Center Channel placement advice, please...

[ERM]

History, I recently purchased a flat TV entertainment center and 46" Sony XBR4. I'm utilizing my existing stereo (Polk RT800i's and PSW350). Through advice I got on this site I've decided to purchase the new Polk CSiA6 (could not find a used CS400i, the correct match).
Issue, the Polk CSiA6 is BIG. I understand it needs to be either, below, in front of or above the TV. If I put it below, I'll need to raise the television several inches (most likely by wall mounting it). If I put it above, I'll need to put in a shelf above the TV. In front of the TV doesn't work at all (The entertainment center has cabinet doors and a partition in the middle, no room for the speaker inside).

Any advice?

 

[mike c]

i'd go for the shelf OVER the tv. if you raise the tv too much, it might make you crane your head when watching. rule of thumb is eyeball level on the center of the tv. +- a few degrees, depending on distance

 

[ERM]

Makes sense, although its not what I wanted to hear, I had almost decided to wall mount the TV with a pivot mount. My setup is in a long room, where the TV is against one of the long walls so the mount and/or shelf would be very visible when entering the room (this may matter to my lovely spouse). To make room for the center on the entertainment center, I would have to raise the TV 6 inches, my viewing position is 10' to 12' away, would that really make that big of a difference?

 

[mike c]

10-12' away is pretty far, which means raising 6" probably isn't gonna matter much ...

go for the swivel mount