Adding center channel speaker to 380w system

My 2016 SE premium won't have the awesome 800w system that I currently have. And it pains me...

I was wondering what experience people have had with adding a center channel speaker (for which there still exists a space /speaker grate), amp and channel splitter.

Also notes on recommended components are great.

Thanks!

(14-11-2015 10:05pm)fstfwd Wrote:  My 2016 SE premium won't have the awesome 800w system that I currently have. And it pains me...

I was wondering what experience people have had with adding a center channel speaker (for which there still exists a space /speaker grate), amp and channel splitter.

Also notes on recommended components are great.

Thanks!

you should have 11 speakers @ least and the center channel should be there.
3 x in the LH door
3 x RH door
2 x LH rear door
2 x RH rear door
1 center

The 11th speaker is the subwoofer. Based on the diagram here http://media.meridian-audio.com/datashee...-A4-ds.pdf

Assuming you will have the 380w system, yes, the 11th is the sub, however you will need to add an amp to drive it. It then sounds awesome. Adding the centre speaker would be dreadful IMHO. The sound field processing that Meridian has designed for each of the 380 & 800 systems is the best I've heard to date. You really don't want to mess with it, which adding a centre speaker to the 380 system and somehow tapping into one of the channels, would certainly do. All the speakers have discreet wiring, each channelling their own signals. It isn't a simple stereo setup with crossovers in the doors etc.

The only drawback is that you can't really turn down the front or rear speakers without destroying the sound, as the whole experience relies on all speakers working together. Hope that helps a bit

I appreciate the perspective. I've spoken to a local car audio place that has done several center channel installs on the full size RR, and they specially run the stereo processing through an Artisan 1 (?) mixer, then to an amp/center speaker and the rest back out to the other speakers.

I've driven a '15 loaner with the 380w and the difference is night and day... It honestly doesn't sound like they are doing much to manage that audio. There is no DSP... Just standard treble, bass, sub... And you can completely hear the difference.

This was a DUMB move imho by Land Rover to not give you the option to make the better system available in these models. And an HSE was just a waste of money to jump up to.

(15-11-2015 09:37am)Clip Wrote:  Assuming you will have the 380w system, yes, the 11th is the sub, however you will need to add an amp to drive it. It then sounds awesome. Adding the centre speaker would be dreadful IMHO. The sound field processing that Meridian has designed for each of the 380 & 800 systems is the best I've heard to date. You really don't want to mess with it, which adding a centre speaker to the 380 system and somehow tapping into one of the channels, would certainly do. All the speakers have discreet wiring, each channelling their own signals. It isn't a simple stereo setup with crossovers in the doors etc.

The only drawback is that you can't really turn down the front or rear speakers without destroying the sound, as the whole experience relies on all speakers working together. Hope that helps a bit

Why don't they call it 10.1 or 16.1 like the rest of the industry.

Because the majority of consumers are still trying to figure out where their .1 speaker is in their home theater setup.

Here in the UK you can still have the 850w system as a factory fitted option, problem is it isn't cheap but it might cost less than having a retrofitted system with the risk of spoiling the OEM system. On the RRS2 there is also the option of the 1700w Signature Meridian System and everyone I have spoken to who has experienced it says that it really is one of the best systems you can get fitted in any car, but then you would expect that for paying an additional £4000/$6000............

I feel your pain. I drove the 800w system for a couple days and ended up buying one with the 380w. It sucks in comparison. In fact the audio is so bad I can't believe they would sell it that way. My ears tell me I'm in a rental car! The meridian sound selection on the 800w system sounds great. I haven't found anyone that's upgraded their basic sound system, but I surely would like to!

It's not even the system persay, that's still more wattage/speakers than many of the competitors out there. It's that most of those lower end systems have to make 6 or 8 speakers sound good. So, they put at least two facing the windshield, which really helps push the audio more towards the center.

In evoque 380w it would seem all you get it lateral sound, and the kills the imaging.