I just added a kef r2 meta center to two kef r3 meta speakers and the dialogue improved significantly. I haven't watched tenet though. How can eveyone feel like a good center channel does absolutely nothing? I'm shocked to see 3 or 4 threads on the main ht page here. I only have a 3.1 setup though, no room for surrounds unfortunately. Or will I too become disillusioned eventually?
You can't hear dialogue because it doesn't matter
I've made several speakers in my life including 2 center channel units. People always ask me if it improves dialogue. My answer has been, no, not really, except in the ability to turn the center up relative to the L and R. What improves dialogue is an excellent frequency response and lack of colorations especially in the mid-bass. Centers are ideally for wide-angle listening.
Here is more on that subject.
This article from NPR says that some directors literally don't' even care if you can understand the dialogue. You just need to get the mood. We've gone from directors who don't care about the plot, to those who don't even care if you can hear the lines.