HT speaker set-up question

[RJC]

Is it better to have 5 identical speakers in a hometheatre set-up whether it be small satellites or bookshelves or is it more advantageous to use a centre channel speaker designed for that system?

[mike c]

i think that the front left, center and right should be bigger. they are the workhorses of your surround system.

so no, they don't have to be "identical (exactly the same)" but they have to match in timbre (from the same line/series of speakers)

[Rocky]

no they dont. you can mix match different speakers around your whole system... it is just suggested to keep your two fronts and center of the same make / linup to keep the sound balanced.

[Nick250]

Ideally (according to the Dolby spec) they should all be the exact same speaker. As a practical, financial and space considerations the rears do less work so one could save there. Also the purpose built centers made to mate with the mains is a good choice too.