Bose Speakers Suck... We all konw that.
All it does is fix a problem if he insists on using a center channel.

The two speaker system Does not work. And for the same reason Choosing no center causes the same results when you think about it.

The best question should be... What center channel will set,Fit,or other wise be install by a plasma with no room for a center channel? The Bose will. I just told him what would. I even told him I hated giving him that advice.

I've setup system most installer dream of. And when a customer ask me a question... I give them a turthful answer. Even if it hurts.

If you can't be turthful to your customers... Maybe your in the wrong line of work.

Now I have to get packed for my trip to give a quote on a Resort. I may not be able to answer any questions for awhile. But will look in when I get back next week.

TI

I'd like to see some of the systems you have set up that I am supposed to dream of.
The truthful answer is not the one that hurts, it's the professional one that lets you sleep nights knowing you have given the client what is best for their budget and the enviroment (decor)they wish to place equipment in.
Everyone occasionally has to deal with a customer that thinks they know better, that still doesn't mean you have to compromise. If you are worth anything in this business you will know how to lead the client down the right path, so his system is designed and installed to give them years of entertainment value. Thats why they are hiring you, isn't it??

Impaqt,
isn't the best surround system in the world a ProLogic system when it plays audio from a source without discrete digital audio? What about satellite? What about TV, even digital TV? These do not always put out 5.1 signals, so at that point the signal reverts to two channels, which through any decoder can only be as good as ProLogic.

Or did I miss something here? Were you putting out an insult based on the idea that ProLogic systems used or even CALLED FOR mismatched speakers? If so, that makes no sense at all.

Scroll back up to the top of the page Ernie. I didnt intend the pro-logic comment to be an insult at all..... It was simply a reference to days gone by....

I vote for no center speaker in this scenario.

A well positioned pair of main speakers with good imaging will perform much better than throwing in a mismatched center. Using two centers can work if postioned and wired properly, but this can also cause comb filtering anomalies in some cases.

I've heard about some experimentations with two centers; one above and one below a non-perforated projection screen. In this case the top center speaker needs to be positioned closer than the bottom center so that they are properly time aligned. These two speakers get toed-in to the primary listening position, just like the main left and rights. I've not tried this personally, but I've heard that if set-up properly it can work. This calls for a purpose built room and lots of tweaking however.

In the end, I would still vote for either a matched center or no center in this application.

Read the article in this month's Home Theater magazine about the Artison speakers and Velodyne DD12 sub, it may enlighten a few of you about using 2 centers. Also, Tomlinson Holman recommends using one above and one beneath a screen where perforated screens are not desired. You've heard of him, right?

Easton Altree

Holman had a bit to say on speaker placement issues here: [Link: smr-home-theatre.org] His thoughts and ideas lend credence to the Yamaha V1 and Z1 approach. I've had very good results from the 5 up 2 back arrangement, even in more affordable price ranges, say under $4000 for proc. and speakers.