Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Center Channel.....VP100 or VP150 ?

I know its probably been done before, but I have M22's, QS8's, STF3 sub from HSU and Pioneer 1015 amp. Only thing left is a center and wondering about suggestions.

I will probably have to put it on a stand or on the bottom shelf of my AV stand which will slightly ofset it from true center , but still below my TV.

Any suggestions?? 100 or 150?

ctown, would you like an in home audition of each?

Yeah J, I guess I could. A bit swamped now that its back to school and all, but could probably arrange to get by and check them out. Thanks.

I think I know the 150 is better, but mainly have a space constraint. So I am wondering if the 100 will be fine, or just avoid the need to upgrade and do the VP150 and fit it with a shoehorn for now?

I was actually willing to bring them to your place.

How big is your room, the 100 may be totally fine.

Room is something like 12x20, but the eventual plan is to put it downstairs (once the kids are older) in a space that is approx 20x20.

The 150, and put it as close to the TV as possible (not the bottom shelf).

The bottom shelf of my AV stand would only be approx 7 inches from the bottom of the TV. Its a 61" projection on a swivel stand and the VP's are 7'75" tall so will not fit on the upper shelf.

I guess the VP100 would be too small for my room size??

I have a VP100 in a pretty big room (26x13, cathedral ceilings), and I'm constantly surprised just how good it is. I haven't heard a VP150 in that same room, but I really don't perceive ANY performance problem with the 100, and I like how it fits in the component-width space under my TV.

I guess the thing is that I will have more space when the system goes downstairs eventually and at that point will probably wish I had the VP150.

I can juggle components around a bit in the meantime, or if I have to, I can just put it on a stand or wall mount.

ctown, you obviously want the VP150. That's great. That's what you should get, then.

I just wanted to reassure you that - in my experience - the VP100 is not "too small for your room size".

The VP100 is a stout little speaker ... my original center was a 100 in a smaller room and I then added a 150 whenever we built a larger room. At the time I thought I'd parallel the two for a little while until I came off my wallet for another 150 (above and below the TV) but the 100 has been doing such a fine job of keeping up with the 150 that after almost three years the 100/150 combination is still going strong.

He really wants the M80... on top of his TV... upside down, but the VP150 will do in a pinch.

Now what kind of crazy nut would put an upside-down M80 above their TV?

There's always one in the crowd.

Hey I resemble that remark.

Naw, what he really wants is a M60 upside down on an M80 on top of his TV

Thanks Tom. I want the best performance for the buck that will fit my room and needs. Good to know that the VP100 would work fine. I guess I just dont want to be second guessing myself down the road.

That being said, I might check out a Klipsch RC-52 center and see what that is like in the process.

Just remember, one of the cardinal rules in HT is having your center speaker match your mains as close as possible in sound characteristics.

Yeah, but I googled "timbre matching" and found a bunch of posts on AVS, Audioholics, Polk, Paradigm, etc sites that make the topic seem as subjective as "break in period" for your speakers or creating "cleaner power" for your amp.

I'll check stuff out, but think I am debating between the 100 or spend the extra $135 on the VP150.

Nothing wrong with checking to see what you like best. From personal experience, I was originally using an Aperion center channel (very good speaker) but I switched over to the VP150 and was surprised how much better my front sound stage sounded, it just blended better with my mains.

What are u using from mains Homedad?? I'm just using M22's. Here is basically my setup

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w41/ctown58/DSC01027.jpg

I'm using M80's as mains, VP150 center, QS8 sides, QS4's as rears and an EP500.

How about a single M3 on top of the tv?

Sorry, I am not as technically knowledgeable as most on this board, but I really dont understand why this would be a good idea??

I have a pair of M3's in another room and chose them because they sound good on their own without a sub. I would assume that for a CC you want a clean speaker to project dialogue in movies, not a speaker with a larger driver and increased bass like an M3. That and its a pretty big bookshelf speaker to be resting on my TV.

I still think its between the VP100 and VP150 for me.

The idea behind a conventional bookshelf is for better horizontal dispersion, and it is indeed better IMO, but not everyone has room for a vertical center, nor like the look.

Al, apparently the upside-down M80 would also be a bit big for you, so you should consider a vertical M2, which would match the M22s perfectly, better than the horizontal configurations in question.

Really?? Just a single M2....why not one on top and one on bottom like I have heard a few people doing on this forum?

