I'm just starting to set up my basement theater room in a new house that I moved in to, and I currently have the following speakers that I took from my old house (combining two previous room setups to make a single atmos setup):
- 4 Invisa MPX for Front/Rear Left/Right
- 4 Invisa HTR7000s for Front/Rear Left/Right Heights
- SuperCenter XL
- SVS PB-2000

I'm going to upgrade the fronts to the Invisa SPS, and I'm wondering what the best center is to match with it. I'm going to buy a SuperCenter XL for my family room upstairs, but I'm wondering if I should move the XL I already have up there, and order a SuperCenter Reference for the basement instead. What do you recommend is best for the SPS? Or should I order a third SPS and use that as the center like some of the reviews I've seen? It would be more work for me to cut the stud, but also easy because there is an open utility room behind it. Trying to decide what is best to order this week!

Hi

Good question. My take only:

Haven't heard the SPS's, but the drivers are very similar to the ones in the SuperCenter Reference, and the SuperCenter also has 3 passive radiators to help with the bass.

I have the Supercenter Reference and it is an amazing speaker, with bass heft and clarity that is first class. Unless you would prefer an in wall for aesthetic or other reasons, it seems the SuperCenter would be a tad easier to install, match perfectly with your front SPS's and give you at least equivalent performance to a center channel SPS.

Whether you opt for the SuperCenter Ref for center channel or an SPS, I think you'l be amazed at the uptick in center channel sound and would be very happy with the decision to move the present SuperCenter XL upstairs to the family room.

Just my opinion.

Good luck and happy listening!

Rick

bsotak wrote: I'm just starting to set up my basement theater room in a new house that I moved in to, and I currently have the following speakers that I took from my old house (combining two previous room setups to make a single atmos setup):
- 4 Invisa MPX for Front/Rear Left/Right
- 4 Invisa HTR7000s for Front/Rear Left/Right Heights
- SuperCenter XL
- SVS PB-2000

I'm going to upgrade the fronts to the Invisa SPS, and I'm wondering what the best center is to match with it. I'm going to buy a SuperCenter XL for my family room upstairs, but I'm wondering if I should move the XL I already have up there, and order a SuperCenter Reference for the basement instead. What do you recommend is best for the SPS? Or should I order a third SPS and use that as the center like some of the reviews I've seen? It would be more work for me to cut the stud, but also easy because there is an open utility room behind it. Trying to decide what is best to order this week!

Having the same model for center as your left/right mains is best, but more work as you noted. If you do use one and mount it horizontally, you can remove the tweeter and rotate it 90 degrees so the logo on it is right side up.

Alternate choice would be a SuperCenter Reference to go with the L/R SPS.

To save $$, using a SuperCenter XL will perform very well, but not at the level of the two choices above.

Moderator wrote:

bsotak wrote: I'm just starting to set up my basement theater room in a new house that I moved in to, and I currently have the following speakers that I took from my old house (combining two previous room setups to make a single atmos setup):
- 4 Invisa MPX for Front/Rear Left/Right
- 4 Invisa HTR7000s for Front/Rear Left/Right Heights
- SuperCenter XL
- SVS PB-2000

I'm going to upgrade the fronts to the Invisa SPS, and I'm wondering what the best center is to match with it. I'm going to buy a SuperCenter XL for my family room upstairs, but I'm wondering if I should move the XL I already have up there, and order a SuperCenter Reference for the basement instead. What do you recommend is best for the SPS? Or should I order a third SPS and use that as the center like some of the reviews I've seen? It would be more work for me to cut the stud, but also easy because there is an open utility room behind it. Trying to decide what is best to order this week!

Having the same model for center as your left/right mains is best, but more work as you noted. If you do use one and mount it horizontally, you can remove the tweeter and rotate it 90 degrees so the logo on it is right side up.

Alternate choice would be a SuperCenter Reference to go with the L/R SPS.

To save $$, using a SuperCenter XL will perform very well, but not at the level of the two choices above.

Thanks for the feedback. So it sounds like you think another SPS for the center would be better than the SuperCenter Reference, mainly because they will all be perfectly matched (and also save some money). I need to look at exactly how much work it would be for me to do that, and whether that's worth the effort versus getting the Reference. But I think I've convinced myself either the SPS or Reference, and foregoing another XL and just moving that upstairs. I know there is a metal brace somewhere on the wall that I need to make sure isn't right where I would have to cut out the center and brace around it.

As for cutting out, would I just need to cut the stud, put in a header/footer to support around the 1' or so I need to remove?

"Thanks for the feedback. So it sounds like you think another SPS for the center would be better than the SuperCenter Reference, mainly because they will all be perfectly matched (and also save some money). I need to look at exactly how much work it would be for me to do that, and whether that's worth the effort versus getting the Reference. But I think I've convinced myself either the SPS or Reference, and foregoing another XL and just moving that upstairs. I know there is a metal brace somewhere on the wall that I need to make sure isn't right where I would have to cut out the center and brace around it.

As for cutting out, would I just need to cut the stud, put in a header/footer to support around the 1' or so I need to remove?"

Based on the work you'll need to do to fit the SPS for center, the SuperCenter Reference seems the simplest - and excellent - choice. If you do go with the SPS, leave 1" or more of room around the cutout on the backside for the dogs to catch and fasten the speaker correctly to the drywall.

Ended up ordering the SuperCenter Reference instead of the SPS for the center channel. Once it all comes in I will let you know how it sounds! Even though I had an open utility room behind, it was going to be a lot of work. I had electrical lines that were in the way, really tight up to a metal beam for house support (not sure enough clearance), as well as cable and phone lines that went right through that area. Did the easy way out!

A couple more questions on the height channels and distances. I was looking at the Dolby Atmos setup and it recommends putting the height speakers in line with the fronts, at an angle of 30-55/125-150 (front/rear) from the main seating location -- with 45/135 being optimal. In my basement I have 8' ceilings, so I'll be right at the minimum distance for heights. The rear MPXs will be wider than the fronts, and at ear level (just like the fronts). My wife would rather have the couch closer to the rear wall than the middle of the 14' room, so with the couch at 2' from the back wall the rear heights would be smaller, at 117 degrees.

• - After reading some more, is the angle I'm looking at the angle "viewed from the side" from the main listener (assuming 48" high) to the speaker, or the direct angle from the person to the speaker? That angle is different since the distance from the person to the speaker is farther
• - Is having this smaller angle ok (117 vs 125 minimum), or should I try for more?
• - And if I do the rear heights at that angle, do I do the front heights at the same angle? Or should I push them to the optimal 45 degrees?
• - And finally, since the HTR7000s are more directional, do I need to take that into consideration for any of these angles?

Please let me know before I start cutting drywall!