Recommend me a new Centre Speaker

[Paul.B]

I've decided its time to replace my ageing Wharfedale Valdus Centre, with a newer, beefier model.

It will be paired with Wharfedale Emerald EM95 floorstanders at the front, and either wharfedale Valdus200's or Mordaunt Short MS10i's for rears.

My budget is under £100 so recommendations in that bracket, or pretty close would be very welcome. :)

[Urban Tiger]

For that money I think the Tannoy MXC is very hard to beat. I use one with a pair of Mission M74's, my friend uses one with a pair of B&W CM4's. In both case it sounds excellent :)

[Paul.B]

Yeah, thats one i'm considering. The others are Wharfedale Pacific centre (£90), and Wharfedale Diamond 8 Centre (£85).

Does anyone know of a good price any of the above or Tannoy MXC can be had for?

[Urban Tiger]

The MXC in black is available from www.hifistore.co.uk for £70, the beech coloured version is £80 from the above and www.homecinemaheaven.co.uk :)

[clayts]

I've just ordered a Diamond 8 centre for £90 (plus some lovely 8.3s for £160) from Hi Fi Store (http://www.hifistore.co.uk) - being delivered Wednesday morning (they confirm by e-mail when delivery will be).

The old JPW Mini Monitors just had to go...:( Well, all bar 2 until I get my Mission dipoles :)

Everything I've seen about the Diamond 8 series has been praiseworthy, and I think it would probably complement your existing set up.

QED (http://www.qed-uk.com) have the Diamond 8 centre for £83.83, but delivery is only free if you're paying over £100. With HiFiStore it's free if you spend over £50. Plus, I wanted them before Christmas 2001, not Christmas 2002 (QED aren't renowned for quick delivery : they say allow 14 days for the Wharfeys on their site...)

[Paul.B]

clayts, did you get the speakers? What do you think of the centre? I've taken the plunge and gone for the Wharfedale D8 too. I thought this would, as you pointed out, complement my existing speakers pretty well, and i really like wharfedales anyway.

[bobwindy]

Bit late but another vote for the tannoy....just got this today and its made a massive boost to my system from my gale centre 10...a much warmer sound overall

[clayts]

Paul - it is a truly sensational centre speaker - very crisp, dialogue fantastically clear - even picked up some bloke insulting a player in the Dagenham-Exeter footie game tonite :)

I'm well glad I went for it as well - the 8.3s still need some running in, but hopefully in about 48 hours (and, assuming my Mish 7ds speakers arrive before Christmas), I'll be blasting the street to bits....