Most important Speaker in a 5.1 setup

[sub780lime]

So what do you think the most important speaker in a 5.1 setup is. There are 4 options.

Fronts
Center
Rears
Subwoofer

Please participate in the survey and also post a brief description why you chose what you did.

[firestorm]

If you have a center, I definately believe that would be the most important overall; particularly vocals/dialogue. I do think you can get pretty good, if not excellent, results with a "phantom center", if you have good front mains. However, nothing brings more "wow" to the table than a capable subwoofer. Of course, a nice balance between all speakers should be the goal.

[plissken99]

Center, for without it, all movies would be silent movies 90% of the time.

[sub780lime]

I realized i didn't vote.

I also agree with the center as being most important. Not having a good center can real screw you over dialogue wise...especially if your fronts over power your center.

[timmydawg]

For me the sub has been the most important addition as far as the audio in my HT. Started a couple years ago at 2.0, added a center and then the rear speakers. Last year I added the sub and that is the only improvement that my family/friends have commented on.

[Iguana Man]

There are many variables to consider here, so choosing is a bit difficult for me.

On one hand, I say the fronts. A capable pair of fronts could offset a less than capable sub. Plus, if you listen to music, you wants capable fronts.

The argument for the center being most important, I dunno since you can always jack the db's up for the center via the avr but I say this assuming the center 'matches' well with the mains.

A really good sub on the other hand can make up for less than capable fronts if the sub has a wide high/low range. It can also take alot of the stress of the mains (if set to small) and allow the mains to perform better with less distortion. Ok, that sounds a bit extreme, but if you like it loud, it can help.

From personal experience, even with fairly decent fronts which I feel I have, a really good sub can still make a world of difference. So.....I guess I'll say the sub as most important since that upgrade for movies gave me the biggest gain in the WOW! dept..

[ganthc]

Well, I am assuming this doesn't mean you will do without the other speakers, but if you were to choose the most badass speakers to use for the designated area, then I would choose fronts. I think they are used the most, and you will notice the difference more from better speakers up front.

[Pirate]

I think it depends on what kind films you prefer. If you're an action junkie, then the fronts and sub are probably most important. If you're into dialogue -heavy films, then I would definitely say the center channel.

I think overall, though, the center is the most important.

[SilentBob]

I'm with the rest of you guys when you say its the center channel. Everything really starts from there and is setup by it as well. Sure the other speakers are great but the central focus will always be on the dialog and a good what 95% happens with the center channel.


My 2nd choice would be my subwoofer. Its what really makes the action movies and music come alive.

[Ruined]

I'll go with fronts. Center can always be downmixed to fronts and fronts provide the majority of the soundstage for the movie. Its important that you get a decent center channel speaker but as a whole dialogue is generally not as demanding as the music or big sound effects that go through the mains. If you have a mediocre (but properly calibrated for equal volume/db output in relation to the mains) center channel it will be much less noticable than if you have a mediocre pair of main speakers. Similarly, if you have a killer pair of main speakers but only a decent center it will likely be much more impressive than if you had a killer center channel and but only a decent pair of main speakers.

Another way to think of it - if someone was only able to afford one "speaker", would you advise them to get - a monophonic center channel and have music/sfx downmixed into this center channel; or, a pair of stereo mains which dialogue can be downmixed into?

[zepplongfellow]

Most defiantly the sub. A sub like some have said can make up for less than stellar front.
The rears I like but you don't need the best speakers for that because obviously it has the least amount of information. The Center to me is just there. I have never had a problem with not hearing dialogue and i have never said OMG that is a awesome speaker system.
Also dialogue driven movies I can watch and enjoy on just tv speakers. In contrast however watching a movie like say MR. And MRS. Smith there is the scene when they are in the basement when you can here the bomb robot dropped in the LFE channel. Now when I have watched this movie on TV the Frequency response of the speakers does no go low enough to hear it. That's just my two cents.

[BoSoxMole]

For a whole day, my center wasn't working for some reason. And the whole day sucked watching any TV.

That is why I think the center is the most important.

[sub780lime]

Originally Posted by BoSoxMole

For a whole day, my center wasn't working for some reason. And the whole day sucked watching any TV.

That is why I think the center is the most important.

I know what thats like. One of the connectors for my center came loose and you really notice what that center does with out it being there. Now the speaker wire is some what welded to the connector...so problem solved.