Why do I need a center channel speaker?
What is a center channel, anyway?
Can't I just use my TV speakers?
Well, if you've come this far (I mean, if you have a pair of loudspeaker flanking your television set and you're thinking about putting a speaker on top of your TV), then you must know that your TV's built-in speakers don't ever even figure into this equation.
But maybe you aren't clear, so to speak, on what a center channel is. The center channel in a multi-channel system, powered by a multi-channel (Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS) receiver, is encoded with over 50% of the information in any typical multi-channel film soundtrack. In other words, it's the hardest working speaker of the system, having to deliver everything from dialogue, whispers and yells, to across-the-front-stage panning effects to the bulk of front-and-center explosions and movie soundeffects. It has to do this and successfully anchor the action and voices to the image on the screen.
That's a lot of work for one speaker. How do you know you have one that's up to the task? (BUZZKILL: It's got the Polk logo on it, so you know it will. Nuff said. Go buy it.) Audition a center channel speaker with DVD scene in which several actors speak. Is each voice unique and articulate? Male vocals should be deep, but never boomy or "chesty" (emphasizing the deep-chest sounds in spoken or singing voice) Higher-pitched women's voices shouldn't sound shrill, "spitty," or nasal. Finally, try a scene in which special effects "pan" from left to right -- a car chase is ideal. Does the sound remain consistent, or does it become weak or lightweight as it passes through the center?
CSi20 features:
- Poly-composite Dynamic Balance driver with butyl rubber surrounds for durability and smooth wide range response.
- 3/4 inch (19mm) silk/polymer composite dome tweeter for clear, detailed highs.
- The same components as the Polk Audio R Series; they're timbre-matched for a more realistic, more seamless surround environment.
- Magnetic shielding for safe placement directly on or near video components.
- Five-way binding post inputs for the most secure connections and the most versatile wiring applications.
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