Fishcall...Interesting that you mention stands for Maggies. Most people think they are too tall already! I do not currently use stands, but I have experimented in the past, and I think stands are good. Actually, I prefer to suspend speakers in space by chains from the ceiling, but this is not usually possible.
When I went shopping for my current Maggies, the only other model I listened to was the 3.6. I liked the 1.6 just as well, and they are a lot cheaper, especially when you are buying three.
Over time I have gone to more and more powerful amps. I presently use three CarverPro ZR 1600 amps (600 watts/channel at 4 ohms) each driving a Maggie and its associated subwoofer. These amps cost only about $840, so the high power is very affordable.
If your Left and Right speakers are Maggies, the center should be also. My Maggie system is for music so I don't have to worry about blocking a video screen.
