phantom center channel

Depending on the quality of your main speakers and their ability to image, a phantom center can be a better alternative to an actual speaker. Although the dialog won't be as "anchored" for those on the sides, integrating a center channel speaker (for music) can be quite challenging (much like integrating subwoofers).

I used to have an actual center channel. I currently use a phantom center and find that the image is much more cohesive this way.

If you really want a center channel, what about a floor stand under your TV? I see some in virtual systems and they look sharp!

Sammydog,

I ran a dynamic center channel for awhile with Magnepan fronts and found I preferred the phantom center channel - the voices were better integrated with the rest of the audio. But I recently added a Magnepan center channel to match the fronts and found I prefer this due to my seating arrangement for movies: the seats are along both sides.
It definitely anchored the dialog and made it more cohesive. If you're seating positions are centered, I'd suggest just using the phantom. But if they're not, I' d say use a center of the same brand and quality.

There's a very good roundtable discussion on this in one of last years Absolute Sounds. Don't rememenber which issue but I think it's included in the surround sound discussion.
EMM labs will mod their Switchman preamp for a phantom center by spliting the center channel info to the front right and left speakers.

Don't forget though, that in movies, the center channel passes over 60% of the sonic energy...The percentage used to be greater with Pro Logic setups (>70%), but, nonetheless, the majority of action is happening on your screen, or behind it, as the mounting case may be. The main L & R, and secondary L & R fronts, in some systems configured as such, are obviously important, as well, as are the surround channels. In my opinion, though, there is too great an amount dedicated to a driver array that would not be "there". Plus, if one is interested in running a spec system (be it THXU2, THXU1, THXSelect1/2, or just a great 5.1 configuration), one should at least run with the basics covered, at first, and make additions/deletions from there...