What to upgrade next?
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 173
veteran
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OP
veteran
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 173 |
Last fall I replaced my front three speakers with a VP-150 and M22Ti's. My sub is my 12" 150 watt Atlantic Technology 262 PBM. My rears are the Atlantic Technology 254.1 which have 1/2" tweeters and 4" main drivers.
One logical upgrade is going to QS-8's for surround speakers but given how little they are used, maybe I won't see much improvement? Maybe a better sub will make a more noticeable improvement for the overall movie watching experience? The final thought is to upgrade the fronts to M60's. I think they go lower than the M22's and may give me more mid range punch, without the discomfort I seem to get from very low LFE's that the subwoofer normally reproduces.
So between going to M60's for fronts vs QS-8's for the rears vs. a better sub, what do folk here think would improve movie watching the most?
Greg
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Re: What to upgrade next?
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,471
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,471 |
I see that Jack is making a new reply, so he may have beaten me to the punch, but I have 1c to throw in (not sure if it is even 2c) ...
Given that you have 22s up front, I'm thinking there will not be a big upgrade in terms of HT sound by going with the 60s, so that would be the option I would least recommend. With a good sub set to a relatively mid/high crossover level (80 Hz and up), I don't think the 60s will offer you any improvement. You've already got the fronts covered in terms of Axiom sound.
Now, I have never heard those rears or that sub that you have, so I have no idea how they stack up against the Axiom products. If your sub is not self-amplified, I'd say go for an EP500 or 600.
What is your budget?
Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.
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Re: What to upgrade next?
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331 |
Well, I was making a reply, but I got sidetracked taking care of Mom. Actually, Doc said pretty much what I was going to say. Having gone from M22s to M60s myself, I feel, IMHO, there is an improvement, but, only a slight one. Though I'm not familiar with your current sub and surrounds, I suspect replacing either will provide a greater change than going from M22s to M60s. To me it's a toss up between a new sub and the QS8s. Though, as you say, the surrounds don't carry that much information, the QS8s are the best surrounds I've ever heard, and I feel safe in saying I'd be surprised if there wasn't a noticeable improvement over you current surrounds. As far as the sub is concerned, a good one really adds a great deal to the home theater experience. If you are not satisfied with your current one, a superior one could be eye opening. Once those two improvements are made, if you still feel you'd like to move to the M60s, I'd say go ahead and do so. I was glad I did.
Jack
"People generally quarrel because they cannot argue." - G. K. Chesterton
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Re: What to upgrade next?
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 173
veteran
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OP
veteran
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 173 |
I am trying to keep my total cost to $999 or so. That would mean either M60's, which may not be the best move right now, or QS-8's and a new $500 sub. I would consider the EP350 but am worried it would be too close to my current 12" 150 watt model.
Thanks for the input.
Greg
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Re: What to upgrade next?
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,471
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,471 |
How about an EP500 from the factory outlet at $1080 USD?
Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.
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Re: What to upgrade next?
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 6,833
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 6,833 |
I say put as much as you can into a new BIGASS sub and concern yourself with new surrounds at a later date.
Rick
"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Sigmund Freud
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Re: What to upgrade next?
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,379 Likes: 7
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,379 Likes: 7 |
If your room is relatively large I would go for a real good sub, with another vote for EP500. If your room is small you might get more benefit from the QS8s, since they really give the illusion of a larger, more open listening area.
M60ti, VP180, QS8, M2ti, EP500, PC-Plus 20-39 M5HP, M40ti, Sierra-1 LFR1100 active, ADA1500-4 and -8
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Re: What to upgrade next?
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,339
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,339 |
Quote:
I say put as much as you can into a new BIGASS sub and concern yourself with new surrounds at a later date.
Agreed!
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Re: What to upgrade next?
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654 |
Greg, go with QS4s or 8s. They are(or at least should be)used with every source material when you use surround processing such as DPLII or Logic 7 to extract ambience from two-channel material and steer it to the surrounds where it belongs. The very wide dispersion of the QSs will really increase your enjoyment in those situations.
-----------------------------------
Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: What to upgrade next?
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,859
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,859 |
QS8 and a STF-2 from HSU should get you both right around your budget number.
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