ricred1,
The issue is not comparing one center speaker to another, it's as you say,
"the center should match the fronts."
With stereo only the image is created by 2 identical speakers. A different L&R would not create much of an image. Now with a center channel between the L&R, the image is created between the left to the center, then the center to the right. The perfect scenario is to use 3 identical speakers across the front, however that can only be done in specific situations. The next best thing is a timbre matched center to the L&R.
Take a look here especially the last line,
http://www.avtruths.com/speaker.html
Here's another good read about matching front and rear, but the principle applies to matching the center. Looking at that picture, think about the airplane actually starting in the left front speaker moving across the front, then through the room from the right front to the left rear. The only way to create that sound perfectly is to use all identical speakers throughout the room. Again, that can only be done in certain situations and timbre matched speakers will definitely be better than mismatched.
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/matching-front-and-surround-speakers
Your current center is a much better match than a different brand would be, but the timbre matched center should be better than that.
The issue is not comparing one center speaker to another, it's as you say,
"the center should match the fronts."
With stereo only the image is created by 2 identical speakers. A different L&R would not create much of an image. Now with a center channel between the L&R, the image is created between the left to the center, then the center to the right. The perfect scenario is to use 3 identical speakers across the front, however that can only be done in specific situations. The next best thing is a timbre matched center to the L&R.
Take a look here especially the last line,
http://www.avtruths.com/speaker.html
Here's another good read about matching front and rear, but the principle applies to matching the center. Looking at that picture, think about the airplane actually starting in the left front speaker moving across the front, then through the room from the right front to the left rear. The only way to create that sound perfectly is to use all identical speakers throughout the room. Again, that can only be done in certain situations and timbre matched speakers will definitely be better than mismatched.
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/matching-front-and-surround-speakers
Your current center is a much better match than a different brand would be, but the timbre matched center should be better than that.