Subject: Center Speaker Recommendations for Main Horn Speakers

[Zeotrope]

I would expect Bill Woods' horns to work extremely well in a "time/intensity trading" configuration in phantom center mode, with the speaker axes criss-crossing in front of the central sweet spot.

Thanks. Indeed, the soundstage is wide, deep, and very focused. You could have a fake center speaker and listeners would never believe it’s not working.
My view of surround is less is more. Apply the same budget to fewer speakers and amplifiers and you’ll enjoy better sound.

You don’t need 10+ channels in most rooms. With a Trinnov, it will route all of the channels to the speakers you have, including creating virtual output channels.

 

[Duke LeJeune]

Thanks. Indeed, the soundstage is wide, deep, and very focused. You could have a fake center speaker and listeners would never believe it’s not working.

Yes, a good constant-directivity horn can do that!

Recently one of my clients had a friend who works for a fairly well known Southern California company that makes audio processors over for a visit. They watched a couple of show-off-my-system movie clips and some music videos. When they were done and the screen retracted towards the ceiling, the friend had a moment of cognitive dissonance, eyes searching the wall behind where the screen had been in disbelief, when there was no center-channel speaker hidden behind the screen. I've had several clients sell their rather expensive center-channel speakers because they preferred the sound quality and spatial quality in phantom center mode.

Just curious, which Bill Woods horns are you using? And, if you happen to know, what is the coverage angle of their radiation pattern?

Thanks!