choosing a center channel

Have you tried no center? None is better than a mediocre center channel speaker. Many people prefer a phantom center on movies.

How many listeners/viewers do you usually have? If only 1 or 2, the phantom will work well. The main purpose of the center is to anchor that channel's sound in the middle for listeners too far left or right for good stereo imaging. For music, don't consider anything but phantom unless you get an *exact* match to your L/R speakers.

Stringreen -
I have a powered sub. you are right about that.

Oj - I never even thought about trying to go without a center. But I am going to give it a try. The L&R are wide enough that it should work just fine. I guess that my HTR would be set to phantom center and then it would do the rest.
Actually, many TV shows that we watch are in stereo and I usually dont force them into 5.1 because I dont like my current center speaker (B&W LCR60). I have just n3ever tried to watch a movie that way and have not run the room eq that way. Will be an interesting experiment...

There is a pair of yaras for sale on this sight for $495. Perhaps one can be used as your center if it will fit and use the other for a 6.1 back surround. I think it is far better to have a center speaker for when you want it than to not have one at all.

Thanks all. I tried the phantom center set up last night and diidnt really like it. It left the center a little too soft for my taste.
I am trying to make the best of a compromised situation. The same room serves both 2ch and movies. I might be able to firm up the middle for movies by altering the positions of my L&R but I have them where I want the mfor music listening and dont want to move them...
I have a decent center that will work till i can get a good one and in the mean time i learned how to turn the center off on my avr. Thanks!
A used yar amight work. I will need to get on line and check out the drivers. I have never heard them. But they look small enough that I might be able to stand one upright under my tv.

Jimmy, what don't you like about your B&W LCR60?