Buying advice needed for 800 series setup

[Rod#S]

I have completed my test of the phantom center and it was quite interesting. It definitely does the job but I always seem to have the feeling that something is missing. Maybe it's because I have had a 5.1 and then a 7.1 system for literally 10 years so not having the voices planted in the center is indeed noticeable to me. I find the phantom center inconsistent. I'm not sure if it's my surround sound processor or not but there are times when I literally could not notice there was no real center but then that would break down throughout a movie and it would become obvious the center channel info was coming from the mains. I also noticed that if the mains were being sent a lot of sound then voices would at times become hard to hear basically being overpowered by all the other sounds which is something I never experienced with a dedicated center channel. I also noticed that at times I preferred to sit off center to have the voices always come directly at me and not spread across the 2 fronts because if the phantom center affect broke down as it seemed to do by times it wouldn't be too noticeable.

I imagine if I was just getting into the home theater market and decided to not go with a center then everything would be just fine but having lived with a dedicated system for so many years I don't think I would be satisifed with the experience. So that brings me back to the decision on the center and which to get, the 802Di or the HTM2Di. I may also try moving my center off to the side a bit and give that a test for a week to try and mimic the placement I would be forced to go with should I choose the 802Di over the HTM2Di.

[emig5m]

I have completed my test of the phantom center and it was quite interesting. It definitely does the job but I always seem to have the feeling that something is missing. Maybe it's because I have had a 5.1 and then a 7.1 system for literally 10 years so not having the voices planted in the center is indeed noticeable to me. I find the phantom center inconsistent. I'm not sure if it's my surround sound processor or not but there are times when I literally could not notice there was no real center but then that would break down throughout a movie and it would become obvious the center channel info was coming from the mains. I also noticed that if the mains were being sent a lot of sound then voices would at times become hard to hear basically being overpowered by all the other sounds which is something I never experienced with a dedicated center channel. I also noticed that at times I preferred to sit off center to have the voices always come directly at me and not spread across the 2 fronts because if the phantom center affect broke down as it seemed to do by times it wouldn't be too noticeable.

I imagine if I was just getting into the home theater market and decided to not go with a center then everything would be just fine but having lived with a dedicated system for so many years I don't think I would be satisifed with the experience. So that brings me back to the decision on the center and which to get, the 802Di or the HTM2Di. I may also try moving my center off to the side a bit and give that a test for a week to try and mimic the placement I would be forced to go with should I choose the 802Di over the HTM2Di.

Ha! My same exact thoughts! When I always hear about people suggesting on trying a phantom center I thought I would try it out every now and then and I can say it definitely sounds downgraded than having a real center. Is it the quality of the processor and how good it can re-encode the center channel surround info into the front mains without degrading the sound quality? I don't know, but I have yet to own a processor that can do it where it didn't seem like degraded sound over just using a real center channel/speaker (but I have yet to try it with my latest processor - I'm struggling over calibrating my new display currently, heh). I'd rather use a HTM61 with my 804S than the 804S with a phantom center! :E I'm also a person that can't stand any simulated surround effects or expanding 2-channel into surround (be it those "music" surround modes or anything).

I personally would go with the HTM2Di. That will give you a real (quality) center and also be more flexible with integration than a 802Di. Heck, these large B&W centers can be a pain to integrate in with the rest of your gear/furniture to begin with. :T