What Center Channel are you using in your Home Theater?


Hi all you Home Theater enthusiasts out there. I am looking for your help and experience!

I am using an all GoldenEar set up in my HT, with Triton Ones for my front L & R

their XXL center channel

with their in-wall for sides and rears, and even have 4 Atmos speakers in my ceiling, with an additional center channel above my XXL in the ceiling.

The reason I have put a 2nd CC in the ceiling is that I just do not hear the dialogue very clearly from my XXL on the floor.

Look, I have heard many times that one has to have the same matching speakers for the front BUT I really watch a lot of movies and believe that I were to get a really clear center, I would be ahead of the game as the dialogue would be clearer, and I could then hear the voices better than what I have now.

I am an "older" gentlemen, (now those 2 words really bother me, but I may as well be as honest as I can with all of you), so what I want is to hear the dialogue as well as possible. As my HT is dark, I am really not as concerned if the speakers do not match as no one will "see" them, we only "hear" them.

What would you suggest that I get? In your opinion, what are the best center channels out there now?

Steve

PS

I am upgrading my front L & R to the GoldenEar Triton Reference shortly, so now is the time to get a new CC if possible.
I am using a Classé 5300 to push my front 3 channels + my rears.
128x128eternalcamper
Having this center speaker "almost" at ear level is not sufficient.  Having your ears even slightly above the tweeter will result in a big loss in perceived detail from the listening chair.  It is most important that the tweeter be at the same level as or aimed directly at your ears with this speaker.  In fact, if you read John Atkinson's review of the Triton Reference you'll notice he actually propped the speakers up from behind to get the tweeters pointing more inline with his ears to achieve good treble balance.  Feeling like a broken record here so I'm done.  Best of luck. 

I too am a GE enthusiast!! have the Triton Ones and the XXL center, and Triton7's as surrounds. recently switched to the GE's from Maggies 1.7i's. needed a change after 25+years with maggies. glad I swithced to the GE's 
Steve,
Sorry for late response about Salk center channel option. 
Anyway, here is mine
http://www.salksound.com/model.php?model=Veracity+HT2C

Seems it was around $2K to build and ship.  He is a custom builder --- he will build it with the port in front, in back, or sealed, and whatever finish you want.  He has less expensive options that probably are just as good, especially if you are mostly after dialogue.  Just give him a call and describe your situation.  Salksound.com

Doug
Martin Logan 50xt
Over the years I have changed out the center channel more times than sense just trying to get that clarity in dialogue that is essential to home theater.
I bought this 3 years ago and the changes have ceased!
I believe the "folded motion" tweeter is the key
None of my other speakers are Martin Logan
I have not bought into the all speakers from same manufacturer, have tried that twice and still was not happy.

Just my thoughts and experience
YMMV
eternalcamper: I have not heard anyone yet speak of the phantom center channel that one gets when the mains are properly situated.  My ML Motion 20's produce such a clear phantom center I have to get up sometimes any be certain I have the processing turned off.  However, that being said, have you tried using the manual speaker setup and increase the level of your center along with the repositioning.  Your Marantz will allow you manually tweak the crossover (usually @ 80hz for surround processing) as well as the level.  I believe, if memory serves, you can increase the levels to as much as a +9db  (I too am an 'older' guy, lol).  I am in the voice matching camp.  My center is the ML Motion 8 and does quite well with a +2db setting compared to the flat setting on the mains.