Is my new center speaker good?

[Jaxidian]

I picked it up at Fry's for $80 (even though it was $58 online though sold out ), originally $180 at their prices. I searched around and I THINK it is the same as one of these 2 links at JBL (they look identical but go to different URLs):

Link 1 at JBL
Link 2 at JBL

I have this to go with my 10" Velodyne sub and some Yamaha bookshelf speakers (not sure of the size or model but they're damn near as big as my Velodyne).

So please tell me how I did!

Thanks in advance!
-Jax

 

[Slick5150]

Well, you'd ideally want a center speaker that matches the front channel speakers so that the audio doesn't sound different coming out of one versus the other. Meaning, if someone is talking and the sound is coming out of the center channel, if that voice then moves to one of your Yamahas it might sound slightly different due to different speakers being used.

You may very well not notice it, but its generally a good idea to make sure the center and front speakers are timber matched.

 

[Alone]

Mix and matching speakers is a bad idea unless you've done your research.

 

[Excelsior]

Besides the fact that it is a horizontal MTM... I am sure it is ok.

You would've been better off with a single matching Yamaha bookshelf speaker though.

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Besides the fact that it is a horizontal MTM... I am sure it is ok.

Could you elaborate on this?

As for mixing/matching, how careful do I need to be with my rear speakers once I get there? I'm planning on eventually buying some towers for my 2 front speakers and moving these Yamaha bookshelves to become my rear. If I have to buy them now because my setup will suck until I do so, then I'd like to consider a pair of these if I can get the blessings of the people here on this board. Soooo, whatcha all think? Worthless speakers or a good deal for $200 for the pair?

Thanks!
-Jax

 

[Slick5150]

Matching the rear speakers isn't as big of a deal, so the Yamahas would probably be fine for that.

But again, if you're going to be replacing your fronts you'll want a center channel speaker that matches them.

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Matching the rear speakers isn't as big of a deal, so the Yamahas would probably be fine for that.

But again, if you're going to be replacing your fronts you'll want a center channel speaker that matches them.

Those front speakers I linked are from the same product line that the center speaker is from so I am assuming that means they're matched speakers. I'm mostly looking to get all of your blessings on those front speakers - are they a good deal for $200? Or should I take my center back and can I get a better deal for $280 for two fronts and a center?

Thanks!
-Jax

 

[Slick5150]

JBL Balboa's aren't bad at all. Another option in that general price range are the Polk R50 (I think they're on sale @ frys.com for $70 each right now), but then you'd need a different center channel so you might as well stick with JBL.

 

[fisheerman]

I have the polk 50s for fronts, csi3 center, r30 rears running on a pioneer 1016 and I can tell you that for the money you can't go wrong with this setup.

as for matching the speakers it has to do with sound staging of the fronts and the center channel. what you are trying to achieve is not being able to differentiate were the sounds and voices are coming from just that it envelops the user.

a good receiver can cure some of these flaws by reducing the output at certain frequency for the center and left/right accordingly.

alot of the new receiver do this setup for you with things like pioneers MCACC auto setup.

You attach a mic to your receiver and it runs a series of test tones that it uses to setup an custom eq for your environment.

you can do this manually as well with a good HT setup disk and noise meter from radio shack.

good luck

-fish

 

[Oyeve]

Thats a pretty decent price for a decent center. You should be fine, most recent receivers will let you do a lot of adjustments to get the most out of your speaker set up.