Best Center Channel Speaker
When it comes to our sound systems, full, surround sound is what we all crave. After all, how can you enjoy a film, your favorite album, or your games if the sound is sub-par? Perhaps you already have a surround sound system and are finding that something is missing?
Nine times out of ten, it’s a center channel speaker. These bad boys balance the left and right speakers perfectly to deliver a seamless sound across your entire setup. The natural sound ensures your movies, music, or game sounds are reproduced perfectly. What more could you want?
Finding the best center channel speaker can be challenging. There are so many on the market, and the last thing you want to do is purchase one that leaves you with distorted muffled sounds. The last thing you want is to bring your date back to Netflix and Chill and have them disappointed with your poor sound game.
Thankfully for you, you can avoid this horror in your near future! For we have the best center channel speakers on the market! We have even thrown in some handy tips that will help you make the best decision for yourself! What are you waiting for? Check out the speakers now!
Products at a Glance
How we picked
Here at PC Guide, we take our sounds seriously. We would never recommend anything that we wouldn’t use in our own homes so that you can trust the speakers mentioned today!
When it comes to center channel speakers, we have high expectations, and all those included today either met or surpassed them! We considered the sound quality, the connection points, cost, and their compatibility with other speakers. We also considered customer reviews, warranty periods, and customer support to ensure that your speaker is the perfect addition to your home!
Without further ado, let’s get into these fantastic products we have for you today!
Product Reviews
- It is reasonably priced - suitable for most budgets.
- Six drivers - provides a cinematic experience at home
- Compatible with a range of speakers - perfect for most existing systems
- Incredible sound quality - hear your movies like never before!
- Quite large and heavy
Reigning supreme today is Polk’s Audio Signature Series S35! Anyone knows that Polk is a household name for high-quality speakers, and their center channel speaker is no exception.
The center channel speaker features an ultra-slim design and speakers that deliver unbelievable sound! There are six 3-inch drivers and a one-inch tweeter dome to provide you with a cinematic experience without the extortionate ticket and popcorn price!
Polk’s speakers are versatile and perfect for every room! They are compatible with a range of other speakers both in and out of Polk’s range, so you are sure to find them a welcome addition to your system. The speaker is even powerful enough to be used alone if you want.
The speaker features a stunning design that will look good in any room! Teamed with rounded edges are perfect for acoustic guitars. Why not play your favorite unplugged album?
Customers loved the sound quality of the speakers, praising the timber of voices and music notes, your films will finally sound how they should! They also praised the durable construction and the appearance of the speaker. Customers found the speakers loud and capable of delivering clear sound at all volumes; what more could you want?
Some customers noted that the speaker was larger and heavier than they anticipated. Be sure to measure your area beforehand and check the dimensions to ensure you have room for this whopper of a speaker! While few customers reported the problem, it’s worth mentioning, especially if you intend to hang the heavy speaker.
After outstanding sound without breaking the bank? Why not grab Polk’s Audio Signature Series S35 today?
- Dual copper woofers - provide fantastic sound and clarity
- Durable MDF construction - ensures your speaker would stand the test of time
- Compact size - perfect for any size room
- Ultimate sound experience - hear dialogue you have previously missed!
- On the pricier side
Costing a little more than others on the list, Klipsch’s RP-250C center channel speaker is another outstanding choice, especially if you are after something stylish! There is also a removable grille allowing you to tailor your speaker to your style.
The speakers feature a stunning ebony color and copper speakers, sure to add style and grandeur to any room! Klipsch has added two 5.25 inch spun copper cerametallic cone woofers to deliver outstanding sound and precision. Perfect for movies or music!
The copper woofers work to reduce breakup and distortion while delivering outstanding sound in their lightweight construction. Thanks to the fantastic sound, you will hear the dialogue in movies that you have previously missed! We bet you’ll listen to some new notes in your favorite songs too!
It’s incredibly durable, too, thanks to the MDF cabinet and Brushed Polymer Veneer finish. The compact size makes it the ideal speaker for any size room and is sure to fill your living room with outstanding sound.
