Speaker question - centre speakers?

[chameleojo]

Hi - I'm going to sell my hi-fi and get some speakers for under ??80 to act as a stereo system along with my iPod.
Thing is, I don't really have much of a clue about speakers and I'm a first time iPod owner too!
I've seen centre speakers that look neat and symmetrical and don't take up too much space, but are these designed more for use as part of a group of speakers and therefore have crap sound on their own??
Does anyone have any suggestions for some speakers that don't take up too much room, are a good hi-fi replacement and cost under ??80 ($140)?
Thanks for your help!

[altcountryman]

I'm still in the dark ages with my own sprechers, but I am pretty sure the center is for a surround system's center channel - to make the stuff happening in a movie sound like it's right in front of you, as opposed to off to the side. Since, with surround, there are other sounds that are supposed to be to the side.

So, for music only, my guess is the center speaker probably adds little or no value.

I'd do more research, though, it's been a loooong time since I bought speakers!