I have finally sold my HTM7. I found myself listening to its boxiness, its inability to reproduce the clarity of the 703, instead of just enjoying a movie or the music. It had to go.
Now, without a center speaker, watching a movie is terrible. The sound is very inaccurate, the phantom image is not convincing at all, and it is just not possible to watch a movie from an off-center position. To think that I asked on this forum, 6 months ago, whether a center channel was really necessary, and although I was not convinced, I still bought the HTM7.
Before selling it, I made several comparisons betwee the HTM7 and the 703 in the center. At first, placing the 703 in front of the HTM7, listening to a stereo vocal source in DPLII music mode. With the 3 speakers at equal distance (the HTM7 is usually 2ft back), the sound was terribly echo-ey. I realised the speaker distance had to be adjusted...
I had no idea how important the distance (or delays) settings are for the speakers. Changing the settings for the center speaker forward or backward, the sound image ranged from "echo-ey" (center forwarded), to natural, to "amplified" (center backed).
With the 703 in the center (and 703 left and 704 right), the sound image could be made very natural, all 3 speakers blended. With the HTM7 in the middle (703 left and right), the sound never really blended. Tried with SACD, same results. I had to get rid of the HTM7!
For now, I play music in 4 channel mode, and I put back a small KEF for the center channel for movies (terribly boxy!). Music is OK, but I have to avoid those sacd that make good use of the center channel. Diana Krall and rQr (4channel classical) are OK.
My next options are to get a HTM3S or HTM1, since WAF on a 703 in the center is negative. If the one I eventually get (looking for used units at a good price) doesn't really match, I will have to change the L/R to match!
Damn B&W, why no center channel for the 703?
Now, without a center speaker, watching a movie is terrible. The sound is very inaccurate, the phantom image is not convincing at all, and it is just not possible to watch a movie from an off-center position. To think that I asked on this forum, 6 months ago, whether a center channel was really necessary, and although I was not convinced, I still bought the HTM7.
Before selling it, I made several comparisons betwee the HTM7 and the 703 in the center. At first, placing the 703 in front of the HTM7, listening to a stereo vocal source in DPLII music mode. With the 3 speakers at equal distance (the HTM7 is usually 2ft back), the sound was terribly echo-ey. I realised the speaker distance had to be adjusted...
I had no idea how important the distance (or delays) settings are for the speakers. Changing the settings for the center speaker forward or backward, the sound image ranged from "echo-ey" (center forwarded), to natural, to "amplified" (center backed).
With the 703 in the center (and 703 left and 704 right), the sound image could be made very natural, all 3 speakers blended. With the HTM7 in the middle (703 left and right), the sound never really blended. Tried with SACD, same results. I had to get rid of the HTM7!
For now, I play music in 4 channel mode, and I put back a small KEF for the center channel for movies (terribly boxy!). Music is OK, but I have to avoid those sacd that make good use of the center channel. Diana Krall and rQr (4channel classical) are OK.
My next options are to get a HTM3S or HTM1, since WAF on a 703 in the center is negative. If the one I eventually get (looking for used units at a good price) doesn't really match, I will have to change the L/R to match!
Damn B&W, why no center channel for the 703?
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