10 Best Center Channel Speakers for your Home Theater in 2023
A center channel speaker is a key component for any home theater setup. It is among the first things you buy when setting up your sound system. The importance of the center channel speaker in a home theater system cannot be easily stated. So, whether you are setting up a new multi channel home theater system or upgrading your current setup, then this article is for you.
Consider the factors before buying the best center channel speaker
There are several different center channel speakers from popular and not-so-popular brands. Choosing the center channel speaker that best meets your needs can be a challenge. So, we’ve decided on some key factors that one should look for when buying a center channel speaker for their home theater setup.
Sound quality
A speaker to make our list of the best center channel speakers should have great sound output. Moreover, the sound quality of the speaker depends on your preference, the size of your room, and your budget. Small speakers take up less space and cost less, but they sacrifice overall sound output. They might not have the same quality as the larger speakers, but they will serve your needs if your room is small or the setup is simple.
Loudness
Loudness is a factor if you want the center channel speaker to be used during parties or while playing action games with your friends. Furthermore, if you have a larger room, then you’d need a speaker that can cover the entire room. However, if your room is small or you want a speaker for watching movies, then you don’t need loudspeakers.
Connectivity
A center channel speaker is arguably an important aspect of a home theater system. However, if you want to grow your overall setup and other speakers and soundbars, then you need to have a center channel speaker that is compatible with them. There are speakers that only work well when you pair them with other speakers or sound systems from the same brand. So, a center channel speaker that works with different types of speakers from different brands is preferable.
List of the best center channel speakers
- Polk Audio T30 Center Channel Speaker
- Klipsch RP-504C Center Channel Speaker
- Micca MB42X-C Center Channel Speaker
- Cerwin-Vega SL-45C Center Channel Speaker
- Klipsch R-52C Center Channel Home Speaker
- Sony SS-CS8 Center Channel Speaker
- Yamaha Audio NS-C210BL Center Channel Speaker
- Definitive Technology ProCenter 2000 Center Channel Speaker
- Acoustic Audio PSC-43 Center Channel Speaker
- KEF T301C Center Channel Speaker
Polk Audio T30 Center Channel Speaker
The Polk Audio T30 speaker is a great addition to any home theater setup. With this center channel speaker, you can complement almost any multi channel home theater system. This can be done by pairing with other Polk Audio T-series speakers, such as T50 or T15, to create a perfect home theater setup.
The T30 is also designed to provide high-quality sound, and its dual 5.25-inch drivers and 1-inch silk dome tweeter produce rich, clear audio that will bring any movie or TV show to life. So, if you can’t fork out a large sum of money for an entire home theater system, then you can just start with this.
When it comes to its design and size, the Polk Audio T30 doesn’t disappoint. It has a simple yet elegant design that would sit perfectly in front of your TV. The body of the T30 is made of MDF (wood) and has this graying finish that looks interesting. Also, it has a black magnetic grille at the front that looks nice.
Overall, the Polk Audio T30 is the best center channel speaker for audiophiles that offers great sound output for its size and offers great value for money.
Klipsch RP-504C Center Channel Speaker
The Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-504C center channel speaker can be the perfect addition to any home theater system. The RP-504C includes four 5.25-inch copper-spun Cerametallic woofers for deep and dynamic bass response, while its Linear Travel Suspension (LTS) tweeter is designed to deliver clear and detailed high-frequency sounds.
The 1-inch LTS tweeter is placed in a vented design. This new vented design of the tweeters improves the high-frequency response, reducing any air pressure behind the speaker’s dome and allowing for an even distribution of sound, giving users a more natural listening experience. It also features Klipsch’s Tractrix horn-loaded technology, which creates a wide and immersive soundstage, allowing viewers to hear clear dialogue and subtle details in the audio.
Furthermore, the entire speaker is enclosed in an MDF cabinet with an ebony finish. It also includes a removable magnetic grille, making it easier to maintain and replace if needed. This results in a speaker that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also provides excellent sound quality.
Micca MB42X-C Center Channel Speaker
The Micca MB42X-C is a budget-friendly center channel speaker that easily blends with your room’s interior. Perfect for small home theater setups and music systems, the MB42X-C delivers a surprisingly accurate sound with its dual 4-inch balanced woven carbon fiber woofers and 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter.
The 4-inch woofers provide a full and powerful sound that complements the delicate treble of the silk dome tweeter. However, it lacks a built-in crossover unit. Additionally, the cabinet of the MB42X-C is constructed with MDF wood and finished with a black vinyl laminate that helps to minimize resonance.
The Micca MB42X-C is a compact speaker with a removable metallic grille. Despite its small size, the MB42X-C packs a good punch, providing fairly decent sound with respect to its price. Overall, it is the perfect center channel speaker for small rooms.
Cerwin-Vega SL-45C Center Channel Speaker
The next best center channel speaker after the Klipsch RP-504C with four 5.25-inch woofers is the Cerwin-Vega SL-45C. It offers great sound quality and is designed for use in high-end home theater systems.
The four drivers provide a powerful, deep sound, and the 1-inch soft dome tweeter gives a crisp high-end response. This speaker will bring out the best of your sound system, with an impressive frequency range that goes as low as 55 Hz and as high as 20 kHz.
When it comes to size, the Cerwin-Vega SL-45C is definitely not compact. Also, it is definitely the heaviest center channel speaker on this list. However, the CV SL-45C has used its bulky design to its benefit by reinforcing the structure of the cabinet to eliminate any resonance.
