In this review, we will be comparing Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker and C1C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Aperion and ATC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker and ATC C1C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker | ATC C1C |
|---|
| Brand | Aperion
United States · founded 1998 | ATC
United Kingdom · founded 1974 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 0.98" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" | 4.92" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-30k Hz | 57-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-200 Watts watts | 75 to 300 Watts watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.11kg / 26.6lbs | 12.70kg / 27.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.7" x 23.5" x 9.5"
221.0 x 596.9 x 241.3mm | 6.34" x 16.14" x 11.02"
161.0 x 410.0 x 280.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker and ATC C1C speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker |
ATC C1C |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
No way |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker and C1C are 2-way speakers.
Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel SpeakerATC C1C
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker |
ATC C1C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.98-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 4.92-inch
|
Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Woofer. On the other hand, the C1C features a 0.98" Tweeter and 1 x 4.92" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.5kHz.
Frequency Response
Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker has a frequency range of 50-30k Hz whereas C1C has a frequency range of 57-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the C1C's min frequency of 57Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the C1C which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the C1C's is rated at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker a more sensitive speaker compared to ATC C1C, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS, whereas C1C has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker's and ATC C1C's external dimensions. Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker has external dimensions of 221.0 x 596.9 x 241.3mm (8.7 x 23.5 x 9.5inch) whereas ATC C1C has external dimensions of 161.0 x 410.0 x 280.0mm (6.34 x 16.14 x 11.02inch).
ATC C1C is 186.9mm narrower and 60mm shorter than Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker but it is also 38.7mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker needs about 25% more floor or shelf area. ATC C1C is 39mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker is 60mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker is approximately 1440.3cm2 / 223.2inch2 and base area of the ATC C1C is approximately 1148.0cm2 / 177.9inch2. The Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker requires 25% more surface area than the C1C which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker weighs 12.11kg / 26.6lbs and the ATC C1C weighs 12.70kg / 27.9lbs. This makes the C1C 5% heavier than the Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker.
Here is a comparison of how Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker and C1C's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4.92 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
1598USD
vs
1599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
161mm
vs
221mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1148cm2
vs
1440cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker |
ATC C1C |
| Brand |
Aperion |
ATC |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-200 Watts watts |
75 to 300 Watts watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-30k Hz |
57-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
4.92" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
|
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.98" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2.5kHz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
221.0mm (8.7") |
161.0mm (6.3") |
| Width |
596.9mm (23.5") |
410.0mm (16.1") |
| Depth |
241.3mm (9.5") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Weight |
12.11kg (26.6lbs) |
12.70kg (27.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Sealed |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker digs deeper - 50Hz against 57Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | ATC C1C is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker takes more power (400W vs 300W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | ATC C1C is easier to place; Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,598 vs $1,599 a pair). |
A Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker B ATC C1C
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 57Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Aperion Novus N6C 6.5" Center Channel Speaker has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, ATC C1C is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.