Improving dialogue intelligibility
Discussion
I have a fairly modest home cinema setup that is a few years old now, Acer projector, middle range Onkyo receiver and Wharfedale MS 100 HCP 5.1.
I struggle to hear / understand the dialogue on occasion.
It seems that if I have it loud enough to hear the dialogue properly, then come an action scene I'm reaching for the remote to save scaring the crap out of the dog. It's not all the time by any means but just on some films in particular.
I don't want to spend any real money on it and the OH won't tolerate anything much more intrusive visually.
I was thinking of just changing the center speaker, if I turn the current one up it just sounds tinny and unpleasant.
I have a decent hifi in the other room so just for films / tv.
Does that sound sensible? Any ideas on centers to go for on fleabay?
I struggle to hear / understand the dialogue on occasion.
It seems that if I have it loud enough to hear the dialogue properly, then come an action scene I'm reaching for the remote to save scaring the crap out of the dog. It's not all the time by any means but just on some films in particular.
I don't want to spend any real money on it and the OH won't tolerate anything much more intrusive visually.
I was thinking of just changing the center speaker, if I turn the current one up it just sounds tinny and unpleasant.
I have a decent hifi in the other room so just for films / tv.
Does that sound sensible? Any ideas on centers to go for on fleabay?
Ideally you should have fully matching left/right/centre speakers otherwise 'better' left right speakers can over power the centre or just plain sound different. Part of the problem is when the centre is either jammed in a TV cabinet and/or near to the floor and if it is a different size to the left/right speakers.
I have suffered the same effect as you in the past, but over the years of upgrading until I had fully matching LCR and have them in a decent position it's not something that happens these days.
If you don't want to spend money then you could try a few tweaks:
1. Raise the dB level of the centre speaker 1 or 2 dB.
2. Raise the crossover frequency for the whole LCR to reduce the load on these speakers. Default may be 80Hz, but no harm trying 100 or even 120Hz.
3. See if there is a midnight mode or similar, though it may only work on certain sources.
4. Try to position the centre speaker so it isn't recessed in a cabinet or set back on the top shelf. Have the front edge slightly proud of any shelf if possible to reduce reflections which will muddy the sound. Also try to angle it towards your face/ears using some soft foam or similar to raise the front edge.
I have suffered the same effect as you in the past, but over the years of upgrading until I had fully matching LCR and have them in a decent position it's not something that happens these days.
If you don't want to spend money then you could try a few tweaks:
1. Raise the dB level of the centre speaker 1 or 2 dB.
2. Raise the crossover frequency for the whole LCR to reduce the load on these speakers. Default may be 80Hz, but no harm trying 100 or even 120Hz.
3. See if there is a midnight mode or similar, though it may only work on certain sources.
4. Try to position the centre speaker so it isn't recessed in a cabinet or set back on the top shelf. Have the front edge slightly proud of any shelf if possible to reduce reflections which will muddy the sound. Also try to angle it towards your face/ears using some soft foam or similar to raise the front edge.
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