amperidian

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Price Paid:  $370.00 from Kromer Radio

Summary:
I found this centre channel more detailed than its 900 series brother (the 905C who lacks THX certification but is able to go down to 60 HZ). As with others who have tried both I find the 504 a bit on the brighter side but much more natural in voice reproduction. This speaker is excellent and I would definitely recommend it to anybody in the market for a centre channel speaker. A set of 502's should ideally be paired up with it to maintain the timbre (I use a pair of 914's and I find that I really have to fine tune the speaker volumes (independently) in order to find an acceptable balance between the three, and the 504 still sounds richer or brighter (depending on personal bias) than my 914's in stereo mode, although the fronts run at higher volume per speaker than the centre. Overall the 504 outperfoms the 905C without even straining. Needles to say that this centre channel looks great with the cover on, and even better with it off.

Strengths:
clarity midrange looks

Weaknesses:
NONE really other than the fact that it requires a good source in order to prove its potential and perhaps a tad bright, but a smooth pream/amp will correct that (i.e. Bryston)

Similar Products Used:
MS 905C

Price Paid:  $2699.00 from Berkhout HI FI

Summary:
I purchased the complete Mordaunt-Short THX select system, which comes with this excellent product as the Centre. It sounds very crisp and clear, integrate's excellent with the 502 front speakers and allthough they have a crossover frequency set at 80 hz, they go very loud and have a nice bass responce. Excellent value !, i even bought a second 504 centre to use as a rear centre channel !

Strengths:
Crisp highs, tonal balance with the rest of the speakers. looks great.

Weaknesses:
None i can think of.

Similar Products Used:
Mordaunt-Short vs-series centre, infinity Alpha centre, Mordaunt-short declaration 905 centre speaker ( non thx design)

Price Paid:  $375.00 from Kromer

Summary:
That $375 translates into $584 CDN.

I used to think my Yamaha centre was clear until I heard the Mordaunt-Short 905 and 504 THX. The yamaha sounded dull in comparison (to be fair, the yamaha cost $175 Canadian).

Having already purchased the Mordaunt-Short 906 towers for the mains, it followed that I should get the rest of the speakers from the same company to maintain tonal balance.

I chose the slightly more expensive 504 THX centre over the 905 because voice reproduction sounded slightly more natural in a side-by-side comparison. The 905 is also excellent, I just preferred the 504. You give up a little bass to the 905's 60Hz (all THX centre and surrounds are designed to go down to only 80Hz), but most people set their centre channel to "small" anyway, sending the bass to the mains or sub. The 905 might be timbre matched more closely to my 906s, but the 504 blends nicely in my system when the sound pans from one side to the other. People have commented that on dialogue tracks (such as in a DVD's director's commentary), the voices seem to be live, in the room.

I give it my highest recommendation.

Strengths:
Clarity, accuracy

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
MS-905 centre, Yamaha NSC-100C