I guess I should say about $400 for the center channel and $250 for the bookshelf/surrounds is what I'm looking to spend
Not high end like $800 or more. I've been looking at Klipsch Reference series (those 4 speaker centers for $900 are dreamy...but outta my range or need

). I'll go check out Definitive Technology now.
Paradigm Reference Studio CC
Boston Acoustics VR 12
Polk Audio CS400
..are three early center channel contenders I'm liking quite a bit.