How did I do with this center channel?

[Lean L]

I was using an old studio monitor for a center for a long time. It had voice coil rubs though so I am replacing it with this:

http://www.amazon.com/BIC-FH6-LCR-6-.../dp/B0015A8Y3E

How is this speaker? I don't really know how to read speaker stats not that it's provided @ amazon anyways but will it be balanced, good highs, mids, and mid lows? Should I be worried about the focused horn tweeter?

 

[sdifox]

what are your mains?

 

[Lean L]

I'm using a 3.1 system right now because I don't really see the point of rear speakers for 95% of my uses. They are Yamaha generics. This will mostly be used for music.

 

[MagickMan]

Center should match the mains, same brand and series, otherwise it will sound like crap. If you want them to blend, it's time for a pair of these with some decent stands. I can't comment on how BIC speakers sound, but I've heard they're a decent budget speaker brand.

 

[queequeg99]

Center should match the mains, same brand and series, otherwise it will sound like crap. If you want them to blend, it's time for a pair of these with some decent stands. I can't comment on how BIC speakers sound, but I've heard they're a decent budget speaker brand.

+1 for the above response. +2 if you use the system for a lot of movies, where any differences between the center channel and your left and right front channels will be accentuated.

As for specific speaker recommendations, I suggest you head over to avsforum.com (to the "speakers" subforum) and do a search for "3.1" in the thread title. You'll get a lot of recent hits with suggestions for good budget 3.1 setups. Polk, Bic, Jamo, and a few others all make good L/C/R speakers that are reasonably priced. There's no need to match the sub so if you already have one you like, stick with it. You might be able to repurpose your current front channel speakers as surrounds. They won't be timbre matched to a new front setup but that is less important than timbre matching the three front speakers.

 

[Lean L]

+1 for the above response. +2 if you use the system for a lot of movies, where any differences between the center channel and your left and right front channels will be accentuated.

As for specific speaker recommendations, I suggest you head over to avsforum.com (to the "speakers" subforum) and do a search for "3.1" in the thread title. You'll get a lot of recent hits with suggestions for good budget 3.1 setups. Polk, Bic, Jamo, and a few others all make good L/C/R speakers that are reasonably priced. There's no need to match the sub so if you already have one you like, stick with it. You might be able to repurpose your current front channel speakers as surrounds. They won't be timbre matched to a new front setup but that is less important than timbre matching the three front speakers.

Okay, If I were to get the whole BIC series, how would it sound? Better than most speakers minus BW or Linn? Par? I can only base guesses on reviews which have been astoundingly positive for this center channel.

Although based on the stats, if it is properly designed, 2x6.5 and a horn tweeter should produce some sweet sound no?

 

[queequeg99]

Okay, If I were to get the whole BIC series, how would it sound? Better than most speakers minus BW or Linn? Par? I can only base guesses on reviews which have been astoundingly positive for this center channel.

Although based on the stats, if it is properly designed, 2x6.5 and a horn tweeter should produce some sweet sound no?

I haven't heard them so I cannot say. However, Bics are well regarded as a budget speaker and having three timbre matched front speakers will be an improvement over a mixture of unmatched speakers.

 

[Soundmanred]

They are fine for budget speakers, so I would hesitate to compare them with most mid to higher end brands.
You definitely want the front three to match timbre-wise.

 

[Lean L]

They are fine for budget speakers, so I would hesitate to compare them with most mid to higher end brands.
You definitely want the front three to match timbre-wise.

How is BIC budget. I'd say midrange. If you want to see budget go look at the BB insignia thread in Hot deals....

 

[sdifox]

How is BIC budget. I'd say midrange. If you want to see budget go look at the BB insignia thread in Hot deals....

BIC is budget....

 

[Lean L]

Not trying to get into a whole drawn out thing but that would make Energy Jamo Paradigm Axiom Polk JBL Klipsch Harmon all budget then? Are you talking about 12000 speakers? I'm not willing to go that much in lol. Or is it budget since they don't have anything super high end?

 

[sdifox]

Not trying to get into a whole drawn out thing but that would make Energy Jamo Paradigm Axiom Polk JBL Klipsch Harmon all budget then? Are you talking about 12000 speakers? I'm not willing to go that much in lol. Or is it budget since they don't have anything super high end?

Sigh, there is truly no limit to speaker prices. BIC is budget, just accept it and move on. I said nothing about their value or performance.

