Topic: Center Speakers as Surrounds...

[La_ Payag]

What are your thoughts on using 3 center speakers as surrounds on a 6.1 setup; and 2 center speakers as surrounds on a 5.1 setup? 

[levi]

Its more expensive but if you are bent on doing it, just choose any LCR model.

[deo]

oo nga magastos, minsan lang naman tumutunog un eh...hihihihihi!!!! pwde pa siguro 2x center as fronts...lalo na kung LCR600 ng B&W

[odyopayl]

What are your thoughts on using 3 center speakers as surrounds on a 6.1 setup; and 2 center speakers as surrounds on a 5.1 setup?

Center speakers are really meant for Dialogue, they are not suppose for sorround as well as sorround extension. Sorrounds as well as sorround center are not meant for dialogue they are for sound effects.
Though Front & Speakers as well as sorround speakers requires equal tonal sound (for uniformit), center speaker have different crossovers which is designed especially for (Mid Frequency) Dialogue.

[av_phile1]

Check out the Coincident speaker's site here:

http://www.coincidentspeaker.com/eclipse_lcr.html

They have identical driver config for center and surround L and R.  Only difference is the surrounds are not shielded (what for?).

You can use the center for rears if you like.

[aHobbit]

You can use center as surround or surround as center - its your art! 

You can even use any of them as mains as well. 

Its only commercialism and the me-too instinct that make manufacturer make diff models for center as 2x driver.

If I remember it right, the original concept of surround (5 channels which include mains) are for identical configurations - otherwise you complicate setup of levelling due to varying sensitivity of center to surrounds and mains, not to add here the possible tonal variations of diff configurations.

But the heck of it! Probably the listening room has the more anomalies to give attention to rather than speakers' configurations.

[odyopayl]

Check out the Coincident speaker's site here:

http://www.coincidentspeaker.com/eclipse_lcr.html

They have identical driver config for center and surround L and R. Only difference is the surrounds are not shielded (what for?).

You can use the center for rears if you like.

Some speakers are designed for Multi- channel playback like what you post. There are lot of speakers you can interchange  like those who are paired to Plasma /LCD screens. Comparing most of Speakers in the market, Center speakers are really made for center dialogue (you can check the crossover cut-off frequnecy). Of course in general you can use your center as your whole set-up for 5 or 7 channels.
Try to interchange one of your FL or FR to your center, you can hear the difference, except if you are using the speakers you've mentioned.

[odyopayl]

You can use center as surround or surround as center - its your art!

You can even use any of them as mains as well.

Its only commercialism and the me-too instinct that make manufacturer make diff models for center as 2x driver.

If I remember it right, the original concept of surround (5 channels which include mains) are for identical configurations - otherwise you complicate setup of levelling due to varying sensitivity of center to surrounds and mains, not to add here the possible tonal variations of diff configurations.

But the heck of it! Probably the listening room has the more anomalies to give attention to rather than speakers' configurations.

Speakers with 3 drivers but 2 way configuration if I'm not mistaken are called "D' Appolito" principle.
In multi-channel set-up it is recommended to use identical brand & model of speakers in order to achieved smooth cross speakers effect.
Most of the 5.1/6.1/7.1 configurations are all descreate information, room space, acoustics can compensate by the adjustment (delay, distance, volume, etch) What you need is a good Amp & Speakers. Having a dedicated room & proper room acoustics treatment is next to ULTIMATE not to mention THX ULta Certified components is again another thing to mention when it comes to "Home Theater Set-up".
Again, compatibility to multichannel "MUSIC" Set-up (DVD-A/ SACD Multi / DTS-CD) is another thing to mention if you are talking of the correct or recommended set-up.

[X-®an™]

I have a Definitive Technology C/L/R 2300, that I'm currently using as my Center speaker right now.  Being an LCR type of speaker, I think that I can use a pair of this to also act as my fronts.

As a Center speaker, I'm very much satisfied with it right now and this thread has made me wonder what an added pair of LCR 2300 would do when I use them as rears.  The LCR 2300 has a built-in subwoofer btw.