Who has replaced their Onkyo center channel?

[Ragamuffin143]

Hi all, long-time reader; first post!

After reading some threads I'm exploring repalcing the center channel of my Onkyo HTS-760 6.1 set-up. How many people have actually done it?

The Infinity Primus C25 is $179 at Crutchfield, but the Infinity Alpha Center is really marked down to $129. What's really the difference between the two?

Is the Alpha Center specifically configured for the Alpha speaker line; will it not be as effective if I use it alone?

Thanks for the input!

[Dan Forsyth]

Ive heard infinitys are nice check out the speaker section

[Mr2Spyder]

If you upgrade the center channel I would recommend a large enough speaker so you can change the center channel setting on the receiver from small to large. I know the ininity primus has 5 1/4 drivers and can probably handle the lower frequency. I have a polk cs-150 center channel speaker that has the same size drivers as the Onkyo center (4inch) and it is not any clearer than the Onkyo.

[Blato]

I found that removing the center speaker from the wall and mounting it out about four inches improved the clarity of dialog during movies. I guess giving the port on the back side of the speaker cabinet some space allowed it to do its job.

[solderguy]

Originally posted by Blato
I found that removing the center speaker from the wall and mounting it out about four inches improved the clarity of dialog during movies. I guess giving the port on the back side of the speaker cabinet some space allowed it to do its job.
That reminds me, when I did the Onkyo to C25 upgrade, I added a sponge pad under the speaker so it wasn't directly on wood anymore. Maybe this helped some in addition to the speaker change.

[Ragamuffin143]

What do you mean "sponge pad"? One of those rubber strips you can place under carpets so it doesn't slide around on wood floors?

[solderguy]

Originally posted by Ragamuffin143
What do you mean "sponge pad"? One of those rubber strips you can place under carpets so it doesn't slide around on wood floors?
No, but that's a good idea too. I just used a 3/4 inch thick piece of blue sponge in the garage from somewhere. Someone posted that speakers on wood pick up extra vibrations.

[JohnR_IN_LA]

Theres also advantages to having the speaker solidly against another surface (like wood). Theoretically a sponge could rob energy by allowing the speaker baffle to move and absorb the energy normally directed to the cone.

In actuality, either way is probably ok, and differences are likely inaudible.

[Ragamuffin143]

Thanks for the tips; I just snagged an Infinity Alpha center channel from Crutchfield. I'm getting a pair of Primus 150s from soundsdirtcheap.com.

[millerwill]

I replaced the center speaker in my 770 system with the Infinity C25, and it made a remarkable improvement (in the clarity of the dialog). I was so impressed that I also replaced the L/R fronts with Infinity 160's and the surrounds with Infinity 150's! I admit I got carried away, but the sales on the Infinity Primus' were so good that it wasn't so much. The sound improved even more, but I admit that the greatest increment in improvement came when the center speaker alone was replaced (even my wife commented on how much the sound improved!)

[JohnR_IN_LA]

And its not so much that the Infinity stuff is good ( though they are), its the Onkyo speakers are so bad.

[MidLife]

JBL EC35

Sounds great.