How Important is a Center Speaker?

[Tahoe Gator]

Interesting given my dilemna of trying to inobtrusively place a center channel speaker. I have JBL SPC8 speakers mounted in ceiling for L+R front and rear and was planning to use the Monitor Radius 225 as a center channel because it's shape makes it less obtrusive in my setup (and presumably it is a good speaker) ... would I be better off with a JBL center channel, even if I detest the way it will look? Another SPC8 in the ceiling would be perfect match, but at the sacrifice of in the ceiling instead of nearer the screen.

[itgbkj]

No wonder people have been telling me to get ALL WHARFEDALE brands to complete my set. It has something to do with matching speakers. Thanks for that tip! Now, I'm settled to getting that Diamond 9 CS.

[Woochifer]

Interesting given my dilemna of trying to inobtrusively place a center channel speaker. I have JBL SPC8 speakers mounted in ceiling for L+R front and rear and was planning to use the Monitor Radius 225 as a center channel because it's shape makes it less obtrusive in my setup (and presumably it is a good speaker) ... would I be better off with a JBL center channel, even if I detest the way it will look? Another SPC8 in the ceiling would be perfect match, but at the sacrifice of in the ceiling instead of nearer the screen.

You generally should go with three identical speakers up front wherever possible. With ceiling mounted speakers, you don't have an issue with the TV in the middle, so there's no reason not to use three identical speakers for the L/C/R channels.

Any kind of tonal mismatch with the center speaker will disrupt the continuity of the front soundstage. You want it as seamless as possible, and using a mismatching center speaker is more likely to create a disruption.