How big should center spkr be to set to "large"?

Mtrot,

Have your tried "Hometheater Blasphemy" and run a phantom center. Your Legacy speakers have ribbon tweaters so they should be fast enough for dialog. I run phantom center and I get a decent image. In fact I seem to hear seperation of dialog when there are 2 characters next to each other on screen (though this may be a visual/psychological mind trick)

I've experimented with the whole "use your receiver to cross" thing, but I found the sound to more balanced and pleasant to the ears when running my speakers to LARGE.

If you seem to like the sound better when running the center to LARGE, then "TRUST YOUR EARS"

But I would like to see what happens if you fooled w/ your Legacy speaker placement for good imaging, then try running the "phantom center". If this works good, then maybe sell the center for a nice sub - then run LFE to the sub.

If your tweaters are at a good height compared to your RPTV, I do not see the problem w/ dialog being anchored to the screen.

I prefer running my speakers IN LARGE. I found that LARGE took alot of the harshness and edge off the sound, and I run a humble 100watts per channel.

My speakers are rated down to 36Hz, but get in room performance down to mid 20's (subs help smooth out the peaks and valleys). My subs (also) get plugged into the LFE out and I think it sounds pretty good. (no money and no WAF for a GREAT system though :( )

There's suppose to be a good reason for the 80Hz crossover point. I've heard the reason but have forgotten. CD, do you know the reason for the THX 80Hz crossover standard?

Is 80hz the point where sound is no longer omnidirectional?

I've have an older Pioneer VSX-711, unfortuneately it's lowest crossover point is 100Hz. I also have 6.5" woofer speakers w/ 1" tweeters (5 equal channels), and my system sounds its best set to LARGE. At 100Hz the sound was harsh/edgy and the bass was too boomy.

Mtrot, I know the reason you get better bass w/ subs set to "YES" (even w/o a sub). I was doing a google search for '"phantom center" +debate' and found out (at the AVS Forum) that whenever you downmix a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio signal, to any configuration other than 5.1 audio, that the DD player or receiver will automatically turn ON The "Dynamic Range Compression" (DRC). Meaning: Subs OFF = DRC ON; Surrounds OFF = DRC ON; Center OFF (like my setup) = DRC ON.

I did experiments on my system to confirm this. "Master and Commander" and "War of the Worlds" REALLY demonstrate this auto feature.