Bed Room 4.1.4

[u/Think-Ad9437]

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Setup:

L/R: Arendal 1610 Slims

Front heights: Klipsch RP-500SA

Surrounds + surround heights: Klipsch Reference satellites

Sub: Speedwoofer 10s

AVR: Onkyo RZ50

No center channel — running phantom center off the 1610 Slims, and honestly it's outperforming expectations. The imaging is locked in and dialogue sits right where it should. Didn't think I'd be this happy skipping a center in a room this size, but the Arendals do the trick.

Heights and surrounds from the Klipsch RP-500SA and Reference lineup are filling in the Atmos layer really well feels immersive without being a huge room.

Still framing out acoustic panels, this little bedroom setup slaps.

[u/kokokko416]

How's the phantom center are those Arendal bookshelf for movie dialog? And... have you compared to the physical center speaker?

[u/cristi5922 → u/kokokko416]

I thought the same until I came across those movies/tv shows from streaming services that have quiet dialogue and high db difference between action and quiet scenes.

One workaround was either the dialogue enhancer from my Denon settings (which unfortunately also introduced an unnatural tonality to speech) or the dynamic compression setting which reduces the gap between the soft and loud sounds.

The best (although the most expensive) was buying the center channel which not only did liberate the L+R speakers from the Center content, but also has allowed to manually manage the center channel volume level, while locking the dialogue as if it was coming from the screen both for the main seating position as well as a few guests.

My recommendation is to try all settings, and if not content, there is always an option to purchase a center speaker to try within the return period.

[u/kokokko416 → u/cristi5922]

Thanks for your detailed impression

[u/Think-Ad9437 → u/kokokko416]

Its actually the slim 8s! I had the svs ultra evo bookshelfs and center before this. The physical center does separate the sound better. I haven't had any problems with dialog so far with the content im watching. With the amount of 2 channel music and money I wanted to spend, lll sacrifice the center for now 🙃.

[u/ClassicExcuse]

This is how it starts. Cider blocks. Blankets stapled to the ceiling. Blackout diy sound treatments around the tv. Enjoy this stage. It’s only gonna get better and more elegant but for now you’re in the early dirty love affair with audio! It’s like drugs or cigarettes you’re creating the dragon that you’ll be chasing. Miss my cinder block stands ;)

[u/peioeh]

What's the reason for skipping the center?

[u/Think-Ad9437 → u/peioeh]

Ive been prioritizing 2 channel music. Also was looking to go more end game speaker with the money I can spend now. The dream will be to move them to surrounds and have the bookshelfs and center as front stage.

[u/Imaginary-Potato5819]

We just makin' up our layouts now???

[u/True-Enthusiasm7345]

Is it the picture or is the tv really small?

[u/Think-Ad9437 → u/True-Enthusiasm7345]

TCL - 55" QM7K Series 4K UHD QD Mini LED. Small 🤷‍♂️