Center or Phantom Center?????


Why do we perfect our two channel setups.....and then add a center channel??? I know...it's for the 7.1 movie setup.....and it anchors the dialog....and all that jazz. But shouldn't a good stereo setup up front do the job? I'm gonna a/b test my phantom center mode with the center active mode and report back here.
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I only have 5.1 but with 5 Cornwalls, al timbre matching rocks...the center is horizontal on top of Elite HD710, verticles horns down, and 15" woofer up...sounds amazing...
It is best to have at least the front speakers the same.
Just a follow up. I really like the phantom center mode better, even though my Martin Logan Theater Center is well matched to my CLSIIz's and scripts.
Interesting article/interview on Multichannel music in this months issue of The Absolute Sound. Seems there is some emerging consensus to consider losing the center channel for multichannel music listening. For movies...there is lots of controversy and my guess is that it varies depending on room setup, equipment, source material etc. Very interesting read.