Good or bad idea to use a bookshelf speaker as a center speaker?

[chapelhaudio]

Thoughts on this question? Is there any reason not to use a bookshelf speaker from the same series as a center channel? If not, does it matter whether it's placed vertically or horizontally?

I have two Martin Logan Motion 15 bookshelf speakers already, and found another ML Motion 15 for sale at a decent price.

An article about center channel configurations on this site states, "Some users instead opt to just use a vertically oriented two-way bookshelf speaker. This can be a great option especially if the same speaker as the front left/right speakers is used."

 

[markw]

I don't see a problem with that. It does guarantee a perfect match with your other speakers but I'd keep the same orientation as your other speakers.

 

[shadyJ]

A vertically oriented bookshelf speaker can often be a better option then the standard horizontal center speaker design. Most center speakers are flawed from placing drivers on a horizontal plane, where lobing effects can become a problem thereby affecting intelligibility. Between the option of using a center speaker or a bookshelf speaker for the center channel, I would go with the bookshelf speaker. It works better and it's less expensive.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Ditto to what markw and shadyJ said.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt