I agree with those suggesting some sort of center channel. Just because a system images great with music, don't expect it to make sound appear to be coming from the actors on the screen. The recording are not done the same way. It seems that you are making decisions on sound based on furniture limitations. I suggest picking your equipment then furniture. I had the same problem with too large a center for any cabinets I could find. I ended up using a console table for behind couches for the TV. I cut the legs down so it would just clear my center mounted on its stand. This was done for $150 leaving the big money for the good stuff :)
Matching the center channel to the fronts
OK, I know it is ideal to match the center channel to the fronts, but I am constrained by the fact that my TV stand will only accomodate a center channel that is approximately 19 1/4" wide. This severely limits my choices when it comes to the fronts which I am thinking about purchasing. With each brand, I would have to drop down a class to get a center channel which fits.
So the question is: should I just drop down a class in the fronts as well, in order to get timbre matched speakers (i.e. get the Focal Chorus instead of the Cobalt with Chorus center or the Dynaudio Audience 42C with the 72 instead of the Focus 200 and audience 42C)?
Or should I go with the higher grade fronts, especially since I plan to use it 70% music and 30% HT (and I do more critical listening with music as opposed to movie soundtracks).
So the question is: should I just drop down a class in the fronts as well, in order to get timbre matched speakers (i.e. get the Focal Chorus instead of the Cobalt with Chorus center or the Dynaudio Audience 42C with the 72 instead of the Focus 200 and audience 42C)?
Or should I go with the higher grade fronts, especially since I plan to use it 70% music and 30% HT (and I do more critical listening with music as opposed to movie soundtracks).