...is this necessary??? even preferred??? I remember this was a good idea at one time and had someone suggest this on another forum and it got me to thinkin' (...whatta mistake THAT was... :p ) that maybe I should "take advantage" of this if it might meant my front 3 speakers would more closly match (sonicly (sp) not visually)
Thanks for any input...
Bill
(just trying to light a fire under you all...doncha HATE newbies??? :p )

Having the same speakers for the front is very ideal. In fact having the same speakers all around, at least five, is ideal for hi-rez music like DVD-A and SACD. Just be aware that if you have a CRT based TV, the speaker that's near that tv has to be shielded to avoid magnetic anomallies on the picture.
I have 5 speakers that are the same all around. I listen to multichannel SACD.

Main speakers tend to be bigger and bulkier than center channels too. The center is most always built to fit on a shelf or something like that. I don't know how you're planning fit to main as a standalone center. The center channels are often matched to fit the response of the mains. And in many cases the mid and highs can be exactly the same as the mains. It just may not extend as much as the mains can do that for it and/or that extension would have been re-routed to the sub anyway. This is part of how the center tends to be much smaller than the mains.

IMO, if the speaker line you are looking at is of any quality worth getting then they can make a center that will match in with the mains just fine.

I am currently looking at the Klipsch Synergy NEW F3 system...I agree, the F3 for a center would be HUGE...since it is a floor stander...it IS shielded but WOW would it be big on top of the set.
Thanks for the responses...
Bill