My Mordaunt Short MS304 center speaker has blown - Replace with identical second had one, or buy an alternative new one?

[NeilF]

Noticed tonight dialog thru the center channel was VERY quiet. Plugged the right speaker into the center channel wires and the dialog was back to normal. Plugged back in the MS304 and whisper quiet.

So it seems my old Mordaunt Short MS304 center speaker has blown.


So the question is, do I risk buying a SIXTEEN YEAR OLD second hand replacement MS304, or buy a modern center speaker instead with the risk of it not 'matching' the rest of the speakers? Would it make sense in that case to try and get a front ported one? (See shelf size below)

Here's my current speakers:-

• Front: 902i - https://www.hifix.co.uk/mordaunt-short-avant-902i-speakers
• Rear: 302 - https://www.hifix.co.uk/mordaunt-short-premier-ms302-speakers-pair
• Center: 304 - https://www.hifix.co.uk/mordaunt-short-ms304-centre-speaker-cherry-open-box
• Sub: 308W - https://www.hifix.co.uk/mordaunt-short-premier-ms308w-sub-woofer-vanadium

Plummed into an Onkyo TX-NR646 amp.

Note: The center speaker fits in a nice slot/shelf under the TV measuring 50cm wide x 16cm high.

 

[NeilF]

I'd upgrade everything.

Given a buck of money and no other considerations, yes, but as it stands not the most helpful of responses for me


As my system stands, I'm happy with the audio output, except I would say the center channel isn't (wasn't) as clear as I'd like it with dialog at times.

Furthermore, a while back - on this very forum - I posted a question on if it was worth replacing my all Mordaunt Short Avant Premiere speakers, and the answer I got was basically, no. Because, "good speakers" (not necessarily great speakers) are good speaker. I was looking at something like the Dali Spektors and the suggestion was it would simply be a sideways move. Those sort of comments basically made me decide NOT to upgrade all the speakers...


So given now my center has gone, I think the two best options are to:-
1) Risk a 16yr old second hand direct replacement - PRO=Cheap / CON=Could it be a downward move if the speaker hasn't been looked after.
2) Try and find a modern replacement, ideally offering clearer dialog - PRO=Might improve dialog quality / CON=Could be expensive. Might not tonally match, although I believe this is a bit of a myth?


Note 1: I tried a bigger second hand Mordaunt Short center speaker (905C) a year or so ago, and I was surprised it basically sounded identical to my current smaller 304.

Note 2: Although very expensive (nearly £400) this caught my attention as it would fit in my cabinet (height wise) almost to the mm, and it's front ported, which given the center speaker sits within a TV cabinet (50cm wide, 16.3cm high, 38cm deep) might help - https://www.holburnonline.co.uk/products/dali-oberon-vokal-centre-speaker?variant=21258837262390

 

[NeilF]

Given the above response - I'd certainly look at trying to fix the speaker first - not really anything to lose



Tonal match isn't necessarily a myth, but equally I wouldn't go as far to say you need the exact same speaker - sticking to the same manufacturer will generally be fine (as certain speakers do sound different on the same amp, and indeed why certain brands are paired with amp brands with differing characteristics e.g. bright vs warm etc).

As you've tried another Mordaunt Short, I would just look for another, even if it's from a newer or slightly different range

How would I fix the speaker? I assume there's some sort of electronics in it for the cross over which has blown/failed?

As for an alternative to the MS304 from Mordaunt Short, alas all their other center speakers seem too high to fit into the 163mm height of the TV cabinet shelf I have. I tried the 905 and it was 2mm too high (165mm), and strangely sounded basically identical to my smaller 304 anyway.

Big upgrade?

Monolith THX-365T​

Monolith THX-365C​

Yeh, a whole upgrade seems like a big expense and as has been pointed out before, there are question marks about how much value for money (improvement) I'd get from replacing all the speakers.

ps: Plus in an ideal world I'd like the center speaker to continue to live in that 50cm wide, 16.3cm high, 38cm deep shelf.

 

[NeilF]

True, yeh I wouldn't consider myself an audio geek. ie: As long as the audio is good to my ears I'm happy, if that makes sense. ie: I'd struggle to justify spending say £1500 buying new speakers and a new amp to improve the sound.

Second, from an asthetic point of view I don't want speakers to dominate the room. Hence why I quite like the center speaker tucked away in its dedicated 'slot' (under the TV), and not having to raise the TV up and put a center speaker in a more conspicuous place etc.


Yes, my speakers are old, but again, when I suggest recently replacing them with £1000+ worth of Dali Spektor speakers, the opinion seemed to be, "good speaker" are "good speaker", and it would risk being sort of a sideways move. Hence why I'm in the position of simply replacing my broken center?


ps: Replacing the woofer - which has been mentioned before - is an option (for another day)...

 

[NeilF]

Repairing the crossover is a fairly simple process if you can solder. The circuit is generally quite a basic thing, just a few regular sized components soldered to a 2" x 3' bit of board. There shouldn't be any tiny surface mount components to deal with.

Heres a crossover from a B&W speaker. The reddish looking things are inductors which are basically just coils of wire The black things are capacitors and the white things are resistors. Those would be the first bits to replace. The values and tolerances are printed on most components. Replace like-for-like.

Look up Wilmslow Audio. The firm supplies all sorts of DIY speaker kits and parts.

Well just spent 20mins taking all the screws out the front and back of the speaker, and I can't get it open. Maybe glued? Maybe jammed?

So back to:-
- Risking a £40 ebay like-for-like replacement.
- Or risk a modern different brand center with the hope it 'matches' and also improves the center sound?. eg:- For £330 - https://www.dali-speakers.com/en/products/oberon/oberon-vokal

 

[NeilF]

Replace like for like until you can afford a full upgrade - it's not a great experience having a tonally different speaker within a system, especially when that speaker is the centre channel.

That's really interesting!

I would have thought the center would be the least important from a manufacturer match POV? ie: The front 2 and rear 2 obviously should ideally match as they push out music and effects etc which you want consistent, but the center is a single more stand alone channel, more geared towards dialog and the like?

Shame, as it really be nice to improve that center channel as it's the only criticism I have with the current speakers. (The dialog isn't as clear as I'd like)

 

[NeilF]

You already said you tried a more expensive center and it sounded the same - the problem may not be your center speaker at all. you might need to add a few db to the center, or add some treble / redo your room correction etc.

True, but it was only a small step up from a 304 to a 905. I was sort of hoping that Dali would really up the vocal clarity. But point taken.

I've already boosted the center volume, and I don't think my amp allows treble alteration per channel.

 

[NeilF]

In an AV system the centre is the most important speaker. Something like 70% of all the sound you hear in a multichannel mix comes from the centre channel. Broadly speaking, the left and right add a small amount for panning effects and take care of music. The surrounds are only busy when there's something that needs them. The centre is where most of the audio action is coming from.

Match the front three speakers. Surrounds don't need to be as critical. A good sub is important, particularly when it's handling the bass that the other speakers cant reproduce.

Centre #1
Front L&R #2
Sub #3
Surrounds #4

Thanks... OK... Looks like a like-for-like replacement of that 304 is the way to go then.

I wouldn't mind spending that £300 on the Dali Oberon center, but if that would then mean I'd sensibly have to change the front L/R to Dali as well (Dali Oberon 1), we're heading towards £800 etc... Which is a hmmm...

 

[NeilF]

I've already boosted the center volume, and I don't think my amp allows treble alteration per channel.

WELL! WELL! WELL!

Having just dived into the the Amp, each speaker has a 15 band equaliser setting available! So there is the potential on the center channel to up certain frequencies etc!