I have had a surround sound system for years. It grows and changes, it is at 7.1 right now. My center channel has been a very competent Mirage MC-2 center channel speaker that I have been so happy with, I built it right into the space in my home entertainment center just below the TV.
My old Apogee Stage ribbon front left and right speakers are being replaced by either the Triton 2s or 3s. (whichever Tritons I don't use there will be the lead singers in a second sound system) This should tell you how wonderful I feel the Tritons are, to retire and finally replace Apogee speakers after all these years I have loved them.
Would my surround sound be really improved by changing the center speaker to a GoldenEar SuperCenter X? Does the center channel really need to match the left and right fronts? Will I be able to hear the voicing match?
I will need to place any new center in the space the other one was in which is only wide enough for the X--(only 24"). With the SuperCenters having an upward radiator, will the fact that the space it must sit in is only 8 3/4" high cause a problem for the sound from the passive? Will it sound good? Better than what I have?
I have never auditioned a SuperCenter, but really love the sound of the Aons. Can anybody compare them?
Any ideas/comments?
Thanks, God Bless, Wayne

Brother Wayne:

This is something I read, thought I'd pass it along...very interesting.

The only way to determine for yourself if you have an audibly mismatched system is to actually substitute the mismatched speakers in your system with exact matched speakers & hear the improvement for yourself. One must be sure that they have all 5(7) speakers at the exact same gain level in the speaker setup tone rotation. This requires a Radio Shack meter or comparable. Only then will you have a legitimate comparison.

Imagine having 5 (7) trumpets playing the exact same tone (presuming all the musicians are pitch perfect), three in front of the room & 2(4) behind you. However, the trumpet in the center of the room is a different brand & model, the 2(4) rear ones are again a different trumpet & only the left and right are the exact same trumpet. As you know even though the fundamental tone is exactly the same the three different trumpets played individually will sound slightly different due to their overtone differences which give each trumpet a slightly different characteristic sound. The 5 trumpets sound very nice playing together the same tone but it is not perfectly pure & smooth. Now replace the center & 2(4) rear trumpets with the exact same trumpet as the left and right. You will now hear an improvement as the 5(7) trumpets will sound like a single trumpet with a pure sound all around you.

The same effect of voice/timbre matching is quite obvious when using the speaker setup rotational tones. Note how with mismatched center & surround speakers that the sound character is many times very different as you rotate thru the 5(7) speakers. In a matched system you will hear slight differences due to the location of the center & surrounds but no fundamental characteristic sound differences.

Personally I can hear a difference especially in surrounds with mismatched rears. Same with a mismatched center. The HVFR tweeter is a different beast.

Anthem has it right here, a non-matching center will be disappointing. Surrounds/rears less of an issue, but having all those matched ribbons singing together creates a very magical surround presentation.

Regarding the SuperCenter X, it sounds virtually identical to the Aon 2, and that's plenty of space above for the passives.

Well Brother Wayne...looks like you'll be needing a new center channel speaker.
It's all good..I'm starting a "Wayne needs a new Goldenear Supercenter X" fund.
I'll be the first contributor.

Thanks guys, Bro Anthem, keep collecting more bills.
Busy now, tied up, will write more in response when I get these handcuffs off.
Thanks for the comments, any more any one?????
God Bless, Wayne