Justmikeyd Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 (edited) Moving into a new home and want to add a center to my bookshelf speakers (rb-61 II) .. the catch is this, I have a small space (8” deep) and a wife who would prefer no center. Any recommendations for a center that would pair decently well? I know they should match, but most of the matches won’t fit on that ledge... any thoughts on gallery (or the new RP version of the gallery on wall), the center from a quintet, or maybe one of the older synergy centers? Open to ideas here, just needs to be small and compact. Edited March 12, 2018 by Justmikeyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuzzzer Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 On the one hand, a capable center speaker is important. On the other hand, compromising and having to shoehorn one into a tiny space just to have one and as a result compromising the sound isn't worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justmikeyd Posted March 12, 2018 Author Share Posted March 12, 2018 So, you’d recommend just having a 4.1 setup with no center in that scenario? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuzzzer Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Yes. I've gone back and forth with different centers over the years and due to my TVs, TV stands, etc. have always had to go with a non-matching center. Always ended up going back to no center. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ljk Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Your receiver should have a setting for running without a center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justmikeyd Posted March 17, 2018 Author Share Posted March 17, 2018 Follow-up, would using 5 in-ceiling speakers be better than running the 4.1 setup above with bookshelves... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ljk Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Could post some pics of your setup. Front stage pics if possible to see how much space you are working with. If your system is up try setting your receiver to running without a center and see how you like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuzzzer Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 2 hours ago, Justmikeyd said: Follow-up, would using 5 in-ceiling speakers be better than running the 4.1 setup above with bookshelves... No. Unless for Atmos purposes my opinion is that in ceiling speakers are always a compromise. You can't move them without extreme difficulty. You can't upgrade them without extreme difficulty. I'm completely satisfied with my 4.2 bookshelf setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justmikeyd Posted March 17, 2018 Author Share Posted March 17, 2018 Currently building a new house and trying to plan install. So no pics yet, just trying to work out what I can do given the constraints the wife has given lol. Thankfully she has no issues with the bookshelf speakers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted March 17, 2018 Moderators Share Posted March 17, 2018 Of the front three speakers the center is the most important, if you have 3. If no room for a center at least as good as the other two skip the center as people have said, the receiver will send that info to the front L&R. This is better then a center that can't keep up, not hearing voices and other center info makes you miss the most important parts. 3 hours ago, Justmikeyd said: So no pics yet, just trying to work out what I can do given the constraints the wife has given lol. This is not always the best place to explain that the wife sets the rules, you may get some rough comments about that because most feel it should be a fair compromise, at least. Most start out with "is there any compromise in her shoe or cloths closets, do you make the rules there ?" and can go downhill from there. Most here have wives but feel it should be a compromise not one person rules, good luck with that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ljk Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 9 hours ago, dtel said: Of the front three speakers the center is the most important, if you have 3. If no room for a center at least as good as the other two skip the center as people have said, the receiver will send that info to the front L&R. This is better then a center that can't keep up, not hearing voices and other center info makes you miss the most important parts. Agree! If you need a cabinet for the tv you might be able to build it to house a matching center channel. I build a tv cabinet to match my left and right speakers. If you don't tell the wive she may never know. Of course you would have to get the parts and be able to build the cabinet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebuy Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 Either get a good center or go without one. Do like the rest of us do here, we lay down the law to our wives. We're the Boss. Tell her that. Say "Honey, I'm the Boss and I'm gonna get a Big *** center channel. You'll thank me later." See how simple that was. If you're scared to do that, try it a few times in front of a mirror. Good Luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ljk Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 Is that good luck with center channel or wive?☺ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivernuggets Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 Welcome to the forum mikey! How big is the new room's front stage? If it's 10' or less no center would be just fine, IMO. In your receiver/processor's speaker setup menu, tell it there's no center. I have a 2.1 system in our back room and dialogue is very clear coming out the Left and Right mains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YK Thom Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 The RC 52II will work great with the 61s - I had that configuration for a few years before I purchased an RC 62II. They are discontinued but readily available. If your couch is about five feet or so away a 42will work as well. The 52 is your best bet and will match very well. Aprox 6” Tall so it will fit and front ported to boot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivernuggets Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 An RC-52 or 52II will protrude 2.5" out from your ledge, @Justmikeyd. If that doesn't aesthetically bother you or your wife, it should work fine. Little chance of it falling off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted March 19, 2018 Moderators Share Posted March 19, 2018 18 hours ago, Ljk said: Is that good luck with center channel or wive?☺ The wife, I'm sure she's OK, if not sounds like a talk about what's fair is needed ? Better him than me. Been married almost 40 years, it's 2 people, not one making the rules, rookie, don't put up with that She's no more "special" then him, unless she is his sugar mom, if so carry on your doing good. But there is no such thing as a tiny center speaker worth having, like everyone says let that signal go to the mains you will be much happier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justmikeyd Posted April 11, 2018 Author Share Posted April 11, 2018 Thanks for the input folks. Looks like we’ll go 4.1. The wifey gets a say in this room. My theater upstairs has the good stuff. 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omar4 Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 I have an RC-10 with very little usage if you are interested. No dings or dents, perfect condition. $100 OBO plus shipping. Let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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