spschneer Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 I think I want to try and build a "center-channel" type of speaker for a home-theater kind of setup and I need some ideas... My current 2-channel audio setup consists of a pair of Forte II's being driven by a Marantz 2230. This gives me really nice 2-channel audio listening performance. I like the sound quality very much. I have a space (just below the TV screen) that's about 6" x 40" that could be used for a "Center-Channel" speaker to improve the dialog for watching TV in this room. My thought is to build in a "center-channel" consisting of a tweeter and one or two mid-ranges from the Forte line. I would then use this with the Forte's when listening / watching TV. I really don't want to go with an Academy (too expensive and scarse,plus too big for the specific space I have). I also don't realy wantto go to a full 5.1 home theater type of setup since that is alreadycovered in the family room/main TV area. This is just to improve theambience of the "other TV" when one of us wants to watch somethingelse. This would be instead of getting something like a soundbar to go in the same location (along with a powered subwoofer to provide some bass for the TV watching). With the Forte's, I don't really need the addtional bass (or expense) of the subwoofer and I can drive the center channel as a mono single off the "B" speaker terminals of the Marantz. Does anyone have any specifics on what I would need to piece together to accomplish this? Thanks Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twistedcrankcammer Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 I think I want to try and build a "center-channel" type of speaker for a home-theater kind of setup and I need some ideas... My current 2-channel audio setup consists of a pair of Forte II's being driven by a Marantz 2230. This gives me really nice 2-channel audio listening performance. I like the sound quality very much. I have a space (just below the TV screen) that's about 6" x 40" that could be used for a "Center-Channel" speaker to improve the dialog for watching TV in this room. My thought is to build in a "center-channel" consisting of a tweeter and one or two mid-ranges from the Forte line. I would then use this with the Forte's when listening / watching TV. I really don't want to go with an Academy (too expensive and scarse, plus too big for the specific space I have). I also don't realy want to go to a full 5.1 home theater type of setup since that is already covered in the family room/main TV area. This is just to improve the ambience of the "other TV" when one of us wants to watch something else. This would be instead of getting something like a soundbar to go in the same location (along with a powered subwoofer to provide some bass for the TV watching). With the Forte's, I don't really need the addtional bass (or expense) of the subwoofer and I can drive the center channel as a mono single off the "B" speaker terminals of the Marantz. Does anyone have any specifics on what I would need to piece together to accomplish this? Thanks Steve Steve, To be perfectly honest dude, the Forte IIs sound so good, that without proper room for a third Forte II, I think even the accademy is a compromise. I honestly think you will be happier running fantom center if you can't run a third Forte'II Just my honest opinion on this one.... Roger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HudsonValleyNoah Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 I think a C7 would be a dead on match to your forte II mains (as it is to my Chorus II mains in my ExH HT.) It's got the same sounding horn... Costs less than an Academy but it is a bit bigger... My .02 N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twistedcrankcammer Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 I think a C7 would be a dead on match to your forte II mains (as it is to my Chorus II mains in my ExH HT.) It's got the same sounding horn... Costs less than an Academy but it is a bit bigger... My .02 N HVN, I have an RC-7 and an RF-7 that has been converted into a center channel, and I can't see it being a great marriage. Roger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HudsonValleyNoah Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 tcc, The C7 (KLF-C7) is a far different beast from the RC-7. I agree that the RC-7 would be a bad match for the Forte II but the KLF-C7 is SUPER match. From my personal experience. Noah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerohm Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 a C7 is a good match (been there, done that), but it WON"T end your search for its replacement [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HudsonValleyNoah Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 lol, when you find its replacement, I'll take that old C7 off your hands... [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spschneer Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 Thanks for the ideas, so far. I really don't have space for the C7,(and certainly not enough for another Forte II), thus my interest in building something custom to fit the space. Has anyone put together the pieces for a custom speaker with either Klipsch parts, or aftermarket pieces that might work well(and sound good with the Forte's) and be willing to share some specifics? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 You might try 4 of any the following coupled with a Forte II mid and tweeter and a similar crossover design. http://www.parts-express.com/pdf/297-302.pdf http://www.parts-express.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=290-018&ctab=1#Tabs http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=299-252 The Galaxy Audio woofer has some advantages because it is 16 ohms and a Pro driver, used in "Hotspots" monitors. It probably should be put in a ported enclosure. You could try to put this Passive Radiator on the bottom of the cabinet in a slot formed by short legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 The only way to get a good timbre match with a Forte is to use the same tweeter and squawker, You will need more than just the tweeter and squawker. You give up too much frequency response eliminating the woofer. Use the Forte crossover. Replace the Forte's woofer and passive radiator with enough smaller woofers to get approximately the same level of output. You aren't going to have the same low end frequency response, but it should be good enough. You may have to tweek the crossover to account for differences in sensitivity between the Forte's woofer and the new woofers. The parts suggested by John are good choices. FWIW if your main speakers are close enough, and the screen is more or less in the middle, adding a center may not yield an audible improvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spschneer Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 Thanks again for all the ideas/replys...I think at this time, I will just use my Forte's as they are. I may possibly upgrade my receiver to an AVR that can handle the new formats (Dolby Digital/dts etc) and see if it can create a phantom center gracefully. If so, then that may be the ultimate result. Otherwise, I'll look for a single Forte II (possibly with a blown woofer and/or passive) to salvage the cross-over and Mid & Tweeter... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerohm Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 The only way to get a good timbre match with a Forte is to use the same tweeter and squawker, You will need more than just the tweeter and squawker. You give up too much frequency response eliminating the woofer. Use the Forte crossover... right ... I replaced the Quartet's tweeter and crossover with that of a Forte II ... keeping the original woofer/drone. I had a cabinet maker construct a new motor board tipping the horns 90 degrees (so that I could position the Quartet on its side. All in all, I am satisfied ... "my" search has come to its conclusion. I did discover that even height and angle is critical in pursuing the elusive "ideal" solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jocko_nc Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 I did this a couple of years back. Still using it today. Like the other posts, I used Heresy components for a good match. The speaker doesn't have much bass, but neither do the mains. http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/t/85987.aspx?PageIndex=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 For what it's worth, timbre matching isn't as critical as dialogue intelligibility. Since your choice is pretty much dictated by your available space -- I second John's suggestion of using the Galaxy Audio driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakedmb Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Are the C7 and Academy centers pretty similar? Would one be a better match for the Heritage line than another? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donkeyshins Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I did this a couple of years back. Still using it today. Like the other posts, I used Heresy components for a good match. The speaker doesn't have much bass, but neither do the mains. http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/t/85987.aspx?PageIndex=1 Jocko - I was thinking about building a center channel to match my KP-250b front speakers and have a full set of KP-250b drivers (including the big-*** K42-K woofer) - do you think I could do something similar to your center channel but have the 12" firing down (or up - I'm agnostic) but the two ports firing forward and get a similar result as your pseudo-horn Dayton woofer setup? Thanks! -D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj01 Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Why not something like a crites tweeter with two 8" eminence PA or delta pro drivers? (picked the driver just because the range is quoted to 5khz) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donkeyshins Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Why not something like a crites tweeter with two 8" eminence PA or delta pro drivers? (picked the driver just because the range is quoted to 5khz) Well, mostly because I already have an extra set of K42-K woofer, K53 squawker and K79 tweeter (KP-250b driver compliment) which I don't want to waste. Plus they'd be correctly "voiced" to the other two KP-250 speakers. - D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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