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.

Ivyinvestor,

With my processor (as many others) you tell the unit the center is "phantom" and the information is routed to the L+R fronts (in mono, I would assume). Therefore, no information is lost.