For what it's worth, my centre (Def Tech CLR2000) cost me 1000+15%tax , and I consider it mid-range product.

 

[Fallen Kell]

Center should match the mains, same brand and series, otherwise it will sound like crap.

I agree and disagree to a point. What matters the most is that it uses the same tweeter, drivers, and crossover frequencies that cover the important "human voice" range. The full range is 85Hz - 3500Hz, but you can usually get away with 300Hz - 3500Hz, as there are enough of the upper harmonic frequencies to imply the fundamental frequencies even if they are not played as loud as they should be.

 

[ericlp]

Hmmm, well, the main thing is tweeter matching.

That said, why don't you wait till you get your center... Hook it up and see how it sounds *TO YOU* the listener. That's what it boils down to anyway. Some people love Metal drivers and some people love silk dome type ... Then there are the JBL horn types. Personally... you can't say one speaker is crap over another ... if the person listening to it thinks it's great....... Really, that's all that matters. Since speakers are kinda like having a Big equalizer --- Some people love flat some people live really high tin speakers. So... Check em out for yourself and hopefully you'll like what you hear if not then hopefully you can return to amazon.

But you gotta break in a speaker properly for it to get the best sound.

 

[Soundmanred]

Hmmm, well, the main thing is tweeter matching.

That said, why don't you wait till you get your center... Hook it up and see how it sounds *TO YOU* the listener. That's what it boils down to anyway. Some people love Metal drivers and some people love silk dome type ... Then there are the JBL horn types. Personally... you can't say one speaker is crap over another ... if the person listening to it thinks it's great....... Really, that's all that matters. Since speakers are kinda like having a Big equalizer --- Some people love flat some people live really high tin speakers. So... Check em out for yourself and hopefully you'll like what you hear if not then hopefully you can return to amazon.

But you gotta break in a speaker properly for it to get the best sound.

I agreed with you until your last point.

 

[The-Noid]

I agreed with you until your last point.

I agree with that. Speakers will sound different after a bit. Takes a few hours until things are are settled.

 

[Howard]

PSA: The worst thing you can do is get into an argument over what you hear.

 

[The-Noid]

PSA: The worst thing you can do is get into an argument over what you hear.

Generally I wouldn't but when the manufacturers packaging says something my guess is they know more than I do as well .

 

[queequeg99]

Generally I wouldn't but when the manufacturers packaging says something my guess is they know more than I do as well .

Not necessarily (with a big nod towards anything packaged by Monster). But back to speakers. There is a sizable group of people who believe that breaking speakers in involves some physical change to the speaker that makes it sound materially different then when you first listen to it. But there is also a sizable group that believes no such change occurs and that, in fact, the listener simply acclimates himself to the sound of a different speaker. So it obviously makes sense for speaker vendors to ask buyers to "break in their speakers" because all they want is for the listener to eventually be happy (even if they don't know why).

 

[mazeroth]

Do not listen to these guys saying the front three need to match drivers and crossovers. That's complete bullshit. I've been designing and building hi-end loudspeakers for almost a decade and think I have a pretty good ear. For years I used a center that didn't "match". Trust me, you will never tell the difference. As long as you have adequate speakers, making sure they "match" is a moot point.

 

[Lean L]

Do not listen to these guys saying the front three need to match drivers and crossovers. That's complete bullshit. I've been designing and building hi-end loudspeakers for almost a decade and think I have a pretty good ear. For years I used a center that didn't "match". Trust me, you will never tell the difference. As long as you have adequate speakers, making sure they "match" is a moot point.

Lol, yes I wasn't going to replace my mains. My former set up did not match anyways. For my purposes which is mostly music, most of the vocals will come from the center and some support instruments or effects will come in through the mains. It would be nice to have better mains too but I don't feel like burning the cash right now.

 

[Howard]

For my purposes which is mostly music, most of the vocals will come from the center

When did they start doing this?

 

[Lean L]

When did they start doing this?

They don't. If you use basic dolby, any sound that plays on both speakers is emphasized by the center.

Edit: Receivers usually have presets that modify dolby a little bit. My music preset does this.

 

[Howard]

So you want music to play through the center? Why?

 

[Lean L]

So you want music to play through the center? Why?

Vocals play through center unmatched instruments play from the mains.

1) My mains are not as good
2) Less likely to cancel sound if it's the same for both speakers anyways