[SteveFord]

I like Molly dog and no poodle yet.
I'll probably cave like I do with everything else.  I try to be a good man.
Have to put up the Stern Front, first, and get some bellowing out of my system.
The problem is that boxers are such large, active dogs and they can really take over a lot of real estate - kind of like planar speakers.
I'll bet the Sunfires would work out really well for center channel.  Hmmm....
Luckily, my wife does NOT like birds as she squished the family parakeet, Pepe', in a door when she was a kid.  I'll have to ask if they made shishkabob or went the Shake 'N' Bake route.
There's an idea for you - terrible accident with the door, a keg of beer and it's backyard barbacue time!

[kevin360]

2) I believe the lyric is "A poodle dog bites it and a poodle dog chews it". Among my favorite FZ lines.

In fact, the lines go as follows:

The poodle bites!
(Come on, Frenchie)
The poodle chews it!
(Snap it!)

What's hilarious is that Frank got the Ikettes to sing this stuff. He once remarked about how sweet and thoughtful Tina was. Anyway, I agree - funny stuff. Of course, the poodle in question must have that disco look .

Steve, if you give in to the poodle, it would have to be on the grounds that it be named Frunobulax. 

[Emsquare]

In fact, the lines go as follows:

The poodle bites!
(Come on, Frenchie)
The poodle chews it!
(Snap it!)

What's hilarious is that Frank got the Ikettes to sing this stuff. He once remarked about how sweet and thoughtful Tina was. Anyway, I agree - funny stuff. Of course, the poodle in question must have that disco look .

Steve, if you give in to the poodle, it would have to be on the grounds that it be named Frunobulax. 

I stand corrected. I bow to your superior Zappa knowledge. (and Google) I thought I had recalled the line correctly as it is pretty funny. Apparently I have misquoted that for a number of years. I'm going to plead artistic liberty.

I wonder what ever became of the infamous poodle? Have to think that there was one that inspired the verse referred to.

It's remarkable that Thunderbrick's bird still abides. First thing I thought for the attached pic was the bird thinking... "just a little to the left... A little more and ... bloop" There's only so many things it can do to fulfill its purpose.

[kevin360]

I wonder what ever became of the infamous poodle? Have to think that there was one that inspired the verse referred to.

The real Frunobulax was actually a sheep dog named Fruney, but that morphed into the name of the monster in 'Cheepnis' (which looked like a giant poodle dog...) - another great song (fun, fun, fun). That, of course, is a different poodle reference from the one Steve mentioned. Poodle theory exists in the form of a five minute lecture to open 'You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol 6' - he had quite a sense of humor.

[ajzepp]

I've thought about going the "phantom" center route as well sometimes.  But really the MMG-C is pretty decent - and w/ the 60 day trial, there's really little to no risk trying it. Buying a pair of MMG's used to experiment with as a center is also pretty low risk as they are much in demand in the used market and very easy to sell on.

If someone has experience trying all three (and / or also the CC5 or CCR) vs phantom center & what their preference was & why, I'd be interested in hearing it.

Have you thought about a used CC3? You can find them from time to time for under five bills and it's a fantastic speaker. I've been using one with my 3.6s for the past three years and I love it.

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/planars-magnepan-cc3-center-channel-speaker-2012-11-03-speakers-93063

[SteveFord]

Back in 1978 I purchased a beautiful Burmese Python hatchling (this is when they first started coming into the US).
As this little gem would eventually grow up to be as big as a blimp with a rhinestone collar, I named this little girl "Frunobulax".
Two guesses where her name came from...
She was a good one.

I haven't heard a CC3 but was admiring your set up the other day when I was trying to show my wife what I have in mind. 

[jarcher]

A used CC3 is what I will do if - rather than probably when - dissatisfaction sets in with the mmg-c. That or a phantom center. I wonder what the relative merits of each are?  I actually find myself manually lowering the center channel level a bit as I don't like it to be too prominent at stock settings.