You don't really NEED a center
Strictly speaking, you don't absolutely need a center at all. With stereo, things that are "in the center" are really just equal in the two speakers (this is sometimes called "the phantom center".) While it's true that a real physical center will do a slightly better job at "pinning the dialog to the center" and such, you can live just fine without one.
Most home theater receivers and pre / pros are smart enough that, if you simply tell them you don't have a center speaker, they will mix the dialog (or whatever else belongs in the center) to the front main speakers and it will still sound like it's in the center where it belongs.
Eventually, when you get a real center, you can mount it horizontally below or above the TV screen. While, ideally, all three front speakers should be a pretty close match, you can also still use a smaller center (just set it to "small" in the bass management on your pre / pro or receiver.
The same is sort of true for the surround speakers but, if you want proper effects around the back, you really need surrounds (given the choice of what to take care of first, I would say that surrounds are more important than a front center for home theater).
KeithL
Yeah, I think I am going to wait for the center to go on sale. I don't have any place to set the center above my tv since there are no wall mounts. I may just try to find a stand for my tv. From what I have searched it looks like I may have to build it myself.
