is center channel necessary?

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I understand the need for it in theaters, where most of the audience will not be in the sweet spot of the front speakers - the center channel can then be used to ensure that everyone in the theater perceives voices, etc. as coming from the appropriate place on the screen.
In a home setup, if you are in the sweetspot of the stereo front speakers, wouldn't this be unnecessary (assuming the processor effectively mixes the center channel out to the 2 front speakers)? I had some limited time experimenting with a friends HT system, and on most movies preferred the sound without the center channel (although I did have to set up his front speakers differently to get decent imaging).
Currently I have a stereo setup, but have recently upgraded speakers and will upgrade my amp. Rather than selling 10+ year old amp and speakers, I figured that I could use them for surrounds (resulting in more cost effective and higher quality surround than I could afford otherwise). The old speakers are a reasonably close timbral match to my new ones. My overall goal is to achieve decent HT sound while not disrupting my very good stereo sound system.
Has anyone tried this on a good quality system they are familiar with?
JB
PS: current system
AR ES-1 turntable/AQ PT5 tonearm/Blue point special
Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista preamp
B&K EX442 amp (soon to be upgraded?)
Epos ES22 speakers (replaced JSE model 1 speakers)
DVD/CD player TBD (my old cd player is now out of commission)
Nakamichi BX300 tapedeck

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Topic - is center channel necessary? - Jon B 01:58:26 01/04/00 (13)

A couple of considerations - Bob Wanamaker 15:03:35 01/05/00 (0)

Re: is center channel necessary? - KirkM 15:08:58 01/04/00 (0)

Not really - John C.-Aussie 12:27:13 01/04/00 (1)

I have done the same - Joel 14:49:21 01/06/00 (0)

Re: is center channel necessary? - Hayden 03:11:43 01/04/00 (8)

Exactly - Greg 19:53:08 01/04/00 (0)

Re: is center channel necessary? - Jon B 07:05:12 01/04/00 (6)

Re: is center channel necessary? - Estes 07:56:03 01/04/00 (5)

I agree... - Jim Bookhard 14:27:08 01/04/00 (4)

Re: I agree... but.... - michael w 22:58:01 01/04/00 (3)

Re: I agree... but.... - Jim Bookhard 07:15:21 01/05/00 (2)

all too true about.... - michael 13:54:06 01/05/00 (1)

Re: all too true about.... - Estes 05:19:02 01/06/00 (0)

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