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Review 5 of 24
Price Paid:
$157.00
from Consumer Direct Summary:
The AR4C is my first center channel speaker so I didn't have anything to compare it to. I went to several friends homes who had surround systems to get an idea of what worked and what didn't. I quickly concluded that the HTIB systems weren't very good (just barely better than the TV speaker) and that most of the smaller MTM centers were lacking. The best one close to my price range was a row of 3 NHT Super 2s that blended VERY well, but they don't make those anymore.
I had read a good review about using 3 B&W DM303s and liked that combination until I ran across the AR15 + AR4C combo. The ARs sounded a little crisper and a little more forward than the B&Ws. I also tried the AR2C, but I didn't feel it was worth the extra money as I wasn't feeling the little extra bass it offers.
When I hooked them up at home, the AR4C was a little harsh and it overpowered the AR15s (it is more efficient and therefore plays louder). After breaking in all the speakers, I played with placement and adjusted the levels in the receiver. This step is critical because the center was 2.5 dB louder than the left or right speaker. The center also likes to be slightly over the edge of the TV. Once the adjustments were made, the speakers were now a team! WOW! I was truely amazed at how good the AR4C was, especially since is cost less than $200.
DVDs really give a center channel speaker a workout, and the wider the bandwidth it has, the better. The 4C does very well with dialog. It just blows away all the little dinky speakers. It is well built and heaver than I expected. The large gold binding posts are solid and held my 16 AWG wire securely. They also have a richness to them that competing units under $200 lack.
I don't usually use these with music, but the few times I tried it, they blended very well with the AR15 main speakers. I don't use a sub since I am in a small apartment, but I don't miss it except some action movies with lots of explosions (such as U571, Pearl Harbor).
I have had these speakers for 6 months and recommend them highly. They do need a break in period, the positioning tweaked, and the levels adjusted to get the most out of them. Do it, and you won't be disappointed, especially at this price point.
My equipment list:
Main speakers: AR15
Center channel: AR4C
Surround speakers: Cambridge Soundworks 17
A/V Receiver: Yamaha RX-V630
DVD/CD player: Yamaha DVD-920
Strengths:
The AR4C is a very solidly built unit that should last a long, long time. There is an adjustable foot to set the center line projection angle (mine is towed down slightly). The 4C is very efficient, and is very easy load for my Yamaha RX-V630 Receiver to drive.
The funky green tweeter is very clean and detailed. The foam surround must contribute to this by reducing refractions at te cabinet edges. The 2 mid/woofers don't seem to interfere with each other and produce a strong bottom end, more than I would expect. The dialog is clear from one side of my listening area to the other, which is a great attribute in my book. Can you tell that I like this puppy?
I heard Definitive Technology and a B&W center channels that would beat the AR4C but those units were between $500 and $600. That would be my upgrade path, but not now as I really enjoy the AR4C.C Weaknesses:
This speaker is somewhat tall and needs about 8" of clearance above the TV. This may be a drawback to some, but I don't mind as the bigger drivers in the AR4C sound so much better than narrow speakers. Even though the 4C sounds really good, it could use some more bass, given the amount of sound that is tasked to the center channel on today's DVDs. I don't use a sub at this time, but a nice 10" powered unit would be very beneficial to fill out the bottom octive that the 4C is missing.n Similar Products Used:
None, but it is better than the JBL, Polk, small B&W & Boston I heard in the stores and about equal to the discontinued NHT Super 2.
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