Customers praised the quality of the center channel speaker, noting that they noticed a dramatic difference even after a few uses. They praised its strong bass and volume, transforming their movie and music experiences!
If you’ve got a little extra cash, why not treat yourself to the Klipsch RP-250C Center Channel Speaker today?
- Precise sound - ensures your music and movies are heard perfectly
- 3-way speaker design - ensures all frequency ranges are achieved
- Compact - perfect for integrating into existing systems
- Sophisticated CST - reduces interference for clear audio
- On the pricier side
For those with a bigger budget, why not treat yourself to the Pioneer Elite SP-EC73? Featuring a 3-way speaker, you can expect a range of frequencies to be covered well at fantastic volumes!
The speaker works to reduce interference from midrange and tweeters and controls sound directivity at all frequencies thanks to its sophisticated CST (Coherent Sound Transducer).
In layman’s terms? You can expect sound that reflects around the room well and is precise! Is it immersive sound that you crave? Pioneer’s center channel speaker is the answer!
The speaker is small and elegant and is sure to fit in well with any existing speakers you have! There is an additional five ¼ inch passive radiator, too, with the speaker that enhances your bass! You can expect deep voices and sound effects, perfect for those systems that don’t have a subwoofer.
Customers loved the speaker praising its outstanding quality when watching movies. They enjoyed the range the speaker delivered and found there was little distortion, even at high volumes!
Some customers did note that they found the quality a little lower when playing music instead of movies at loud volumes. Few customers reported the problem, so you are unlikely to experience it yourself. But to be safe, we would recommend this speaker for general living room movie use rather than solely listening to music.
While they are more expensive than other speakers included today, the high-quality sound and little distortion make the Pioneer Elite SP-EC73 center channel speaker a fantastic option!
- Affordable - suitable for all budgets
- Two woofers and tweeter - ensures your audio is accurate and loud
- Deep bass impact - perfect for music and movies!
- Perfect for larger rooms - the sound will fill the room for an immersive experience
- Bigger than expected
That’s right; we have another fantastic offering from Polk! Their Audio CS1 Series !! is perfect for adding high frequencies and accuracy to your sound system.
The speaker features two five ¼ inch woofers and a 1-inch tweeter to ensure you receive high detailed frequency responses and accurate audio reproduction without any distortion. It sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?
Polk’s speaker offers more power in the center to deliver a fantastic and realistic sound! There’s a port on the rear of the speaker, allowing you to integrate it with your existing system for deep bass that’s like no other!
The speaker features a reversible design, too, allowing you to position the speaker below ear level and still experience crisp and clear sound! You can turn the cabinet upside down, too, aiming the sound at your direct listening level; the choice is yours! Perfect for those who need to be creative with their space!
The sound on this speaker is fantastic and ideal for larger rooms allowing the sound to carry. Alternatively, why not use it in a smaller room and feel the sound? Depending on the accompanying speakers, the center channel speaker will work for any room!
Customers praised the quality of the speaker and the lack of distortion when being used. Even at high volumes, you can still expect clear and clean audio! They found it perfect for use in their living rooms, whether for movies, music, or gaming!
Some customers noted that the speaker was bigger than expected, and they struggled to fit it under their TVs or with their other speakers. Be sure to measure the space beforehand to avoid any issues when your speaker arrives!
If you are after serious value for money and crisp and clear audio, then look no further than Polk’s Audio CS1 Series II. You will be hard-pressed to find better value for money than this!
- Affordable - suitable for most budgets
- Dual drivers - deliver vocal clarity in movies or songs
- 1-inch soft-dome tweeter - provides crisp highs in your music
- Removable grille - adds a stylish edge to the speaker
- Larger than other speakers
Our final product is Cerwin-Vega’s SL-25C center channel speaker. At an affordable price, the speaker can deliver crisp sounds that will complete your surround sound system.
