The Difference Between Center Channel Speaker & Front Speaker

Front speakers are larger and taller than center speakers.

Speakers are devices that project sound from an audio system. There are several types of speakers, including front speakers and center channel speakers. There are several differences between the two.

Location

The center channel speaker is located directly in front and center of the audience. There are two front speakers and both are in front, one on the left and the other on the right.

Sound

The sound coming from a center channel speaker is anything coming from the front. In a movie, this includes the vast majority of the dialogue. The front speakers carry much less of the dialogue, but have most of the music and most of the sound effects and provide left and right movement of sound.

Size

Front speakers are often the largest speakers in a sound system. Because center speakers are mainly for dialogue and other mid-range sounds, they are smaller in size.

Shape

Speakers are generally rectangular in shape, but the front speakers are normally taller than they are wide, and center channel speakers are wider than they are tall so they can fit more easily above or below a video screen.

Stereo

If an audio system is projecting in stereo, then only two channels of sound are used, so the center channel speaker is not used. Only the two front speakers are used.

References

• Drexel: Choosing Speakers for Home System
• Temple: Speaker