Matching the center channel to the fronts

IMO, I think removing the center speaker is hindering the performance of your system. If there are other factor contributing to removing the speaker, thats one thing. If no outside constriants are there, keep the center channel and take the receiver off of phantom.

Just as a suggestion, you might wanna work on blending the speakers better, especially integrating the center with the fronts. It wouldn't hurt to get the front soundstage blended with the rear as well. When all speakers are configured properly, you'll completely understand why I say keep the center channel.

I agree with those suggesting some sort of center channel. Just because a system images great with music, don't expect it to make sound appear to be coming from the actors on the screen. The recording are not done the same way. It seems that you are making decisions on sound based on furniture limitations. I suggest picking your equipment then furniture. I had the same problem with too large a center for any cabinets I could find. I ended up using a console table for behind couches for the TV. I cut the legs down so it would just clear my center mounted on its stand. This was done for $150 leaving the big money for the good stuff :)

>I agree with those suggesting some sort of center channel. Just because a system images great with music, don't expect it to make sound appear to be coming from the actors on the screen.

A system which images well for music does even better for film. You perceive sound to be coming from peoples' lips even when they're not centered on the stereo image.

An identical center channel, with identical spacing to room boundaries (screen-wall, floor, ceiling)and no nearby objects to reflect the sound (like a television or entertainment center) will sound the same as the mains. If you don't have such a setup (which requires an acoustically transparent screen and equalization to compensate for it if all three speakers aren't behind the screen) it will sound different.

At which point, you're choosing between the lesser of two evils. With severe off-axis seating or asymetric left+right speaker placement you'd probably want a center. If you're not in that situation and can't get a sufficiently similar center channel you problem don't want one. In between it's personal preference.

I've used a pair of Linkwitz Orions for home theater + music for the last 3+ years and not yet been motivated to build a matching center channel.

In my current living arrangement, I've toed the speakers in so they cross in front of the reclining love seat I have to sit-in. The image is no less centered in the left or right seat than when we used the TV's built-in speakers when you aren't watching anything.

Previously, I sat 11' off the screen wall with the speakers 4' out, toed in to form an 8' equilateral triangle with the center seat. The image shifted a foot or two when you moved to one end of a 7' couch, although you wouldn't notice when something was being projected.

Buy a new TV stand, the center channel is critical to both
movies and especially music DVD's. The audio quality of
recent music DVD's is stuning.