(fax) DTS - center channel

[Trevor Cordes]

On 16 Aug, Tim Wright wrote:
> I see from the manual that I can tell the receiver that I've got no
> centre speaker, and it will redirect the centre audio to left and
> right, which they say is known as a "Phantom Centre".  OK, I'll try
> that, when I can work out how.

I did that for quite a while.  You definitely want to enable that option
in the receiver.

> The question is, to what extent do you think that'll make a centre
> speaker unnecesary?  I don't mind buying one in due course, but
> situating it will be a slight problem, so if it's just a waste of
> money and space...

I gave in and bought a center after about a year without.  They aren't
terribly expensive.  I got a low-mid-range Polk one.  Now that I have
it, I wouldn't give it up, so I guess that means it's doing something
for me.  The thing you immediately notice is the stuff PK puts in the
center comes through much more prominently than with the phantom center.

The tough part is matching your levels so that the center is balanced.
That took me a while, and it's probably still not perfect.

I have my center right above my center LCD.  Not ideal, but the ideal
placement is blocked by my LCD.  I find it's still quite good.

> What do you think?  I can imagine a centre being
> important for watching films

Yes, much more important for films.

> back of the queue behind the subwoofer and the comfy chair :-)

I have the comfy chair going already but I still haven't added a sub. My
main speakers have 10's in them and provide a lot of bass.  One day I'll
add the sub.  If anyone wants to comment on how much a sub adds for Fax
music...