matching center channel to mains/rears

If at all possible, try to use the same brand and model speaker all the way around. The resulting soundfield will be much more seamless and cohesive. I originally strted out with Gallo Ref. 3.1s as my mains and used Gallo Dues for the Center and Rear channels. This sounded pretty darn good.

But my system *really* improved when I replaced the Dues with the Gallo Reference AVs - WOW!! I now have a system that is truly good-sounding and I can now sit virtually anywhere in the room and still hear a very satisfactory soundfield.

I had to wait almost a year to find the right speakers at the right price (and I found ALL of my speakers right here on Audiogon!!), but I am SO glad that I did. I don't expect to change out my speakers for at least the next 10-15 years. And, trust me, my ears are not suffering one iota!!

-RW-

I agree with the prevailing wisdom so far that matching your center to your mains is ideal. Having said that, my center does not match my mains, and it has not bothered me at all. I think part of the reason for that is that, as a generalization, the program material is different in the center than it is in the mains. Yes, sound effects that pan across all three channels will have greater discontinuity if you use a non-matching center. But what are those effects? Car drive by's and the like. How important is that to you? For me, not very.

I’d be curious to learn how many guys & gals that don’t have separate 2 channel and home theater systems change the center speaker when they change the front speakers. My center speaker is a Monitor Audio Silver, and on my journey to TAS, I’ve paired that with Monitor Audio 10’s, ProAc’s, Acoustic Zen Adagio’s, Usher BE 718’s, and now Focal BE Micro Utopia’s. With my Theta Casablanca II, I’ve never had a problem matching the new fronts to the old center.

Two more considerations:

1. Room correction software can aid a bit in speaker matching, making a non identical center blend better.

2. If you do get matching pieces, they might be easier to sell as such later, but in reality the matching may hold you back from spending more elsewhere in your system now. i.e. putting the money saved from "lesser" center into better mains, cables or just movies.