Wireing a Center Speaker to the Pre Out jacks

[wolfingr]

Good Morning, so I have 4 self powered speakers (Mackies HR842's) and a Self Powered sub all wireing into my Denon 3300's Pre Out jacks. The setup now is 2 speakers attached to "Surround", 2 speakers attached to "Front", the Sub attached to the Sub jack, and one free jack above the Sub labeled "Center". Page 7 of http://www.hifi-pictures.net/amplifiers-home/Denon%20AVR-3300/Denon%20AVR3300.pdf (the (reciever's manual) demonstrates what the Pre Out jacks look like.
 
Now for the question...
 
Can I attach a Center Speaker to this setup WITHOUT buying an amp, or is the only way to play an additional speaker is if it's self-powered?
 
Thanks!
 
P.S. If you have any suggestions for center speakers with the set up feel free to share, I'm pretty new at this.

 

[wolfingr]

Actually page 13 of the manual shows what I'm talking about more clearly,
 
[size=xx-small]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/size]
[size=xx-small]*SUB -  [/size]Connected to the "Sub" Pre Out
 
 
[size=xx-small][size=xx-small]*FRONT SPEAKER - [/size][/size]2 Speakers Connected to the the 2 "Front Speaker" Pre Out's
 
 
[size=xx-small][size=xx-small]*CENTER SPEAKER - ([/size][/size][size=xx-small][size=xx-small]Potentially) Connected the way it is shown in the diagram, to speaker terminals.[/size][/size]
 
 
[size=xx-small][size=xx-small]*SURROUND SPEAKER SYSTEMS -[/size][/size] 2 Speakers connected to the 2 "Surround" Pre Out's
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Would this set up work? or would the Center have to go through the pre out?
 
Thank in advance.

 

[cel4145]

I would imagine you probably could. But the question you should ask is should you?

For an optimal front soundstage, it's important that the front three speakers timbre match. This generally means (a) using three of the same exact speaker or (b) using the matching center designed by the speaker manufacturer to go with the left and right. Sometimes it's possible that a center from a different speaker series by the same manufacturer will be an OK match (not always), but it's almost impossible to timbre match otherwise (you'd have to try the center with your speakers to see, and the odds are very much against it). Many people find that a poorly matched center is no better or much worse than no center at all.

If you have a center already to try, might as well see what you think. Otherwise, I would not invest money in a center that is not made to match with the left and right.

 

[diversehifi]

The manual is a bit confusing with it's wording
 
"Use these jacks if you wish to connect external power amplifier(s) to
increase the power of the front, center and surround sound channels, or for
connection to powered loudspeakers."
 
but you can connect a regular (non-powered) center speaker to the center speaker terminals.  After connecting it, adjust the receiver's setup, enable the center speaker and set it up according to it's size, distance, etc.   No need to buy another powered speaker.   

 

[wolfingr]

Thanks for the info guys, and is it true what I've been reading that it's not worth to buy a center speaker unless it matches my other fronts? There seems to be a lot of arguing both ways on this topic and I can't find a center speaker to match the Mackie HR834's

 

[diversehifi]

The Mackie HR842 is a studio monitor designed for flat frequency response.  Most good quality speakers out there, powered or non-powered, should also offer relatively flat frequency response, so any good quality center speaker should match up well with your Mackies.  I don't subscribe to this "timbre matching" business, since all that means is the speaker's sound is colored (ie. doesn't have a flat frequency response).  

 

[wolfingr]

For example would something like http://www.ebay.com/itm/M-K-CENTER-CHANNEL-SPEAKER-H561-/190868001357?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item2c709e924d work or is it impossible to tell, as Cel said, without first testing it?

 

[cel4145]

For example would something like http://www.ebay.com/itm/M-K-CENTER-CHANNEL-SPEAKER-H561-/190868001357?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item2c709e924d work or is it impossible to tell, as Cel said, without first testing it?

Don't take my word for it. Go ask on home audio enthuiasts forums like AVS forum, blu-ray.com forum, or AVForums, instead of relying on the dissenting opinion on a headphone forum from a new member that has only posted in your thread. There are tons of discussions about the importance of center channel matching. The VERY, VERY LARGE consensus is that it is important. And you can't tell from speaker specs or measurements whether or not a speaker is a good match.

 

[diversehifi]

I might be new to the Head-fi forums, however I work for an a/v speaker company and I am also an avid audiophile.  I highly doubt that connecting a mid-fi center channel speaker to a mid-fi receiver is going to yield such a highly resolving sound that the OP would be able to discern that his Mackie speakers aren't exactly matched in frequency response (aka timber matched) to the center speaker.  For guys running a $20,000+ HT system that might be a different story, but not with a receiver that sold for under $600.00

 

[cel4145]

I might be new to the Head-fi forums, however I work for an a/v speaker company and I am also an avid audiophile.

Then you know that you are very much in a small majority regarding the importance of center channel matching.

I highly doubt that connecting a mid-fi center channel speaker to a mid-fi receiver is going to yield such a highly resolving sound that the OP would be able to discern that his Mackie speakers aren't exactly matched in frequency response (aka timber matched) to the center speaker.  For guys running a $20,000+ HT system that might be a different story, but not with a receiver that sold for under $600.00

First you were saying that his Mackies have a fairly flat response and should be easy to match. Now you are saying his receiver amplifier isn't good enough to tell the difference? LOL

 

[diversehifi]

Quote:

The VERY, VERY LARGE consensus is that it is important. And you can't tell from speaker specs or measurements whether or not a speaker is a good match.

 
If you believe that "you can't tell from speaker specs or measurements whether or not a speaker is a good match."  then you really don't know what you are talking about.
 
+ You clearly aren't reading my posts very carefully, nor comprehending much of what I've said. 

 

[cel4145]

If you believe that "you can't tell from speaker specs or measurements whether or not a speaker is a good match."  
then you really don't know what you are talking about.

I was talking to the OP. Speaker manufacturer specs aren't going to tell him anything useful. But if he could learn to read waterfall plots and find them for his mackies and other speakers where they are tested under similar conditions. Yes. I suppose he could figure out if they are a match :rolleyes:

+ You clearly aren't reading my posts very carefully, nor comprehending much of what I've said. 

I understand perfectly what you are saying. I just don't agree with you.

 

[cel4145]

Oh, and I forgot to mention he should probably learn to read harmonic distortion graphs, too. :rolleyes: