Need a center channel for my B&W 805S fronts

[Jim Addy]

I auditioned the matching center channel to these speakers the
HTM4S but it left me unimpressed. The 805s are great for music but the center channel seemed overwelmed in a home theater situation.

I'm thinking of moving up and matching the HTM3S with the 805s. Or moving down and matching the CMC2 with the 805s.

Does anyone having any experience, comments, or suggestions for me? What center channel speaker have you matched your 805s fronts with?

Thanks for the help.

Jim

[Mr Peabody]

I don't have B&W but I'd recommend if not happy with the matching center at least stay with the same brand. It's been a while since I've looked at their line, didn't the 800 series used to have a large center channel with I believe a 3-way system in it?

Was the matching center broke in? Did it make any difference setting that channel to "small"?

[zepman1]

Is it possible to add a 3rd 805S? This would definitely sound the best, although usually tv location is in the way unless it is mounted on the wall.

[Jim Addy]

The HTM3S is the larger version of the from the 800 line. Sounded very good. Didn't get to listen to the CMC2 which is the replacement from the 700 line.

One is 2 1/2 times the price of the other. But which would be a better timber match. Both are different from the 805s.

Another 805s is a possiblity but I've heard another 'regular' speaker is not a good substitute for a center channel.

Jim

[Woochifer]

The HTM3S is the larger version of the from the 800 line. Sounded very good. Didn't get to listen to the CMC2 which is the replacement from the 700 line.

One is 2 1/2 times the price of the other. But which would be a better timber match. Both are different from the 805s.

Another 805s is a possiblity but I've heard another 'regular' speaker is not a good substitute for a center channel.

Jim

Quite the contrary, a third "regular" speaker is the optimal option because you don't have alignment and timbre matching issues. The only reason three identical speakers aren't used as often has to do with space.

The whole notion of a horizontal center speaker dates back to the days when that speaker would simply sit on top of a large CRT TV or RPTV. Now, with wall-mounted flat panels increasingly commonplace, that space close to the floor that the TV cabinet used to take up can now accommodate a third regular speaker. Consider that movie theaters and dubbing stages don't use a horizontal speaker in the middle, they use three (and sometimes five) identical screen speakers up front.

B&W has made some center speakers that did not match with the mains especially well, but you're never going to get a perfect timbre match from any horizontal speaker, even with identical drivers, simply because the radiating pattern and the alignment are so different from the mains. If you must use a horizontal center speaker, the aim is to just find the closest match that you can. More often than not, that comes from a speaker from the same family.

[zepman1]

There are no advantages to a horizontal center channel whatsoever, other than the fact that in many cases it "fits" better. If you have the space, a 3rd front speaker is by far your best alternative.