How many people for the theater? If it's one or two, I would recommend you do a phantom center and spend more money on the 2 channel amp. My personal reference system is using phantom center and I own the expensive well matched center and amplification, so it's not a cost issue. The quality of the sound is simply better in this scenario with the phantom center. This can only work though if your viewers/listeners are relatively centered between the main speakers. If they are off center too much it heavily degrades the localization of the dialog, and is not advised.
Help - How important is the center channel Amp?
I am buying a whole new setup, primarily for music but I also want to do HT. I will be using Sonus Faber Amatis for the left and right and the (cheaper) center Cremona (no other choice!?). I will be using my old speakers for the rears. For amplification I am getting quality monoblocks for the left and right.
Should I:
1) buy a good but (relatively) inexpensive multichannel amp to drive the center and rears? or
2) spend more money for an extra matching monoblock to drive the center channel (and use a cheaper amp just for the rears)?
ie. How important is it, (worth the money) to get the center as close as possible to the left and right? And will matching the amps get me there anyway? Does the fact that my center speaker is inferior to my left and right make it more or less important to get a matching top quality amp?
Should I:
1) buy a good but (relatively) inexpensive multichannel amp to drive the center and rears? or
2) spend more money for an extra matching monoblock to drive the center channel (and use a cheaper amp just for the rears)?
ie. How important is it, (worth the money) to get the center as close as possible to the left and right? And will matching the amps get me there anyway? Does the fact that my center speaker is inferior to my left and right make it more or less important to get a matching top quality amp?