Centre Speakers Suck

[Macca]

They may use the same driver or what looks like the same driver (one of them could be modified but not visibly) but they are rarely fed the same signal by the crossover.

[RMutt]

My mis-understanding then. I thought it was possible to achieve the equivalent of larger cone sizes by using multiples of smaller ones. I assumed each driver received the same signal.

[Macca]

My mis-understanding then. I thought it was possible to achieve the equivalent of larger cone sizes by using multiples of smaller ones. I assumed each driver received the same signal.

They do if there are multiple bass drivers - so if a speaker has 3 identical drivers and a tweeter, the driver immediately below the tweeter will be run from say 3 kHz all the way down to the bottom of its range and the two drivers below that will handle 400Hz and down, fed the same signal in parallel, and as you say, attempting to mimic a larger bass driver. Pretty much all mass-market WAF towers use that formula.

[RMutt]

So if you use a tweeter and two mid/bass drivers fed the same signal, do you lose the multiple driver effect?

[walpurgis]

So if you use a tweeter and two mid/bass drivers fed the same signal, do you lose the multiple driver effect?

If by that you mean without crossover. The main drivers will sound different to the tweeters and the tweeters will die as soon as an appreciable signal goes through them. Large amplitude low range signals are a No No with tweeters. The crossover helps protect the tweeters (and mids if fitted).

[walpurgis]

My mis-understanding then. I thought it was possible to achieve the equivalent of larger cone sizes by using multiples of smaller ones. I assumed each driver received the same signal.

Multiples of smaller drivers can offer cone areas to match larger drivers. but the smaller drivers will still have their higher natural resonance and have different tonal characteristics. What part of the signal is used for each driver in a passive design will depend on the crossover.

[windhoek]

I've just returned to a surround setup and have decided on a 4.0 system to ensure good sonic cohesion across the front channels. Fwiw, I've got neighbours on three sides of my listening room, so don't want or need a sub.

I use it mostly with m/c DVD-A, SACD and Blu-ray audio discs (I'm not too fussed about films) and yet lots of people keep saying I absolutely need a centre speaker, well no thanks, my system rocks

[Macca]

I've just returned to a surround setup and have decided on a 4.0 system to ensure good sonic cohesion across the front channels. Fwiw, I've got neighbours on three sides of my listening room, so don't want or need a sub.

I use it mostly with m/c DVD-A, SACD and Blu-ray audio discs (I'm not too fussed about films) and yet lots of people keep saying I absolutely need a centre speaker, well no thanks, my system rocks

I'm guessing you use identical speakers on all four corners?

[windhoek]

I'm guessing you use identical speakers on all four corners?

Yes, ATC 7s front and rear although front audio is routed via my stereo amp's AV Bypass to make sure m/c music is more musical. It's not an expensive set up by a means, but I like it

[Macca]

If you run both the mid bass units all the way down you will get a different sound because you have two drivers outputting the same mid band signal whereas if you run them as described above i.e a 2 and a half way design only one driver will output midband signal. So having two drivers doing midband will change the whole presentation of the sound. Imaging in particular will be very different due to the change in the radiating pattern of the sound.