Home theatre center channel speakers

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jlaubza

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Good morning, I've read similar comments recently about the center channel speaker on a multichannel setup being the most important speaker. This puzzles me and I'm looking for informed comment on why this would be the case, or not.

I've seen various center channel speakers ranging considerably in size and in the number of separate drivers crammed into their cabinets. Since the purpose of the center channel is to carry dialogue only, the fundamental operating frequency range of a center speaker should be around 100 to 250 Hz. Making allowance for harmonic frequency extension, it seems as if a reasonable frequency range for a center speaker would then be 50 to 1000 Hz, 3db down on the lower end and 6 db down on the upper end. Such a frequency range can be effectively carried by a single driver of around 100mm diameter. Why then do most center speakers contain at least three drivers and are built with a resonant volume that exceeds human lung capacity?
 
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