Maybe I'm just over thinking this.
1. I want the center channel to be at ear height when sitting.
2. I want the TV to be at eye level when sitting.
So I put the center on top of a TV stand, with some sorbothane feet to isolate the vibrations from the TV stand. Then I put the TV on top of the center. If the center is 14" deep and the TV base is 9" deep the TV should be fine on top of it, with an old towel in between to protect the wood of the center.
How do other people usually do it, to have the center at ear level and the TV at eye level? I don't want the TV raised up really high, then I'd have to strain my neck watching it.
Or maybe, buy some wood and built a simple custom shelf to set the TV on right behind the center, so that the bottom of the TV screen just clears the top of the center. It would be behind the center so you wouldn't see it, it wouldn't have to be fancy.