Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater QS8 vs QS4

I can’t decide if I should go with QS8 or QS4 surround side and back speakers to go with my Ascend Acoustics mains and center.

With the Ascends being a very neutral sounding speaker I am guessing the QS8 bigger surround would be a better match because of more low-end to even up the high-end. Also the go a bit lower which would match with my 80Hz base management crossover point I am using better.

We have only 8 foot ceilings so the QS4 speakers would aesthetically look better on the walls because of the small size. The smaller speaker size also does better with the “Wife Acceptance Factor” which I found out was tricky when I got the Ascends because I went from tiny (yucky) 8O$E Acoustimass speakers to what I thought was reasonable size new speakers.

What are the differences in sound quality between QS8 and QS4?

Does the quality difference big enough go to with the larger speaker?

THX calls for a direct radiating speaker, so does the Quadpole speaker work well for the rear surrounds?

I did find this in the Articles on Axioms site about my THX question. I did find this in the Articles on Axioms site about my THX question. http://www.axiomaudio.com/archives/subsandsurrounds.html

7. If I do add the extra two speakers at the rear for a 7.1-channel system, should I use direct-radiating speakers like the M2i or M3ti or the quad polar QS8s or QS4s?
In a general way, it's best to use rear speakers that are identical to the surrounds at the sides, although there is some controversy about this. Using identical surrounds at the sides and rear guarantees the same tonal balance and dispersion traits from all four surround speakers. However, many Axiom system owners report excellent results using QS8 or multidirectional surrounds at the sides and two direct-radiating M2i's at the rear.

But there is still the sound quality comparison questions between the QS4 and QS8 speakers I am not sure about.

Mark, I don't have either speaker, but from what I've read they sound very similar. The main difference is the QS8 will be able to play louder without straining, and work better in a larger room.

I have the QS4s. The only issue with them is that you have to cross them fairly high--I think I have mine at 100 or 120 Hz. If your pre/pro or receiver doesn't have variable crossovers, that leaves you in an interesting place with regards to your mains and center.

BTW, I wouldn't put too much credence into the THX standards.

I have been wondering this also ... Do i get another set of M3's or a set of QS8/4 to finsh my 7.1 system.. Or should I move the M3's to the surround back position and gets q's for the sourround position.. So confusing

Avdude..

Get the Qs for side surrounds, no question. The arguments start as to which to use for rears...

I am running a 6.1 sytem with QS8's and they envelop you in sound. It is hard to beat the feeling of sound all round opposed to sound coming at you, but it is a personnal preference situation.

If you go with the QS8's, you will avoid upgraditus.

I think the Yamaha RX-V2400 I have has only one global crossover and the Ascend sound the best to me with it set at 80Hz. I don’t think I will really want to adjust the crossover for the surrounds, so that would be one thing to make me lean in the direction of the QS8s. Also the size of my theater room (family, kitchen, and dinning are all one room) is 22 x 34 feet which, I think is this considered a medium sized room so this would also lean me towards the QS8s. I think the “WAF” is my only real concern for the larger surround, so time to start the propaganda machine for them.

With my current surrounds I have never really liked the direct sound that they gave me. The ambient recorded sounds always sounded too pinpointed to the speaker so you could tell it was a speaker. I am also thinking about the need for the direct sound in the rear and is it really for me and my room or not. I understand that sounds behind a human tend to be received more similarly to how sounds are received in front of a user. There is some desire in me to have direct speakers in the back of the room, but there is still the idea of having more of an enveloping sound in the rear that attracts me too. So I am leaning to four of the same quadpole speakers because of the enveloping sound.

If I am going to use quadpole speakers what have you guys found to be the “better” mounting location for the rear surrounds; “closer together on the back wall” or “far back on the side wall”?

22 x 34?

You should not even be considering the QS4!!! You can order custom QS8s to match any wall decor to make the speakers completely blend into the wall. This can be an option to help out with the WAF.