B&W Center speaker above T.V. screen or Below?

[chinets]

Just being curious here? :roll:
How many B&W owners or HT/ Multichannel..SACD or DVD-A affecionados here would put there center speaker over there T.V. screen ,whether Plasma or normal T.V. ,or rather put it under their screen???
I personally find the Center speaker sound comming from above the T.V. to be more realistic. As if you are looking up to the stage ,especially in DVD-Video concerts or when you listen to Multichannel. What are your opinions out there?? :W
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all and your dear families!!
Cheers and thanks In advance. ;x(

[Blindamood]

In a perfect situation, I would like my center below the screen, more in line vertically with my L/R speakers. Unfortunately, I still have the larger type (i.e., floorstanding) rptv, so the speaker sits conveniently on top, with the help of a thick piece of glass to prevent sagging. Not a bad thing, but not ideal, I believe.

[Karma]

HI chinets,

Good to talk to you again.

I have my HTM4 mounted over the top of my 42" plasma. I tried both under and over and decided that I didn't hear enough difference to worry about.

I have the L/R 805S's toed in and the center speaker angled (toe down?? ) such that the tweeter axis from all front speakers intersect at the listening (watching) position. I don't hear any image disconnect between the HTM4, the 805s's and the TV like I thought I would. Works for me in my listening room.

Sparky

[beehive]

Just being curious here? :roll:
How many B&W owners or HT/ Multichannel..SACD or DVD-A affecionados here would put there center speaker over there T.V. screen ,whether Plasma or normal T.V. ,or rather put it under their screen???
I personally find the Center speaker sound comming from above the T.V. to be more realistic. As if you are looking up to the stage ,especially in DVD-Video concerts or when you listen to Multichannel. What are your opinions out there?? :W
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all and your dear families!!
Cheers and thanks In advance. ;x(

I agree with you chinets... MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL B&W OWNERS!!!

[ZX10 Guy]

Mine is below my plasma but in almost perfect alignment with my N804 mains. So maybe my response doesn't apply as I have probably as perfect as using a center can be placement than most people out there using centers. This was key as I can hear when a center is placed above or below enough from the mid/tweeter plane of the main speakers to drive me nuts with the resultant effects. I noticed myself constantly focusing on how odd the soundstage sounds and spending a lot of time staring at the center channel. I don't have that problem with my setup whether it be listening to music or watching movies.

[ShadowZA]

My HTM2D (centre) rests on a rack-stand below the wall-mounted plasma. The HTM2D tweeter is 9cm (3,5") below the horizontal 803D (fronts) tweeter alignment. Probably not perfect, but I'm ok with this.

[Ted]

I'm curious, are there any ways to mount a B & W center channel to the wall, say like a HTM7? I've got a LCD with a narrow top, so it can't sit there, my TV stand doesn't have tall enough shelves for it to sit on. I have a '05-'06 Rotel catalog that shows an 800 series center mounted to the wall above a TV, but I wasn't sure if this could really be done or not.
I love my B & W 2 channel system so much, I may have to trade my Klipsch ops: HT system out for B & W, but I don't know what to do with the center.

I could go with 704s with the CM center, but would rather stay in the 700 series if I could.
Thanks!
Ted

[dknightd]

I voted no comment, because I think it depends on the rest of your setup.
Is the center of your screen at eye level? Where is the tweater of the L&R with respect to screen center? I like to keep lrc as aligned as close as possible, and as close to center screen as possible.

All things being equal I'd prefer to have it above (at least that is what I do).

Those big B&W centers are big and heavy though. If I had one of them I might have to mount it below screen.

I wonder has anybody tried a center both above and below? Does than result in a nice phatom image in the middle of the screen, or, a comb filtered horrible mess?

[dknightd]

I'm curious, are there any ways to mount a B & W center channel to the wall, say like a HTM7?

Of course. You can mount it any where you want. Sturdy shelf brackets firmly attached to the wall work fine. If you are in a typical USA stud house, attach the brakets to studs (or a board mounted between studs), otherwise just make sure the brackets are well mounted. No need for an actual shelf - just rest, or attach, the speaker to the brakets. If you can't do it yourself a competant handyman could probably do it for <2 hours of labour, plus parts. If he/she has to do both (select and install) then allow for more hours of labour. If he/she has to start with plans, then build it, then make it look pretty, allow even more labor hours.

[Ted]

Of course. You can mount it any where you want. Sturdy shelf brackets firmly attached to the wall work fine. If you are in a typical USA stud house, attach the brakets to studs (or a board mounted between studs), otherwise just make sure the brackets are well mounted. No need for an actual shelf - just rest, or attach, the speaker to the brakets. If you can't do it yourself a competant handyman could probably do it for <2 hours of labour, plus parts. If he/she has to do both (select and install) then allow for more hours of labour. If he/she has to start with plans, then build it, then make it look pretty, allow even more labor hours.

Thanks, that doesn't sound too bad. I didn't think of this before, would having it that close to the wall be a problem for the sound. Given that a HTM7 is over 11 inches deep, that's a pretty deep shelf (or even just the brackets), so I imagine the center would need to be basically right against the wall. It is ported on the front, so I figure that should help, right?

Thanks again!
Ted

[dknightd]

You can put the speaker as far away from the wall as you want - as long as your wall mount brackets are strong enough - which should not be a problem in a typical home.
Buy, or have built, good strong brackets. Oversize them so you can mount the bracket upside down (to hide the part that attaches to the wall)

Just attach 1x3 oak (or strong hardwood of your choice) to the shelf brackets. Put your speaker up there. Or use a cheap 2x4 for testing then get pretty looking wood or metal at the length and strength you need. Chose the distance you like. Then trim the shelf brackets to fit your needs. Make them look pretty, or, more solid, or both as you see fit.

edit: you can always suspend it, or part of it, from your ceiling if it needs more support (not likely)

[Ted]

dknightd,

Thanks, I appreciate the help, HMMM B & W.... :W

Ted

[yourtoys7]

I said above, as my eyes hit the center of the screen. If that would be projector or plasma on the wall, bellow for shure.

[B&W 700 Guy]

Below

[Race Car Driver]

I think it depends on the setup, but I guess with a TV, below is more the common and proper way. Its not always an option too, and thats understandable.

I have my HTM1 so the tweet is about an inch below the TV, and as mentioned the best option would be to have the mid/tweet at the same hight as the front L&R.

But I would rather have the TV at eye level than the center. I prefer not to get a sore neck as I relax and watch a movie