Klipsch R-52C Center Channel Home Speaker Review
Klipsch R-52C is the next best center channel speaker in our list and the second one from Klipsch. The R-52C looks similar to the RP-504C in design and looks, but the latter is quite large, with four 5.25-inch woofers, whereas the former has only two.
The dual woofers have Injection Molded Graphite (IMG) cones, which help deliver low-level frequency responses. And when you consider the 1-inch Tractrix Horn-Loaded LTS tweeter, together, they provide some of the best sound output.
Additionally, the Klipsch R-52C has the distinction of delivering some of the loudest sounds for a center channel speaker. All of it is due to its sensitivity of 95 dB and high power handling capability. That is especially true for its size.
When listening to your favorite songs, movie, or shows, the R-52C delivers very clear video with almost no distortion. In fact, even at max volume, you’ll hardly hear any sort of sound compression.
However, the main drawback of the Klipsch R-52C is that you can only get its best performance when it is paired with other Klipsch sound systems in a home theater setup. Despite that one issue, the R-52C can be regarded as one of the best high end center channel speakers for amazing surround sound and dialogues.
Sony SS-CS8 Center Channel Speaker Review
The Sony SSCS8 speaker is a 2-way three-driver bass reflex system that provides you with room-filling sounds. Its 1-inch tweeter is specially designed to accurately and widely disperse sounds to hit the perfect sweet spot.
With Dolby Atmos, this center channel speaker is a great option for building your 5.1.2 home theater setup. Sony recommends that you pair the SS-CS8 with other CS series speakers, such as the SS-CS3 tower speakers, SS-CS5 bookshelf speakers, and the SA-CS9 subwoofer, to get the best setup. However, the SS-CS8 center channel speaker also works very well with other sound systems.
The Sony SSC8 is a great option for those who want to build their own setup for the first time. It not only provides great sound output, but it is also affordable too, especially for a speaker that supports Dolby Atmos. This is why we consider the Sony SSCS8 one of the best center channel speakers in this list.
Yamaha Audio NS-C210BL Center Channel Speaker Review
When looking for affordable center channel speakers with a low profile, the Yamaha Audio NS-C210BL is a great option. Though not as affordable as Micca MB42X-C, the NS-C2210BL delivers a great sound for a compact and slim body.
The front side of the channel speaker has a non-removable black grille, which hides three drivers. Inside you’ll find two aluminum cone woofers and one 0.9-inch balanced dome tweeter. At the back, it has a small bass reflex port. Furthermore, it sports two mounting holes at the back, giving you more flexibility when it comes to placement.
The Yamaha Audio NS-C210BL, like the Micca MB42X-C or the Sony SS-CS8, is a great starter center channel speaker. It provides a decent sound output at an affordable price and works with most home theater setups. It still has its downsides, though. For instance, the low price of the NS-C210BL means it has cut some corners. The main one is the overall power output and sound quality.
So, you can’t expect this channel speaker to entertain a large room. However, it wasn’t built for that anyway. It is a perfect addition for smaller rooms and is regarded among the best low profile center channel speakers.
Definitive Technology ProCenter 2000 Center Channel Speaker
The ProCenter 2000 by Definitive Technology is the next top center channel speaker that has a small and compact design. Despite its size, it does offer amazing sound reproduction with almost no distortion.
This center channel speaker comprises two 5.25-inch Balanced Double Surround System (BDSS) drivers, which are coupled with two 5.25-inch bass radiators and a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter. It is because of this the ProCenter 2000 has the best audio performance, especially stronger low-midrange response compared to other channel speakers of the same size.
The other benefit of its small size is that it can easily disappear in your room. It is also lightweight and has multiple placement options, including rear holes that allow wall mounting. However, the main thing holding it back is its price.
When compared to other center channel speakers in this article, such as the MB42X-C, SS-CS8, or the NS-C210BL, the ProCenter 2000 is comparatively pricy even after you factor in better sound reproductions.
Acoustic Audio PSC-43 Center Channel Speaker
The Acoustic Audio PSC-43 by Goldwood is the most affordable two-way center channel speaker on this list. This center channel speaker offers great value for its price. Especially given its size, which is nearly half the weight of the next-best lightweight speaker on our list.
The PSC-43 packs two 4-inch full-range woofers, which are less powerful than the 5.25-inch woofers that some speakers had. However, together with the 1-inch Mylar dome tweeter, it can provide decent highs and lows.
It is clear from this product that it has sacrificed a lot in the sound output department to make it compact and bring its price down. Despite this, the PSC-43 delivers clean enough audio when watching movies or sports. However, it struggles to deliver loud sounds when playing music or video games.
KEF T301C Center Channel Speaker
The KEF T301C center channel speaker is a perfect addition if you are looking for something better than your TV speakers. With its two 4.5-inch mid-frequency drivers and 1-inch aluminum tweeter, it delivers near-accurate sound reproduction. Also, it filters out any unwanted sound resonance providing great overall sound output.
When compared to the Acoustic Audio PSC-43, the KEF T301C is definitely the better center channel speaker in terms of audio quality. Yet, the T301C ranks lower than PSC-43, and the main reason is price. The T301C is very expensive for the feature that it provides, and that is the reason it ranks at the bottom. Other than that, the KEF T301C is still among the best low profile center channel speakers.
Wrapping Up
We’ve covered a detailed review of the best center channel speakers that you can get for your home theater setup. Our list contains speakers from both known and less-known brands, small and large sizes, and cheap and pricy speakers. Hopefully, this article will be of great use to you in deciding the best center channel speaker for your own home setup.
Read more on our reviews on other sound systems:
