I have actually seen photos with four --

I think having five (one center) would be perfect. They're very powerful speakers given their size - I have two now as back surrounds, and on the few occasions that they really get tested they deliver. (They're really wasted as back surrounds - given the moderate info that actually comes through those channels. But on the occasional movie they do make a difference.)

But five set up for surround would look very nice, deliver excellent sound and do you proud. (Though you might want to have a BL2 or other sub to deliver ooommph in the bottom register ...)

I do own a pair of BL3 that are acting as surround and i'm quite happy with it; just perfect for the function.

Sometimes i look at them and feel that they should be used more, but i don't see movies all the time, though.

I have 4 of these connected to a Beovision 9 (the Lounge). They sound great but...I have a 'movie room' with 2 Beolab 9's (as fronts) and 2 Beolab 3 as rears, and a sub...The sound from the Lounge doesn't compare to the Movie room (obviously I guess)...Which is fine as I use the setup in the Lounge for general viewing, and use the movie room for, well, movies...

What I'm getting at is I can compare the two, and my advice to you is if you're thinking of these speakers to watch movies on, they need the sub. If you can get these and the sub, I would. They sound nice, but with the sub they are sweet...I had the sub in the lounge for a bit, and when I took it out it made a hell of a difference. I was actually suprised at how much they do get used as rears as well, I personally think they are worth having there.

Hope that helps.

Dear Dave: 

Would you please explain, a little, as to the benefits of having, in the example give 5 BL 3s, a BL 3 as a center channel?  Would a BL 7-4 be 'better or worst'?  

Just wondering, in the future I am planning a more robust surround set up then the current, BL 9 front, BL 3 rear, & BL 7-4 center hooked to BV 7.

Thanks,

Dario