Center channel placement

[Kurt C.]

Hi All,

The other day I picked up a used 170 center to replace my Athena AS-C1 center. Although dialog is much clearer with the 170c than with the Athena AS-C1 (which has an MTM layout) as center channel , the actor's voice is more easily localized as coming from above the screen. Although dialog is muddier with the Athena, I have a harder time telling where the actor's voice is coming from. Do you think this is a two drivers versus one issue (which could be resolved by using a 340) or do I need to play around with the placement of my center speaker.

Also, has anyone ever seen sparks coming out of your speaker after turning the power off? The other night after watching a DVD, I turned off all power to the system via my receiver's master power switch. I sat there in the dark for a few seconds and was 'shocked' to see/hear a series of three or four big sparks coming from the woofer of my 170. Could this have been dissipation of static or the charge from a capacitor somewhere in the system? The speaker sounds fine, so I'm not sure if it is something I should be worried about?

Thanks, Kurt Cannon