Best Complete HomeTheater USED for $5000.00

Rsbeck, you make a good point about center channel sound. My center channel speaker rests on top of my TV in a pretty ideal location. Nevertheless, I find it very distracting to hear the dialogue come from above the picture, so I turn up my TV's speakers to mix with the center channel. This brings the dialogue back to the picture. I can see where an excellent two channel system might be better for the "floating dialogue" effect more in keeping with the theatrical experience. I don't know this for a fact (and I should), but I think the dialogue speakers in a commercial theater are located behind the movie screen, which results in the words and picture locking together. Someone might be able to educate me here.

Chad, my center is toed down about half an inch. I sit about seven feet away, and the center is about 4 1/2 feet off the floor. The nearfield set-up is probably an issue, but I really don't have any problem integrating the speakers from my Sony XBR TV. I really only add enough TV speaker to add some ambience to the dialogue. It's not like I rely on the TV speakers for the majority of the center channel signal.

Thanks for your thoughts.

My experience with a center channel speaker has been less than spectacular. Based on the outstanding imaging of my reference two channel system, I'd have to agree that a 4.1 HT system with excellent imaging front speakers, properly placed in relation to the TV screen, could very likely be equal or superior to a 5.1 system. The 4.1 system would save some dough, and offer the option of changing to a 5.1 system later.