The speaker is fitted with Dual 5 ¼ inch drivers that deliver clarity when it comes to your vocals. Whether it’s a movie or a song, the vocals will be clear as day! Teamed with a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter, your heights will be super crisp! Whether it’s dialogue or instrumental, you will hear everything!
The whole speaker is engineered with fantastic sound quality in mind! The compact speaker has excellent compatibility with a range of other speakers and amplifiers, allowing you to fill your sound out well. Be mindful, though, that the speaker is larger than many customers expected it to be! It measures in at 19x9x10 inches and weighs roughly 12lbs. Aside from this, you will be hard-pressed to find a fault!
The speaker features a removable grille, allowing you to style the speaker to your tastes. It also makes it incredibly easy to clean, a winner for everyone!
Overall, customers loved the center channel speaker enjoying the sound, and praised its bass production. They found that it was quite loud and provided excellent clarity! Many found the bass so good they didn’t need an additional subwoofer, saving themselves money!
What are you waiting for? Grab yourself a bargain and enjoy loud music and movies at home now!
Things to consider
Not too sure what you need from your new center channel speaker? Use our things to consider the section to determine what areas you should focus on when making your purchase!
Sound Quality
Perhaps the most vital factor, the quality of the sound. When it comes to your center channel speaker, you want a good volume and range of frequencies covered. Remember, this is part of a system; you don’t necessarily need fantastic bass if you have a dedicated subwoofer already doing this.
Consider your existing system and any gaps it might have. You can use these to purchase the perfect center channel subwoofer for your needs.
Distortion
There is nothing worse than distortion. You want your music and movies to sound clear without any muffling or poor quality. Keep an eye out for speakers that are listed as low distortion, especially at louder volumes.
While at loud volumes, some distortion is to be expected, it should not be overly noticeable. Any profound muffling or vibrating should be reported to the manufacturer if your center channel speaker is defective.
Speakers advertised as low distortion should always be considered, but check customer reviews before purchasing! These will indicate whether the speakers have noticeable distortion at loud volumes or not, helping you narrow down your search!
Compatibility
Compatibility is a vital factor to consider when purchasing your new center channel speaker. Most speakers feature universal compatibility, so you won’t need to worry; simply plug in, and you are good to go!
Be sure to check this beforehand to avoid disappointment and ensure that your speaker will integrate with your existing system with ease. It’s also worth checking the wires that you will need to integrate your new speaker with others in your sound system. Why not purchase those at the same time to save time when setting up your new center channel speaker.
These days most speakers will connect easily to other speakers, providing you with a stress-free afternoon before relaxing in front of your new sound system!
Size matters
When it comes to your new center channel speaker, pay close attention to its size. You will need to ensure that the speaker will fit in your space and with your existing speakers. There’s nothing worse than buying a speaker and realizing you have no room!
Pay close attention to the dimensions listed on the product description and measure your space beforehand to ensure you can accommodate your new speaker. The size of the speaker usually correlates to the size of the room it can be placed in. It is not a massive issue with your center channel speaker, but compact speakers will be better suited to smaller rooms. These will fill the room with sound and avoid that echo-y feeling!
It is also worth considering the weight of your speaker if you intend to hang it or elevate it. Check the weight and ensure that any brackets can hold the weight to avoid an all-mighty bang and a dent in your floor!
How much?
The cost of speakers can vary dramatically, leaving you to wonder just how much you should be spending on your new center channel speaker. It’s worth setting a clear budget and sticking to it as closely as possible when shopping for your new speaker.
Consider the features you want from your speaker and allow that to shape your budget where possible. Remember, you don’t need to spend a fortune to have a fantastic center channel speaker; there is one to suit every budget!
Our Verdict
And just like that, we have reached the end of the review! No matter which speaker you purchase, we are sure you will be thrilled with the volume! The clear winner is Polk’s Audio CS1! You can expect crisp and clear sound without needing to spend a fortune.
No matter the center channel speaker you buy, you can experience clear audio, low distortion, and bass like never before! What are you waiting for? Grab them now!