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Top 8 Best Center Channel Speaker Under 500 Reviews 2021

Best center channel speakers under 500 are indeed one of the most important parts of a home theater system. They work as a perfect bond that balances out sound among every surround speaker present in the space. A high-quality center channel speaker can improve sound quality without crashing or booming the sound of your favorite videos, sports, and movies.

So, whether you own an older system that needs an update or simply wish to change the present system in an exceptional entertainment center, it is time to invest in a quality center channel speaker. In this article, we will discuss some of the best center channel speakers under 500 to help you make a well-informed decision.

Our Picks of Top 8 Best Center Channel Speaker Under 500 USD Product Reviews in 2021


1.Klipsch RP-250C Center Channel Speaker – Ebony

Klipsch RP-250C Center Channel Speaker – Ebony

The Klipsch RP-250C Center Channel Speaker is known for offering theatre-quality dialogues in a small device for convenient placement within a home entertainment system. Its redesigned Tactrix horn uses a circular horn throat with a squared horn mouth for high-frequency response and extension. Its compressed molded rubber construction gives high-frequency damping for better resolution and details to create natural and clean sound.

A linear travel suspension reduces distortion for detailed and enhanced performance. LTS Tweeters are also a core component of this model. There are cerametallic woofers present in the driver design’s pinnacle to maintain firmness, lightweight built, distortion, and minimal cone breakup. The reference premiere ports facilitate efficient, fast air transfer from the cabinet for a strong yet low-frequency response.

The premium wood grain polymer veneer is paired with a brushed polymer veneer to give an aesthetic appeal to the system. Its seamless, clean lines allow easy incorporation to any kind of décor. The grille is strong, removable, and flexible. The baffle surrounds the magnets for high-frequency diffraction reduction.

Key features

  • Linear Travel Suspension Titanium Tweeter
  • 90X90 Hybrid Tactrix Horn
  • Dual Spun Copper Cerametallic Cone Woofers
  • Strong And Flexible Grille
  • Tactrix Port
Pros
  • Compact size
  • Dolby Atmos ready
  • Theater quality sound
  • Lightweight construction
Cons
  • Crossover frequency

2.Pioneer Elite SP-EC73 Andrew Jones Home Audio Center Channel Speaker

Pioneer Elite SP-EC73 Andrew Jones Home Audio Center Channel Speaker

This speaker is sure to bring high-quality, professional sound to your living room or home-theatre system. It is a highly-acclaimed center channel speaker that delivers on-sound to generate an immersive listening experience to the user.

Its coherent source transducer decreases interface among tweeter and midrange to manage sound directivity at different frequencies. This feature ensures that reflected and direct sound reaches the listening position with the same timbre and timing. It has a true, three-way speaker design where each major frequency band is presented with an individual driver. The high, mid, and low-frequency drivers help give balanced sound for an amazing listening experience.

There is a small, decent cabinet, which is easy to integrate with equipment and monitor. An additional 5 1/4 inches passive radiator is also present to improve bass impact for authoritative voices and sound effects. The complex crossover perfectly blends out audio among the tweeter and woofer for better accuracy.

Key features

  • Floor-Standing And Compact Design
  • Coherent Source Transducer
  • Gold-Plated Connectors
  • Multi-Element And Complex Crossovers
  • Aluminum Cone And Dust Cap
Pros
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Good frequency response
  • Three-way design
  • Rubber feet
Cons
  • The vinyl finish could be better

3.Klipsch RP-450C Center Channel Speaker – Ebony

Klipsch RP-450C Center Channel Speaker – Ebony

If you don’t want the dialogues to fade or dry out behind other sounds while watching a movie, look no further than buying Klipsch RP-450C Center Channel Speaker. This unit is a phenomenal and formidable product enclosed in a premium, limited edition finish.

It has four 5.25inches cerametallic woofers and a hybrid cross-section tractrix horn to ensure that your experience is remarkable and memorable. The external surface is extraordinary as there are no screws or visible fasteners. You can attach/detach the grille magnetically without any effort or fancy tools. The four-way drivers are present upfront which clearly shows this product is for people who want loud and energetic sound.

The power handling is rated at 150W with a peak of 600W. The speakers go loud with absolute ease thanks to the high-efficiency 97DB  sound at 2.9v/1m. The bass drivers of Klipsch RP-450C Center Channel Speaker are supported through a rear flared Tactrix to deliver floor-standing levels of bass depth.

Key features

  • Lts Tweeter
  • Impedance 8Ohm Compatibility
  • Hybrid Cross-Section Tractrix Horn
  • Bass-Reflex Cabinet Design
  • Rear Fringe Tractrix Port
Pros
  • Polymer veneer finish
  • Magnetically attached grille
  • Strong voice coil formers
  • 97DB sensitivity
Cons
  • Straining at low frequencies

4.JBL Studio 520CBK 2-Way Dual 4-Inch Center Channel Speaker

JBL Studio 520CBK 2-Way Dual 4-Inch Center Channel Speaker

The JBL Studio 520CBK is an ideal choice for people looking for a dramatic audio experience. The innovative materials and cutting-edge technology make it one of the most prominent products on the market. So expect intense output from the unit and be ready for a quality, high-impact performance.

