matching center channel to mains/rears

the conventional wisdom, with which i fully concur, is to match your center to your fronts as closely as possible so as to preserve a seamless presentation. ideally, you'd use a another ml summit as a center, or at least another ml with substantially similar drivers, impedance, etc. rears, which generally aren't as prominent in the surround mix, are less critical, so you should be fine with your vsteens.

I always matching my center channel to my mains. It helped with imaging but more important tonality and overall performance particularly in scenes when there is more than just voices coming over the center. (Opinion) having a center that melds in with your mains tonally and otherwise helps with the overall satisfaction for the HT experience; you'll hear a difference I believe when you have scenes with music and other background effects panning from L->R or R->L (or Front to back), etc...in the overall soundstage. Have you tried to find your desired center here on Audiogon? If that is still a bit pricey, could you consider the next model down in the line? There is another side to think of as well...do you like the tonality, imaging and dispersion that the center channel which matches the Summits gives? If not, that may well be the best argument for considering another center channel. I'd suggest a Legacy Silver Screen HD (excellent, have used this personally) or the equivalent B&W speaker (have heard these personally).

hate to say it but what the heck.... blew my center channel tweeter awhile back and while waiting on a new unit I slapped in a bookshelf from my other system and interestingly found that the difference was much less than expected and once the movie started I never noticed it. I'd heard that you really can tell when the sound sweeps across the front but I found that very few of my movies have this sound effect. that aside yes I would match them but personally i'd not panic about it!

If at all possible, try to use the same brand and model speaker all the way around. The resulting soundfield will be much more seamless and cohesive. I originally strted out with Gallo Ref. 3.1s as my mains and used Gallo Dues for the Center and Rear channels. This sounded pretty darn good.

But my system *really* improved when I replaced the Dues with the Gallo Reference AVs - WOW!! I now have a system that is truly good-sounding and I can now sit virtually anywhere in the room and still hear a very satisfactory soundfield.

I had to wait almost a year to find the right speakers at the right price (and I found ALL of my speakers right here on Audiogon!!), but I am SO glad that I did. I don't expect to change out my speakers for at least the next 10-15 years. And, trust me, my ears are not suffering one iota!!

-RW-