The centre channel speaker of a home theatre system has to be as close as possible to the visual screen. Usually, centres are slim and horizontal so they can be placed directly above or below the screen; in fact. T he centres described here are all in very strong cabinets that can double as a TV base where suitable. Any Woodfox or Firesprite bookshelf speaker could be used instead.
Centres must be accurate, clear and natural, especially for voices, because they are the audio focus for all the immediate central on-screen action and communication. They must have a good horizontal spread for all the viewers around the room, but do not necessarily have to have very deep bass, because voices do not go that low, and the subwoofer can take over those omni-directional frequencies anyway, thus keeping the cabinet small.
An older
CRT picture tube TV or computer monitor would be badly affected by the
magnets of unshielded speaker drivers, but the more common LCD TVs and
monitors,
plasmas and projectors, etc., are not affected by speaker magnets.
All these considerations and others create special problems and
solutions for centre channel speakers, and there are seven for you to
choose from in this series.
Price: $995 (or $795 kit less
cabinet)
Finish: Satin/gloss American Oak veneer (can be stained Jarrah, Maple, Walnut, Rosewood or charcoal black)
Cabinet: 940w x 240h x 320d bass
reflex 45
litres
Power Handling: 180 wrms
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response: 44 -- 40,000
hertz +/-2db
Sensitivity: 92db 1w/1m
Drivers: 4 x 150mm SB Acoustics high end
bass drivers; High end 105mm large magnet neutral midrange driver; Scanspeak 25mm ring radiator, textile dome tweeter
Comments: a high end large 3-way centre channel using
excellent design and drivers; very natural realistic sound
reproduction, and enough power to handle any size system. Very good
off-axis response. Competes with and often surpasses multi-driver centres many times the price.
Price: $950 (or $750 kit less
cabinet)
Finish: Satin/gloss American Oak veneer (can be stained Jarrah, Maple, Walnut, Rosewood or charcoal black)
Cabinet: 940w x 200h x 320d bass
reflex 36
litres
Power Handling: 180 wrms
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response: 48 -- 40,000
hertz +/-2db
Sensitivity: 92db 1w/1m
Drivers: 4 x 150mm Peerless HDS
bass/midrange drivers; High end NeoCD 3.0 ribbon tweeter
Comments: This is the 2-way version of the 453 above, and uses the superb micro-dynamic resolution qualities of a true ribbon tweeter. It is also a little slimmer than the 453, for situations where the space is not available. It goes without saying that the realism created while watching your movies, etc. is dynamic, faithful, clean, accurate and frighteningly immediate. The double length ribbon can be used instead for an extra $200.
Price: $495 (or $350 kit less
cabinet)
Finish: Satin/gloss American Oak veneer (can be stained Jarrah, Maple, Walnut, Rosewood or charcoal black)
Cabinet: 900w x 200h x 320d bass
reflex 36
litres (or 800w x 150h x 315d 22 litres)
Power Handling: 160 wrms
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response: 55 -- 30,000
hertz +/-2db
Sensitivity: 92db 1w/1m
Drivers: 4 x 150mm efficient
bass/midrange; Danish 25mm textile dome tweeter
Comments: multiple driver
arrangement gives
smoother phasing characteristics and dispersion; slim and elegant
cabinet if you have the width, makes an excellent base for large screen TVs. This is the larger version of the popular 442. Can upgrade to Scanspeak ring-radiator tweeter for extra $50.
Price: $450 (or $310 kit less
cabinet)
Finish: Satin/gloss American Oak veneer (can be stained Jarrah, Maple, Walnut, Rosewood or charcoal black)
Cabinet: choice of 800w x 150h x 320d bass
reflex 22
litres (or 600w x 200h x 320d 23 litres)
Power Handling: 130/160 wrms/program
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response: 55 -- 30,000
hertz +/-2db
Sensitivity: 90db 1w/1m
Drivers: 4 x 105mm neutral
bass/midrange; Danish 25mm textile dome tweeter
Comments: multiple driver
arrangement gives
smoother phasing characteristics and dispersion; very slim and elegant
cabinet if you have the width, makes an excellent base for large screen TVs. Scanspeak high end ring radiator tweeter extra $50; ribbon tweeter extra $100.
Price: $950 (or $780 kit less
cabinet)
Finish: Satin/gloss American Oak veneer (can be stained Jarrah, Maple, Walnut, Rosewood or charcoal black)
Cabinet: 940w x 240h x 320d bass
reflex 42
litres
Power Handling: 150 wrms
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response: 45 -- 50,000
hertz +/-2db
Sensitivity: 93db 1w/1m
Drivers: 2 x 165mm VIFA carbon fibre cone high gauss bass/lower
midrange (or kevlar bass/midrange); Large double length superbly efficient and smooth ribbon
upper midrange and treble driver
Comments: This very efficient 2-way centre uses a
large ribbon (one of the best high frequency drivers around) to handle
everything above 1500hz, giving you the advantages of this
precision ribbon driver over an extended range.
Price: $490 (or $330 kit less
cabinet)
Finish: Satin/gloss American Oak veneer (can be stained Jarrah, Maple, Walnut, Rosewood or charcoal black)
Cabinet: 940w x 200h x 320d bass
reflex 36
litres
Power Handling: 140 wrms
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response: 48 -- 30,000
hertz +/-2db
Sensitivity: 92db 1w/1m
Drivers: 2 x 165mm VIFA carbon fibre bass/midrange drivers (or kevlar bass/midrange); 25mm VIFA textile dome tweeter
Comments: this is an efficient
centre;
good low end bass and voice production; similar driver setup and
crossover to the smaller Timberwolf series floorstanding speakers.
Price: $400 (or $250 kit less
cabinet)
Finish: Satin/gloss American Oak veneer (can be stained Jarrah, Maple, Walnut, Rosewood or charcoal black)
Cabinet: choice of 800w x 150h x 320d bass
reflex 22
litres or 600h x 200w x 320d 23 litres
Power Handling: 110/160 wrms/wmax
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response: 59 -- 30,000
hertz +/-2db
Sensitivity: 90db 1w/1m
Drivers: 2 x 165mm VIFA carbon fibre bass/midrange drivers (or kevlar bass/midrange);
Danish 25mm textile dome tweeter
Comments: good solid performer;
commonly used driver
setup, but our model, like all our others, has a real timber veneer,
solid non resonant cabinet and accurate, detailed crossover network;
similar driver setup and crossover network to the Timberwolf 5522 small
floorstander speaker, making them a very consistent and compatible
combination. Makes a strong slim base for even very heavy flat-screen TVs.
Price: $290 (or $210 kit less
cabinet)
Finish: Satin/gloss American Oak veneer (can be stained Jarrah, Maple, Walnut, Rosewood or charcoal black)
Cabinet: 400w x 150h x 320d bass
reflex 11
litres
Power Handling: 80/160 wrms/wmax
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response: 76 -- 22,000
hertz +/-2db
Sensitivity: 90db 1w/1m
Drivers: 2 x 105mm bass/midrange;
25mm Danish dome tweeter
Comments: more compact but still
solidly
constructed centre and clear; good for smaller rooms. High end SB Acoustics drivers version extra $200.
