Ess Amt

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How do I choose a center channel speaker?

I have a pair of ESS AMT 1B speakers that I want to use as the front pair in a surround sound system. These speakers have a 12" woofer on the front and 12" passive radiator on the back coupled with a Heil air motion transformer. I understand that the appropriate method is to more or less voice math the center channel speaker to the front pair. What center channel speaker best matches these speakers

As long as your main left and right speakers are not that far apart (say 6 to 9ft) and your receiver can sum the center channel information (as most can) then you don't really need a center channel speaker. This is actually a better option in my opinion, i do it all the time in my clients high end systems.

In your receiver setting under speakers make sure the center channel speaker is set to off. This will send center channel dialog to the left and right speakers which in turn will sound like its coming from the middle.

You don't have the issue with tonally matching the main speakers, and will give a more realistic image.

The only time you really want it is in dedicated home theater systems, where the main speakers are spread apart to give a larger soundstage, but in most home surround sound systems just having the main speakers setup 6 to 9ft apart there really is no need for a center channel speaker.

Kevin
40 years high end audio video specialist