center: http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10837&cs_id=1083704&p_id=4930&seq=1&format=2
http://images.monoprice.com/productlargeimages/49302.jpg

Since the Monoprice center is only about $50 I might install it and just see which one I like better. If I don't like it it would be easy to make the hole a little bigger and build a cubby.

[ky_polkie]

If you slide the TV all the way back how much room would you have in front of the tv?

5-6" max.

[BlueFox]

Are there any other rooms you can use for a HT? For example, I use a spare bedroom. You need to get the TV off the wall over the fireplace. It looks nice for pictures but is terrible for watching TV. Bring it down to eye-level. How is the room designed? What is the wall opposite the fireplace like? Get a TV stand, put the L/R speakers to either side and the CC under/over the TV. It all depends on whether you want a HT, or a pretty setting that is terrible for TV/HT. Otherwise, do as others suggested and mount it inside the wall above the TV, and angled down.

[nguyendot]

Just buy a matching center off ebay or craigslist and cut a hole. Stretch some grille material over the hole...dye it to match the wall color.

[ky_polkie]

Are there any other rooms you can use for a HT? For example, I use a spare bedroom. You need to get the TV off the wall over the fireplace. It looks nice for pictures but is terrible for watching TV. Bring it down to eye-level. How is the room designed? What is the wall opposite the fireplace like? Get a TV stand, put the L/R speakers to either side and the CC under/over the TV. It all depends on whether you want a HT, or a pretty setting that is terrible for TV/HT. Otherwise, do as others suggested and mount it inside the wall above the TV, and angled down.

No other rooms for HT. The wall opposite the fireplace is actually not much of a wall at all --- it is an open kitchen.

I bought the house with the hole above fireplace already there. It actually isn't that bad as far as watching movies goes but it is definitely not ideal for HT.

[ky_polkie]

Just buy a matching center off ebay or craigslist and cut a hole. Stretch some grille material over the hole...dye it to match the wall color.

Do you mean in-wall center? If not I already have a CS400i.

What would be a timbre matched in-wall center for the RT55i (if any?)

[nguyendot]

Just use your CS400i.

Cubby hole it. If you're afraid of the hole, just stretch matching grille cover over the hole.

[ky_polkie]

Just use your CS400i.

Cubby hole it. If you're afraid of the hole, just stretch matching grille cover over the hole.

I am going to have to cut drywall, reframe horizontally to reconnect the studs, build a shelf to tilt the center down a bit, trim it out and then paint.

That seems like a lot of work but it might be my only option...

[messiah]

Just stick it in the fireplace angled slightly up until you are able to figure out how to do it properly. Oh yeah, don't start any fires!!

[digitalvideo]

You might be able to get a good deal on the CSiA5 or CSi A6 at www.highdecibels.com for around $320 bucks. You can also get the RTi A9 at highdecibels.com for around $635.

[digitalvideo]

You could also get the Infinity CC225 2-way Classia Series center channel speaker at http://www.highdecibels.com/proddetail.asp?prod=CC225 for $245 bucks.

[kawizx9r]

Personally, I'd stick with the CS400i being that it is voice matched to his rt55's (and what looks to be like rt600/800 towers). Why buy a new center when you've got an awesome one already thats hard to come by?

[Conradicles]

Don't underestimate going "Phantom" with no center. Search this forum using the word phantom and you will see many hear use that method.

Sounds great and sometimes better than a center when properly set up.

Then you can sell your CS400 and make some cash.

[Conradicles]

Don't underestimate going "Phantom" with no center

Then you could get som SDA-CRS+ bookshelf speakers if they will fit.;):cool:

[AudioGenics]

nicely done.
any room behind the TV monitor.

[jacob.simpson]

Frys has Tc610i for 49.99 each with shipping it will be less than 60$
thats the best bet what you can take and its a polk so timbre matching will not be an issue.

[dkmuch]

I vote for a new hole in the wall. It matches your decorating taste. Personally, I'd raise the hole for the TV at the top, and place the center below the TV.

But it really doesn't matter, you're not going to be able to watch movies straight through or listen at an appreciable volume for the next 2-3 years after that new baby arrives (assuming you don't add babies more after that!)

[ky_polkie]

I vote for a new hole in the wall. It matches your decorating taste. Personally, I'd raise the hole for the TV at the top, and place the center below the TV.

But it really doesn't matter, you're not going to be able to watch movies straight through or listen at an appreciable volume for the next 2-3 years after that new baby arrives (assuming you don't add babies more after that!)

Very valid point. Yes, the days of trying to make my eardrums bleed are going to come to a screeching halt anyway. The wife made me turn it down the other day because she thought it was going to hurt the baby's ears.

The baby isn't due for another 3 months.