The dual, 4-inches low-frequency transducers on the speaker come with stiff, lightweight ribbed PolyPlas cones, rubber surround, and 1″ diameter woofer voice controls. Its heavy-duty magnet assemblies with SFG (symmetrical field geometry) technology to deliver powerful and clean bass response at all audio levels. Every feature is stored in a strong, non-resonant cast aluminum frame for a crisp and high-impact bass performance.

Its one-piece Teonex surrounds with a 1″ voice call produces a lower distortion and bigger dynamic range as compared to standard HF drivers. The glass-filled ABS bi-radial high-frequency horn is controlled directivity at the ear level of the listeners. It reduces unneeded HF interaction with walls and gear to deliver clean and realistic sound over a wide listening area.

Moreover, the best center channel speaker for dialogue has a heavily-braced design with non-parallel surfaces to reduces unneeded resonance.

Key features

  • Low-Loss, Two-Way Crossover Network
  • Jbl Weave Design
  • 16Mm Mdf Enclosure
  • High-Frequency Compression Driver
  • Abs Bi-Radial High-Frequency Horn
Pros
  • Clean bass and sound
  • Exclusive design
  • Value for money
  • Suitable for average-sized rooms
Cons
  • Remote needs improvement

5.Klipsch R-34C Center Channel Speaker

Klipsch R-34C Center Channel Speaker

If you want to feel like you are sitting in the front row of a movie theater, choose Klipsch R-34C Center Channel Speaker as your next purchase. The exclusive 90×90 tractrix horn technology of this center channel speaker ensures that the high-frequency energy is aimed at the user. It also reduces artificial reverb and filtering instigated by the indirect sound bouncing off the room walls.

Another great feature of this speaker is the LTS (linear travel suspension) aluminum tweeter. It helps reduce distortion for improved, detailed, and enhanced performance. It uses Kapton, a very light yet strong material present in the tweeter suspension for high-efficiency and improved resolution.  

The IMG (injection-molded graphite) woofer cones are very lightweight while still being very rigid. They deliver remarkably low-frequency responses with less cone breakup and distortion. When paired with a tractrix horn-loaded LTS tweeter, the unit provides the highest speaker efficiency of its class. The dual front tractrix ports are a perfect match to the woofers and cabinets. They help create an ideal airflow with less turbulence at low frequencies.

Some other notable features of the Klipsch R-34C Center Channel Speaker are exposed fasteners, low-profile magnetic grille, and scratch-proof textured wood grain vinyl.  

Key features

  • Dual Front-Firing Tractrix Ports
  • 1” Aluminum Lts Tweeter
  • Square Tractrix Horn
  • Quad 3.5” Spun Copper Img Woofers
  • Bass Reflex
Pros
  • Low-profile design
  • Crystal clear acoustics
  • Affordable
  • Good bass response
Cons
  • Less warranty by the manufacturer

6.Klipsch R-52C Powerful Detailed Center Channel Home Speaker – Black

Klipsch R-52C Powerful Detailed Center Channel Home Speaker – Black

Another Klipsch product on this list is Klipsch R-52C Powerful Detailed Center Channel Home Speaker.  Like other products from the manufacturer, you get to enjoy two woofers with amazing build quality and even amazing sound quality. There is a tweeter as well as a hybrid track chick’s horn coated with titanium.

The grille on the speaker is detachable, whereas the woofer’s copper spun is present for better vocal quality. When paired with any two-way center channel speaker, the Klipsch R-52C matches the bulk of dialogue in your favorite content and TV shows when employed in a standard home theater.

It comes with a 1″ LTS tweeter paired with a 90×90 tractrix horn and two 5.2” copper spun woofers to deliver you an amazing 82Hz-24KHz frequency response.  This range can match up to 100W of constant power from any amplifier of your preference.  The speakers are designed and manufactured to be light in weight and rigid for a better low-frequency response. It gives minimal cone breakup and distortion when combined with a tractrix horn-loaded LTS tweeter. The versatile five-way binding post terminals are present for improved connection flexibility.

Key features

  • 1” Aluminum Lts Tweeter
  • Removable Grill
  • Dual 5.2” Spun Copper Img Woofers
  • Cabinet + Closed Design
  • Tractrix Horn Technology
Pros
  • High-sensitive speakers
  • Excellent dynamic range
  • Deep bass
  • Good performance for investment
Cons
  • Too bright sound for some buyers


7.Klipsch RP-500C Center Channel Speaker (Ebony), 1065819

Klipsch RP-500C Center Channel Speaker

With Klipsch RP-500C, you can now bring pure and natural sound to your home theater while watching your favorite content. This product comes with a 1” titanium LTS vented tweeter paired with a hybrid tractrix horn and two 5.2″ spun copper cerametallic woofers to deliver an excellent frequency response of 60Hz-25KHz.

