Center Channel Speakers

You may not be aware of the fact that center channel speakers are probably the most important speakers in your future home theater setup.
Almost two thirds of the sonic performance of your system will be dependend on the quality of your center channel loudspeakers.

What's the Purpose of Center Channel Speakers?

Remember your last time 'at the movies'? Center channel speakers are
essentially those invisible speakers behind the screen beaming crystal-clear dialogs to a wide audience regardless of your seat.

Even if you don't (or can't) enjoy the luxury of sitting in the sweetspot, dialogs always appear perfectly centered coming right out between your front speakers. Thus the name 'center channel speaker'.

In home theater setups you typically implement a center channel by placing a third speaker of the same quality (preferably identical to the front channel speaker) on top of your TV - either horizontally or vertically.

In either case you must be sure all drivers are magnetically shielded to avoid possible interferences with your TV. However if you're using a video beamer, simply make sure the acoustic center of your front channel speakers and the center are horizontally aligned.

But what if you're primarily watching alone or with your loved one,
do you really need a center channel speaker? It depends. Today most modern A/V receivers provide a so called 'phantom center' mode allowing you to merge Dolby's center channel signal with your front channel speakers. If you sit in the sweet spot of a typical stereo triangle, you might be able to get away without a center channel although hardcore home-theater enthusiasts often disagree. But you never know without trying it out.

Building your Own Center Channel Speakers

Now that we've demystified center channel speakers, it's time to get practical!

All you need to build is simply a third, full-range front channel loudspeaker that you could place horizontally above your TV set. Your center channel speaker must be identical to your stereo speakers using identical drivers.

Before we start, you should be aware of the term acoustic polarity.

Placing a center channel in horizontal acoustic polarity is a compromise from a technical viewpoint although it might look better in your living room.

For a consistent frequency response of your center channel, you should
therefore always opt for a vertical acoustic polarity - in other words position your speakers vertically. If your front channels are floorstanders, you would integrate a third floorstander right between your front main loudspeakers. Then place your TV or video screen above the center.

What if your existing stereo speakers are not a DIY design
or new drivers are no longer available?

Assuming you already own commercial loudspeakers, I don't recommend adding a DIY center channel speaker as this could potentially degrade overall sonic balance.

Experiment with 'phantom center' modes of your receiver instead
or bite the bullet and purchase the manufacturer's recommended center channel speaker.

But you might try your luck browing internet forums for other builders' experiences mixing and matching commercial with DIY designs. Similar advice goes for out-of-production DIY kits. In this case I would try to contact the developer and ask for professional advice.