Do You Really Need a Center Channel Speaker?

February 18, 2023

When building the perfect sound setup, you can be forgiven for purchasing unnecessary speakers. But, no forgiveness is called for with the Center speaker. This powerful audio device is often just what you need to deliver the best sound to your space. In our top story, Andrew breaks down precisely what a center speaker is, how it works, and what it’s good for, and he makes some suggestions on which ones to buy if you’re in the market for one.

Other Highlights:

• The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is finally available, and we tracked down the best deals for you.
• Microsoft officially supports Windows being installed on Macintosh machines.
• A cool LCARS web interface lets you name your own Star Trek starship.
• … and more!

— Danny

A center channel speaker may seem like an unnecessary addition to your home theater. But this essential component will improve your audio quality more than any subwoofer or satellite speaker. And if you’re having trouble hearing dialog, a center speaker is often the simplest solution. Read More »

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The pre-order period is over—Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra has officially launched. This excellent flagship phone achieved a near-perfect score in our review, and you can buy it at a huge discount for a limited time. Read More »

Nanoleaf has expanded its Lines range with a kit that can connect at 90 degree angles. Now instead of diamonds, triangles, and rhombuses, LED lighting enthusiasts can make squares and rectangles. This may not sound too exciting, but trust me Lines Squared are great. Read More »

Smartphones are an incredibly personal thing. We carry them everywhere, interact with them hundreds of times a day, and our choice in ecosystems instantly says a lot about us. If you want to boast to the world, “I have the phone with everything,” then the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is for you. Read More »

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the crown jewel of the recently released Galaxy S23 series. Featuring a 200MP camera, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2, among others, it’s indeed a solid buy. However, starting at $1,099, it does come with a hefty price tag. Read More »

If you’re still brushing your teeth manually, you may not be getting them as clean as you could. The Hum smart rhythm toothbrush uses powerful sonic vibrations to make your teeth shine to their fullest potential. The bristles are gentle on the gums, and the brush has a built-in timer that pulses every thirty seconds to keep you on track with your brushing regimen. Additionally, this smart toothbrush syncs with an app that helps you track the frequency and duration of your brushing habits. So, harness the power of technology to keep your chompers as clean and healthy as possible.

Wordle was just too easy, wasn’t it? You probably left that behind and moved on to Quordle, the true “hard mode” of the word-guessing game format. But now you’re stuck and so close to failing. Don’t worry, we’re here to help with a hint—and if you really need it, today’s Quordle Answers. Read More »

Everyone can record decent videos these days, thanks to smartphones. However, after taking what is hopefully a beautiful video, many realize it’s shaky and not very smooth or stable. It turns out humans don’t have the steadiest hands, which is why you need a camera gimbal. Read More »

Are you a huge fan of Wordle and absolutely stuck today? Let me guess; you’re hanging out on guess four or five and feeling the pressure. We get it entirely: nothing feels worse than losing your streak. If you’re not ready to outright cheat, we have you covered with hints and today’s Wordle answer. Read More »

In Tesla’s early days, the company offered unlimited free Supercharging to convince people to switch to electric vehicles. Those with a fancy Model S or Model X didn’t need to pay for gas or electricity. It’s a huge perk, but now it looks like Tesla wants it back. Read More »

Thanks to a partnership between Alludo and Microsoft, Parallels Desktop 18 is now an “authorized” solution for users who want to run Windows 11 on an Apple Silicon Mac. Unfortunately, this is a sign that Apple may not bring Boot Camp to its M1 and M2 platforms. Read More »

LCARS is the fictional computer operating system used by Starfleet starships in several Star Trek TV shows and films. The system is currently displayed in the animated comedy Trek series Lower Decks. Now, one intrepid fan has adapted the Lower Decks version of LCARS into a “crazy fan project:” Project RITOS. Read More »

If your Google Nest speaker or smart device is struggling to stream music and radio stations lately, you’re not alone. It looks like Google Assistant forgot how to play the radio, whether from a voice command or Google Home routines. Read More »

The allure of LED lights is that they last for tens of thousands of hours. If yours are burning out prematurely, here are some of the likely reasons why. Read More »

HDMI Consumer Electronics Control, HDMI-CEC, is an HDMI feature on many TVs and media devices. This feature makes your devices work better together but is often disabled by default. Here’s how to determine if your TV has it and how to turn it on. Read More »

When you hear the term internal shower, you probably cringe a little. That’s understandable. This viral drink, however, might just be good for you. Read More »

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is one of the company’s flagship phones, and it isn’t cheap. Nobody wants to buy a phone only to drop it and watch it shatter, which is why you need a good case. Read More »

The Samsung Galaxy S23 is a gorgeous phone, but it’s also on the fragile side. It’s important to keep your smartphone protected to avoid costly repairs down the line, and a case is a perfect way to do so. Read More »

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the biggest, priciest model in the S23 series. If you want to keep your phone looking like the day you took it out of the box, you’re going to need a good case. Read More »

You’ve probably seen them all over YouTube—videos of people whispering or scratching items gently with their fingernails, or even opening boxes or brushing their hair. For some people, these videos induce a physical reaction, often called a tingle. That’s ASMR. Read More »

When you think of an oral hygiene routine, you probably think of brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash. Obviously, you need to brush and floss your teeth, but is mouthwash really necessary? Read More »