People using 5.1 - Questions

**bobs987** · 01-18-2005, 09:42 AM

Whats going on Everyone? I recently decided I want to go with a 5.1 surround in my truck but could not find any posts on what people are doing for a center speaker. What is everyone using??
Thinking about using a home audio one and cutting it down to fit between the dash and windshield, or just building one. Any suggestions would be helpful

-Bobs

**lummox** · 01-18-2005, 12:09 PM

As far as i know that there is no real need unless watching DVDs and even then all the sound that goes to the centre goes to the front r/l.

One option if u really want a centre would to be use a small tweeter with an x-over

**antimatter** · 01-18-2005, 12:22 PM

No No No,

Just get a regular speaker and mount it behind you dash and put the gain up a little on the center channel to compensate. Works like a charm.

I mounted my center channel under my shift boot. Works perfectly

**BassBinDevil** · 01-18-2005, 08:35 PM

Ideally it should be identical to the L and R speakers. Or just configure the surround processor/software for "phantom center" so that the center channel sound just gets split between L and R.

**WhiteRabbit** · 01-18-2005, 10:43 PM

well, talking pure HT theory, the center channel is used for primarily voice. Thus, you are talking about a range between 350 and 6000 Hz. a small tweeter wouldnt be able to produce this range any more than a 5" speaker, but you still have other options to perform in this range in the most ideal sense.

again, I will repeat this is an ideal situation and by no means most or least practical.

you can find an aura 2" speaker on madisound that was more or less designed for this duty with a titanium cone for around the order of $20 a pop. if its an 8 ohm driver, you can get a pair. if its 4 ohm (I really dont remember) then one may do. It may be called the "whisperer" though that may be the 1 or 3 inch version.

check it out at www.madisound.com.

**ChaCha** · 01-19-2005, 01:46 AM

Hi. I'm also planning a 5.1 set up. I purchased the Clarion SRK5 center channel speaker and 50 watt amplifier. I choose this one mainly because I liked the design (in-dash mounting). Some other features include:

- 1/2 din size
- 25W RMS, 50W peak
- 5 full range front drivers
- 2 low frequency rear drivers
- 4 ohm impedance
- RCA line level input
- Variable input sensitivity

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-N0UPQ7x...2900&I=020SRK5

Mounting a speaker under my dash wouldn't work and this seems like a good solution. I should have my system hooked up in the next couple of weeks and I'll let you know how it sounds.

**Squid** · 01-19-2005, 02:23 AM

You can get that Clarion center channel brand new off ebay for $79 bucks...
I sure hope you didn't pay $160!!

That is a really nice solution tho... if you have the room for it....

Mine I made custom from a cellphone hands-free car kit speaker and a tweeter combined.

One thing I realized is the speaker needs to be in an enclosure or the voices are weak...
no matter how high I turned the gain up.... as soon as I put in box, sounded great.

We talked about it in my Install Thread and you can see every detail at the link in my signature...

5.1 in a vehicle is awesome when done right... I highly suggest you go for it if you got the means!

**bobs987** · 01-19-2005, 08:58 AM

Thanks for the posts everyone, i think im going to go with bass on this, the phantom center sounds like it would be the best option for now. I'll let you all know how it turns out. right now im working on the mb enclosure I'll post some pics when done.

**nsmoller** · 02-06-2005, 12:13 AM

i have a 4runner w/ a center channel installed OEM, i will let you know how my 5.1 venture turns out

**turbocad6** · 02-13-2005, 06:12 PM

true surround sounds alot easier than it is in a vehicle, especially if you are an "audiophile" and are planning on listening for correctness.

First of all, the center channel must be a "tonal" match for your front l&r speakers, & should be every bit as powerful, & should cover the FULL audio spectrum, a voice, while maybe originating above 350 htz, DOES have reverbs that will extend way below that. if the voice changes as it moves from one extreme side through the center & over to the other, your surround is crap. don't belive that a center channel only plays voice & the center channel alone plays all voices, it just ain't so! a voice that is supposed to be coming from the left side will be playing out of you left speaker, not the center. while most dialogue is centered, there is also a lot of dialogue that originates either left or right.

to have great surround in a vehicle you should use 5 sets of components that are all the same, not to practical, check out alpines showcar to see an install like this, but unless you plan on rebuilding your dash to accomidate this it isn't to practical, especially if you like high spl & power, your center will never match your sides......

in a average vehicle phantom center will give much better results than an inadiquate punny attempt at a center channel, sure the punny center will add "presence" & "ambiance" that wasn't there before it, but it will also ruin imaging & tonal accuracy, can be pretty annoying actually...........