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Can I use a soundbar as a center channel?

Posted on 1/13/15 at 10:42 pm
Posted by Brettesaurus Rex
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2009
38259 posts
Posted on 1/13/15 at 10:42 pm
So I have a wire run to the mantle my current center chanel is located. The problem is it sticks over the edge slightly and when I have the fireplace going, the front has started to slowly warp. I've been looking around and nothing jumps out at me as being able to easily fit that isn't so deep except these sound bars I'm seeing everywhere. On one hand I like the idea of having something more powerful, but on the other I'm not sure if it's really intended for that or if it matters.

Thoughts/Suggestions?
This post was edited on 1/13/15 at 10:43 pm
Posted by SG_Geaux
Beautiful St George
Member since Aug 2004
78062 posts
Posted on 1/13/15 at 10:46 pm to
Budget?

There are some pretty thin speakers out there.

I have a KEF T Series that is only about 1.5-2.0 inches deep.
This post was edited on 1/13/15 at 10:47 pm
Posted by efrad
Member since Nov 2007
18651 posts
Posted on 1/13/15 at 10:50 pm to
How deep is the mantle space you are working with? I have the Polk TL1 center speaker and it's only 3.5" deep. I don't see how most soundbars could be less deep than that...
Posted by Neauxla
New Orleans
Member since Feb 2008
33449 posts
Posted on 1/14/15 at 6:33 am to
I've always followed the rule that your 3 front speakers should be as close to each other in sound as possible for when scenes go from left to right etc.
Posted by VABuckeye
Naples, FL
Member since Dec 2007
35603 posts
Posted on 1/14/15 at 7:10 am to
You can for sure but you want to try to tonally match with the left and right speakers which can be difficult. You want speakers from the same manufacturer and across the same product range.
Posted by Trauma14
Member since Aug 2010
5843 posts
Posted on 1/14/15 at 8:55 am to
Definitive Technology Mythos XTR-40 ultra slim speaker works pretty amazing as a center channel... LINK
Posted by Hammertime
Will trade dowsing rod for titties
Member since Jan 2012
43030 posts
Posted on 1/14/15 at 9:35 am to
When you get into really thin speakers, you run into the same problem as having speakers in a TV

IMHO, center needs to be a full-range speaker, and not just tweeters because you have voices talking at you. IIRC, frequency sounds for voice is 300-3000Hz. Most tweeters start at around 2500Hz, so you'd need an actual speaker to cover the rest. Get the deepest possible, aka biggest speakers that move the most.

Another solution is to put the bookshelf speakers directly next to the TV, or a little further apart and aimed at the center of the room. Still won't work as well as a dedicated center channel. If you do get a center, put the bookshelf speakers either halfway between the TV and the corner of the room facing out, or in the corners facing towards the listening area



Eta: almost all center channel speakers are more shallow than 7"
This post was edited on 1/14/15 at 9:56 am
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