So, I have this HT/stereo system

that has been pieced together over the years. It was a rainy day Saturday so I finally decided to actually set it up properly and fine tune it. I spent all day measuring distances and playing with a free downloaded db meter, setting levels and playing with the crossover setting for the sub. And I can't believe what a difference it made in sound quality. But it also highlighted some deficiencies as well.

First let me tell you what I'm working with. I have this receiver http://m.insigniaproducts.com/m/products/home-audio-systems/NS-AV511.html and I'm using two old floor standing Fisher speakers as my L/R. The powered sub is from an old Altic-Lansing 8" torpedo looking thing that used to go to a 2.1 computer speaker system. My center and rear speakers are very tiny plastic things that came from the cheapest 5.1 system WalMart had 15 years ago.

Pathetic I know.

But after getting it set up properly it sounds really good to me, at least in stereo mode. The Fishers sound very good to me and after getting the sub settings correct I really can't find any holes in it. I listening to about four hours of different types of music and am happy with it in stereo.

The problem comes when watching movies. My horrible little center speaker is letting the team down. Sounds like the sound is coming from the bottom of a trash can. So I got sucked into researching center speakers and lost about ten hours of my life.

My concern is that I can see myself getting hooked on this crap and chasing perfection all the way to the poor house

What I'd like to do is upgrade my center but am worried that it'll make the towers, which I know are not the best, stand out as being inadequate. Then I still have to deal with the satellites.

What I'm thinking now is to find a decent sounding cheapie set of bookshelf speakers and using one for my center channel. And then get another pair for the rear channels.

Anyway, just something new my mind has been obsessing over for the last couple days and thought I'd share.

Dang, wrong forum

Nick_Comstock wrote: Dang, wrong forum

You wanted this in Off Topic, right?

Sounds like a cool rabbit hole.

From another forum I go to every once in a while..."Sorry about your wallet."

In reply to szeis4cookie:

Yep, just as I feared

Just throw away the center and run it in a 4.1 configuration. I think most receivers support this.

If you want to spend money:

Best bang for your buck if you're buying pre-made speakers:
Andrew Jones Pioneer speakers

If you want to do better SQ-wise, I advise you to jump down the rabbit hole of DIY speakers. (Check Parts-Express TechTalk forum or DIYSoundGroup.)

I will try it at 4.1, the thought never really occurred to me.

I'd love to build my own speakers. It's been a very long time since I have played with electronics though, I'll need to brush up on that stuff.

Running without a center watching movies kindof sucks. Crank up the volume to hear dialogue, panic when you blow a driver or four when the next explosion happens.

Look into a Polk CS2. Should be cheap these days.

I second the Alex Jones Pioneers. I'd start with one of their center channels for about $100; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117425

If you have another $130 in your wallet, their bookshelf speakers are great for the money, and would work well for the rear channel; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117424

Honestly, if you don't want to step up to new rear's, I'd turn the rear channel off and stop mucking with plastic computer speakers.

I'll definitely upgrade the rears eventually. The center is more of a pressing concern at the moment. I don't want to give up on the surround effects in the meantime.

I've been exploring the HT rabbit hole for more than 20 years. I'll say this:
It's a fun rabbit hole
It doesn't have to be that expensive Set a budget and stick to it get speakers that match both in sound quality and sensitivity

If you are selective, and don't mind buying used, you can get some bargains. Especially in the speaker world. Receivers and stuff changes with the wind. What was hi-tech yesterday is "quaint" tomorrow. Speakers though, the only thing you really have to worry about is the roam surrounds rotting. Those can be replaced on all but the cheapest speakers out there.
You're right about the center channel making the mains sound bad. Once you start upgrading, you quickly find the next worst component. I remember years ago I picked up a set of Magnepan speakers. They are simply the best speakers I've ever heard. I hooked them up and picked out a nice CD that I knew would really complement the personality of the Maggies. It sounded pretty bad. I couldn't understand. Then I realized I was using some inexpensive speaker wire to power the Maggies, they they like the power! So, I upgraded my speakers cables and viola!
I'm planning on building a subwoofer this winter...and deeper into the rabbit hole I go...

Swank Force One wrote: Running without a center watching movies kindof sucks. Crank up the volume to hear dialogue, panic when you blow a driver or four when the next explosion happens. Look into a Polk CS2. Should be cheap these days.

I think what he means is to turn the center channel off at the receiver, that sends all the center channel sounds to the left and right front speakers. I'm testing that out now but it has a weird effect. Now I know what they mean by "anchoring the sound to the screen", for instance, Jeremy Clarksons voice is coming mainly from the right speaker while Tom Cruse and Cameron Diaz voices are mainly coming from the right. It takes some getting used to. The sound quality is certainly much, much better.

I personally never cared for lower cost Polk (or Infinity) speakers because of how they seemed somewhat harsh on the high frequency stuff. The Pioneer BS-22's I have are more laid back (and probably slightly muddy lower-end to some people).

In reply to Nick_Comstock:

Yeah i know...i run a 2 channel setup for everything, myself. Blu-ray in particular is hard to deal with.

In reply to Swank Force One:

I know you guy's have much more experience with this stuff than I do. Bare with me as I'm just now learning about it. I'm cramming in as much information as I can.

I've been down the rabbit hole only a little bit, and it can be a real money pit. In my opinion, it's cheaper overall than cars, but they can both be really spendy habits.

Some thoughts: If you want maximize your bang for the buck, get decent bookshelf speakers that go down to 80Hz or maybe a bit lower, and augment with a sub.

Subs are one area where you can really do better DIY than commercial. They're pretty straightforward to build, and flat packs (all the boards pre-cut) are readily available.

Check out Parts Express - they have a good range of products, and pretty good prices.

Here's a link to their center channel speakers - the Dayton stuff is pretty reasonably priced, and performs pretty well from the reviews I've read: Parts Express Center Channel Speakers

BTW, I'm currently building a pair of these: http://speakerdesignworks.com/Statements_Monitor.html

In reply to thewheelman:

if you have the space, the BICs are great.

In reply to madmallard:

Funny thing, after I posted that link, I looked through the offerings and the BICs were cheaper than the Daytons!

I am now entertaining bad ideas of purchasing 3 of the center channels for the front end of my HT system. My wife officially hates you now.

or this thing to simplify:

http://www.parts-express.com/bic-formula-fh56-bar-speaker-bar-system--303-442