Re: Would a center make a big difference in a 2.1 system? Currently own the Sierra-2E
Originally Posted by
adamk77
I currently own a pair of Sierra-2EX and a Rythmic subwoofer. Would adding a center to my current 2.1 setup make a major difference while watching movies?
Religious argument. Some say yes, some say no. It's really going to come down to how sensitive you are to how dialog is produced. What you should get from a center speaker is better understandability (crisp dialog), better sound stage, and you offload your L/R speakers of the dialog so they sound cleaner playing the music bed and effects. This last point is a lesser version of what happens to the L/R pair when you add a sub -- you off load the bottom end and the L/R suddenly become cleaner.
I was in the same boat you're in, but some years ago. I had a 2.0 system. It actually worked fine for movies and music. Then I added subs. Much better. Then, since I had the space for it, I added surrounds. Much better again. But I resisted a center because I didn't "need" one. Until I finally tried one. Then I was kicking myself for how long I'd gone without one. Then I upgraded my center from a Sierra-2 to the new Luna Duo center. Another step function upgrade.
If you decide to go with a center, you might want to give serious consideration to the Luna Duo. That thing punches *way above* its weight class. And it's tiny, which I found very helpful.
So I'm of the opinion that a purpose built center (a speaker designed to be a center, not a speaker designed to be a L/R and repurposed to be a center) is a very important part of a HT system.
"If it sounds good, it is good." -- Duke Ellington