Center Channel Speaker

[MadScientist]

I just purchased a 50" plasma TV this week to replace my old, but still working, Panasonic 47" rear projection TV.
I have JBL 940T towers in front, an Advent HT103 center channel speaker (2 - 5" woofers, 1" tweeter), and small Infinity bookshelves for my rears, all purchased around 1988.
The JBL 940T (10" & 8" poly woofers, 5" poly mid, 1" titanium tweeter) is similar in size and specs to the current JBL ES90. The JBLs and Infinitys still sound good but the Advent needs replaced. It never was a good match for the JBLs. Advent once made some great speakers before being purchased by Jensen/Recotron.
Here's a few center channel speakers I found:
Cerwin Vega VE-5C $71, shipped from Buy.com
JBL ES25CBK $150. shipped from J&R, $119. new from Fleabay.
Energy C-C50 $79. shipped from World Wide Stereo
JBL CSC55 $160. shipped from B&H

I'm leaning towards the JBL ES25CBK since the ES90 is very similar to my 940T.

Suggestions!! I'd like to stay at or under ~$160.

 

[Riverhound777]

I say go with Energy, I just got myself a C-C100 a few weeks ago

 

[sdifox]

have you called JBL? they'll be able to tell you better than anyone else.

 

[MadScientist]

Originally posted by: sdifox
have you called JBL? they'll be able to tell you better than anyone else.

Yes, but got stuck on hold for 30 minutes so I sent them an email with the specs of my 940Ts.

Besides matching the center channel to my towers there's also the problem of where to place it. Dolby's speaker guide states it should be close to ear level, for me sitting that's about 38"-40" high. Almost perfect for my towers since their mids and tweeters are about 35"and 40" high. Other guides also say the center channel should be about the same height as the mids and tweeters in your front towers, or if you have small fronts the speakers.

With my Panny rear projector there was room on the top to place my center channel speaker. This was still a bit high at 47".
Most LCD/Plasma stands I have looked at are ~20"-22" high. Placing the center channel on the first shelf or top shelf puts it too low. Placing the cc speaker on a shelf on top of the TV with a stand would put it at ~52"- 55", too high. Mounting the TV on the wall is not an option since the wall I have it on has a window behind it, and is the only wall where it can be placed in my family room.
I checked out the gallery over at the AVS forum and found only a few setups where the cc speaker is placed correctly.
I'll find somewhere to put it, or I could do away with the center channel speaker and use my 2 front towers as a phantom center.