Center or Phantom Center?????

IF you sit in the center, it is no contest: phantom center sounds better in the typical home theater setup (if it does not something is wrong with your pre/pro, speakers, and/or amp). Center channel speakers have too many issues, they have to match/be identical to the front speakers, should be in the center of the screen, the usual center channel MTM configuration does not work well in the horizontal position especially if sitting on the tv (which also causes a lopsided baffle).

The only reason for a center channel is for viewers way off axis.

I agree with Ultrakaz.
I made the test myself last weekend and phantom center sounded better, although it may be that my mains are far better and different brand than my center.

Will keep testing.

Brgds.

Hbrandt- Yes; and don't bother. Ditched my center channel speaker a couple of years ago. My front left right speakers image very well and even off-axis listeners have the dialog anchored to the screen. I think the eye-brain relationship comes into this also. Spend the money on more DVDs.

For movies in 5.1 DTS or Dolby Digital, I prefer using the center channel. Everything in Mono, Stereo, and Pro Logic, I use the Phantom center. I usually switch off the surrounds as well, in these modes.
Sonny

Dosen't mixing the center channel info into the L&R channels cause phase cancelation?