Centre ChannelsDuet - Quartet - Trio

The centre channel speaker of a home theatre system has to be as close as possible to the visual screen. Usually, centres are slim and horizontal so they can be placed directly above or below the screen. The centres described here are all in very strong cabinets that can double as a TV base where suitable. Any Woodfox, Firesprite, or monitor bookshelf speaker could be used instead if your situation dictates a conventional upright speaker.

Centres must be accurate, clear and natural, especially so you can understand what people are saying in a movie. They are the audio focus for all the immediate central on-screen action and communication. They must also have a good horizontal spread for all the viewers around the room, but do not necessarily need extreme deep bass, because voices do not go that low, and the subwoofer can take over those low omni-directional frequencies anyway, thus allowing the centre channel speaker to be a more convenient size.

All these considerations and others create special problems and solutions for centre channel speakers, and there are many models and versions for you to choose from in this series.  The Quartet type has four main woofer/mid drivers; the Duet type has two main woofer/mid drivers; and the Trio type is always a three-way speaker with separate mid-range drivers, a tweeter, with either two or four woofers. It is best to combine a 3-way centre with our front 3-way series, and a 2-way centre with 2-way front speakers.

Veneers and stains

Clear semi gloss lacquered American Oak veneer and stained semi gloss lacquered American Oak veneer. Veneers and stains may vary slightly.


American Oak veneer
Light Oak stain
Baltic stain
Walnut stain
Rose Mahogany stain
Charcoal Black stain
Non veneer soft white

Trio Centre 283SQ
3-way high end large size

Man figure seated for scale comparison

Price: $1095 (or $795 kit less cabinet)
Cabinet: 900w x 240h x 315d bass reflex 44 litres
Power Handling: 200 wrms (@ 50Hz plus)
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response: 40 -- 30,000 Hertz +/-2dB
Sensitivity: 92dB 1w/1m
Drivers: 2 x 205mm long throw, high power wood and fibre cone bass drivers; 2 x 5 inch SB Acoustics midrange; wave guide tweeter
Description: Large, powerful and efficient high end 3-way centre; good low end bass, voice projection and dynamic sound stage.

Trio Centre 263SQ
3-way medium/large size

Man figure seated for scale comparison


Price: $995 (or $695 kit less cabinet)
Cabinet: 900w x 200h x 315d bass reflex 36 litres
Power Handling: 180 wrms (@ 60Hz plus)
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response: 44 -- 30,000 Hertz +/-2dB
Sensitivity: 91dB 1w/1m
Drivers: 2 x 165 mm SB Acoustics long throw bass drivers and 2 x 120 mm midrange; wave guide tweeter
Description: This is a larger full range high end 3-way centre; powerful bass and clear voice production.

Trio Centre 253SQ
3 way high end medium size

Man figure seated for scale comparison

Price: $850 (or $595 kit less cabinet)
Cabinet: 800w x 160h x 315d bass reflex 24 litres
Power Handling: 160 wrms (@ 60Hz plus)
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response: 53 -- 30,000 Hertz +/-2dB
Sensitivity: 91dB 1w/1m
Drivers: 2 x 5 inch SB Acoustics bass drivers; 2 x 4 inch midrange drivers; wave guide tweeter
Description: This is a reasonable cost and efficient high end 3-way centre; good low end bass and voice production.

Quartet Centre 442SQ
2 way medium size

Man figure seated for scale comparison

Price: $850 (or $595 kit less cabinet);
Cabinet: 800w x 160h x 315d bass reflex 24 litres
Power Handling: 200 wrms
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response: 58 -- 30,000 Hertz +/-2dB
Sensitivity: 92dB 1w/1m
Drivers: 4 x 5 inch efficient SB Acoustics bass/mid; 25 mm textile dome wave guide tweeter (
Description: This is an economical 2-way centre, and uses the superb micro-dynamic resolution of the smaller wave guide soft dome high resolution tweeter. It goes without saying that the realism created while watching your movie, etc. is dynamic, faithful, clean, accurate and frighteningly immediate.  Multiple driver arrangement gives smoother off-axis phasing characteristics and dispersion, and the slim and elegant cabinet, if you have the width, makes an excellent base for large screen TVs.

Duet Centre 242SQ
2 way small size

Man figure seated for scale comparison

Price: $650 (or $395 kit less cabinet)
Cabinet: 440w x 160h x 315d bass reflex 12 litres
Power Handling: 120/200 wrms/wmax
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response: 65 -- 30,000 Hertz +/-2dB
Sensitivity: 90dB 1w/1m
Drivers: 2 x 5 inch SB Acoustics bass/midrange drivers; efficient 25 mm quality wave guide dome tweeter
Description: If you would like a high class centre channel but have very little space to install one, then look no further, this centre is superb! The drivers in this design have a natural, accurate sound that brings the on screen dialogue and action to life in a way that belies its modest size.  Makes a strong slim base for flat-screen TVs. Makes a very good upright speaker too, so you could use five or seven to make a whole large satellite, high quality, dynamic 5.1 or 7.1 system with one of our fantastic transmission line range of subwoofers.