Before proceeding with the rest of my post, I'd appreciate it if you could mentally add the word "Please" to the end of my Subject line as you go back and read it one more time. Thanks!! Couldn't quite make it within the character limit and want to make sure that everyone understands I am just a lowly newcomer and am not looking to make demands upon the long-established upstanding Axiom community that I regularly peer into using these forums.
With that notation having been made, please don't now hate me for bringing up an oft discussed topic that I am sure the regulars around here wish would finally be placed to rest in the "better off dead" category AND NOT be revived by the next aimlessly wandering newbie to come by these parts.
With brevity in mind, it goes a little something like this. I made my very first posts a while back, inquiring about a HTPC I was looking to outfit with speakers. I settled on the M22ti's based upon the many courteous and amicable posts received in response to my question. I feel bad not having provided everyone with feedback shortly after the purchase, because it is always nice to find out how people have benefited from the advice you extended. The truth of the matter is that all this time I have been selfishly delighting in secret, at the sonic reproduction these things pull off every time I turn them on
Just can't seem to get enough of 'em, but I'm sure I am preaching to the choir.
Now that you know where I've been, I'd be appreciative if you all could once again help get me to where I want to go. I am looking to round out my surround system, using the M22's as mains. Two qualifiers that may help: My room is about 14 x 12, and I will likely use this system with a 70% music and 30% games/DVD split. My question is this; with the specialization we see in the center (horizontal layout, many drivers/tweeters) and surround (quadpolar design) speakers are they necessarily better at what they do because of their design? Or perhaps, are they specialized due to a gradual evolution of the speaker market (due to the magnet draw towards DVD/home theater emphasis), and would we actually be better served by completing our system using smaller bookshelf's such as the M2 or M3 all the way around?
For the center channel for example, having done my research and gone through all the posts on the matter I could find, it seems that:
1. With either of the two center speakers, there may be somewhat attenuated off-axis response, as well as very small variations in SPL levels (not that I would even have a discerning enough ear to detect either).
2. The VP100 is nothing to regret purchasing, although if more money can be spent the VP150 brings improved sound to the mix.
3. Lastly, JohnK in particular (not to single anyone out, but he seems to be the most visible supporter) praises the merits of an M2 for example, in handling center duty for M22 mains.
I guess what this god-awfully dazed and confused poster is getting at is what detectable attributes separate a VP150 or QS8 from an M2 or other bookshelf speaker that could otherwise fill its role? And, if given my system's emphasis on music, should I pay any heed to these "differences" that I am assuming (and perhaps mistakenly so) are geared to the HT crowd?
I'll leave it at that for now. I want to thank all those that had the patience to read through my garble, and apologize for its length and any undue stress caused. Thank you again for any and all of your insights!
-Tone
