Audio Systems: DVD / Surround Sound, center channel speaker, channel amplifier

Question
When I play a movie on my DVD / Surround sound system I can hear the music or special effects, but I can't hear the people's voices.

Answer
You are not getting the mono channel.  Or, you may have the speakers out of phase - which cancels out the center channel information.  Or, the front center channel speaker is not hooked up.

So, there are three possibilities as mentioned above.

Let me suggest the following:

First:  Check the center channel speaker; make sure it is hooked up.  Check the amplifier to make sure you have the feed signals connected or the settings on the center unit correct.

Second:  If there is sound coming from the center speaker, unplug or disconnect either the front left or front right speaker.  If this gives some center channel information, then reverse the wires going to the speaker you just unhooked.  (If the polarity is out of phase with the other speaker or with the center channel, it will greatly reduce the output of the center information, but not eliminate it.)

Then: If you are sure everything is hooked up correctly it may be the center channel amplifier or speaker is defective in which case you will need service.

Let me know if these suggestions do not solve the problem and give me the results of your investigation and we can try something else.

Cleggsan