This speaker incorporates a tractrix horn designed and integrated to improve efficiency and augment sound detail while focusing on higher frequencies in the listening area. The horns use a phase plug with a compressed molded silicon face to make sure you get a smooth frequency response and natural sound.

The design of the Klipsch RP-500C speakers includes an LTS (linear travel suspension) tweeter to reduce distortion and give enhanced/detailed performance.  Moreover, it has vented tweeter housing to decrease standing waves that give out unnecessary harmonics. This feature results in enhanced clarity, details, and high-frequency reproduction.

Here, the cerametallic woofers mix high rigidity with a lightweight built to lessen sound distortion. They can pair up seamlessly with the tractrix horn-loaded LTS tweeter for better speaker efficiency. Using tractrix geometry, this speaker allows you to enjoy a fast and efficient air-transfer from the cabinet.

Key features

  • Inner Flares For Less Air Turbulence
  • Furniture Grade Materials
  • Flexible And Removable Grille
  • Copper Anodized Trim Rings
  • Laser-Etched Logo
Pros
  • Passive amplification
  • Vinyl finish
  • Lifelike, front-row experience
  • Cutting-edge features
Cons
  • No mounting holes on the back

8.Sony SSCS8 2-Way 3-Driver Center Channel Speaker – Black

Sony SSCS8 2-Way 3-Driver Center Channel Speaker – Black

Sony is a massive name when it comes to talking about electronics. The Sony SSCS8 2-Way 3-Driver Center Channel Speaker is the most popular and efficient product by the company. It has everything it takes to beat the competitors and still be a top contender in the world of center channel speakers.

A two-way and three-driver module is the main feature of this model. The setup delivers excellent sound quality and precision with clarity in your favorite movies. The 1” tweeter is made of polyester and is of a wider dispersion type. It helps deliver high-quality sound right at the user’s listening level. The best center channel speaker under 500 in 2021 uses its own unique, and authentic mica reinforced woofer diaphragms made of two layers to achieve great bass and sound quality.

The speaker can endure a maximum input power of 145W. There is a crossover component to ensure a smooth transfer of sound waves. These are mounted on the cabinet to keep the vibrations under control. The finish is truly amazing as well.

Key features

  • Two-Way, Three Speaker Bass Reflex System
  • Foamed Mica Cellular Reinforced Woofer
  • Polyester Main Tweeter
  • 6Ohm Speaker Impedance
  • Optimized Crossover Componentry
Pros
  • High bass performance
  • Natural sounding vocals
  • High-frequency audio response
  • Wide directionality
Cons
  • Lacks super tweeter

Buying Guide For Best Center Channel Speaker Under 500 USD

Buying the most high-quality and best center channel speaker under 500 can be a bit challenging. There is a wide range of considerations to think about when shopping for the most suitable product. You must get the aptest model for your setup if you want to enjoy a full range of advanced features. In this buying guide, we will discuss some of the most common features to acknowledge before making a final choice.

Compatibility

The first thing to note before buying a center channel speaker is your current home theater system. If you already own a surround sound or any other speaker, make sure the model you want to buy is compatible with them. The sound travels from one speaker to another for smooth working. If your center channel speaker is acoustically unconventional, it can produce unbalanced audio and unnatural sound.

Sound Quality And Performance

While choosing a good quality center channel speaker, always go for the model with a wider frequency range. This range not only delivers crystal clear sound to individuals present at the center of the listening position but also to those who are not viewing the speaker directly. Moreover, the sound quality must be at its peak regardless of whether you have a simple system or a complicated one.

Size And Design

The size, as well as the design of your speakers, must co-ordinate with the other surround sound systems. You should try to opt for a product with a similar brand name, mid-range, and frequency response. This feature is very important to consider as it delivers a seamless shift of sound from one speaker to another.

Crossover Frequency

The crossover process includes the segregation of the signal and then sending it out to multiple speakers. This redirection depends upon frequency. High frequencies reach tweeters, where has the low frequencies reach woofers.   The middle frequencies are sent to the midrange speakers.

Usage

How you are going to use the center channel speaker also influences your buying decision.  Whether you want to use it for gaming purposes,  watching movies, or listening to music,  many available models serve the purpose. You only have to select the product that best serves your requirement.

The sound quality you are looking for also depends on whether you use the home theatre system a lot.   So, if you want to do everything defined above, you need to get a well-rounded model that can handle everything that you want.

Power Requirement

The required amount of power is based on the size of the speaker,  its setup,  the overall quality of the system.   The power requirement is measured in decibels and ohm.  An outstanding center channel speaker uses the same amount of power as a normal speaker, so it is very important to consider this factor before making the purchase.


Frequently Asked Questions For Best Center Channel Speaker Under 500 Dollars


Conclusion

There you go. These are our best center channel speakers under 500 for the year. The list’s clear winner is Klipsch RP-250C Center Channel Speaker due to its crystal clear sound, incredible acoustics, tractrix horn-loaded technology, and linear travel suspension feature.

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