OK folks. Last question as I want to place an order in the upcoming week or 2.

VP100, or VP150 to go with my M22's. Can either put a 100 nicely between the 2 components on the bottom of this TV stand, or move the Panny DVD player out of the bottom left slot and put in a VP150. Link of my setup below. Thanks.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w41/ctown58/DSC01027.jpg

Another option would be to have your center placed above the TV via an Omnimount shelf or similar, I personally believe the center channel speaker would really look good above the screen with your particular system.

Good idea. Will have to check out what my TV manual says about putting a 20lb center channel on top of the screen, but would blend in well if I get one in black.

Thanks,

Thanks everybody for the feedback. I just placed an order for the VP150. Avoiding the need to upgrade down the road.

Until the VP200 comes out...

Don't even go there....

You could always make due with a VP122 or 160 until that 200 comes out.

I was thinking maybe an M82 as a center, right on top of the TV, have to do one better than a certain someone with an M80 on top.

Your going to make me upgrade to an M160 center aren’t you.

Congrats ctown on your purchase! I would love to hear your impressions of the VP150.

Now were talking!

ctown, I have the VP100. I tried it first above the TV with the omnimount as Rick suggested (with quite a few different angles). I then tried it on the bottom shelf of the rack. In my room, I noticed a very significant preference for ultimately placing it on the TOP shelf of the rack directly under the TV. So, be sure to test a couple different placement options.

Tom that's why I ended up with the 150 under the TV and the 100 above the screen ... the 100 up there just seems to really take the edge off of being able to directly locate dialog using the one speaker under the screen. It wasn't until I placed the 100 up there that I realized just how good of a speaker it really is.

If you notice, with the 100 on the top using the Omnimount, I painted the silver shelf flat black and removed the Axiom logo from the speaker grill ... only because I was getting a bad reflection up there that doesn't happen with the 150 on the bottom shelf.

Rick, I want your room.

Give it to me.

Give it to me now.

VERY nice, Rick.

You mind tricks are useless Mark, SRV is just way too powerfull, even for Darth Sidious.

I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned, but you could also consider using Axiom's wall mount (full metal bracket) to put it on the wall over your screen. This is how it looks in my setup (and it wasn't nearly as difficult as you might think, their bracket is rock solid).

I have my 150 mounted on the wall below my screen, works great.

Yeah, got FMB's holding up some M3's in my family room. I want to avoid putting holes in the wall as this isnt the final home for my HT.

Gonna put it in the AV stand under the TV and otherwise look at omnimount or a stand in front. Just gonna patiently wait for the factory outlet VP150 to show up. Thanks all for the advice and efforts to create an inferiority complex just because I only have a 61" screen.

I once bought some self help CD's to improve my self confidence....but then realized it was available on MP3, which made me feel inferior.

LOL Happy to help ctown.

Okay, you guys are just showing off with the pictures now. I'm going to have to get some pictures of my setup this weekend when I get home. Mainly because you'll all crack up when you realize I'm watching/listening to several thousand dollars of A/V equipment while sitting in a camping chair.

Why you ask?

Because I'm a genius and I spent another several thousand dollars on two beautiful couches that I couldn't wedge through the basement door and haven't figured out the alternative yet. (theater seats perhaps?)

I'll post pics of those too :-)

Oooh...and the new M80's in my living room stereo setup that I bought because I hated going to the basement to enjoy music...in my camping chair.

-Nick

P.S. If you hadn't guessed, I'm painfully single. I presume a wife would have killed me by now for any of the 'errors' above. Fortunately I wouldn't have heard her approaching over the speakers

Just put an upside down M80 over that screen. Size where it counts.

x94, things like that scream single.

Yes, they also scream 'I'm an idiot'. Which in this case I was. I got careless with the second couch because the first wasn't "that far off" wedging through the door. Plus their quoted measurements were a bit off.

Then again, I never liked the idea of only being able to jam out in one place (what's the point of being single if you have limitations ) so perhaps there's a method to my madness...

-Nick

or is it a madness to the methods.

You forgot to include the youtube link, Nick.



But is it at least a nice camping chair?

No one would have enjoyed the youtube clip, trust me. As quick to laugh about it as I am now, I was outraged then. Or maybe that would have been funny for everyone else. The highlight was probably that I thought I could outsmart the white glove delivery guys in both cases and tried again...by myself. Heavy couches that aren't going to fit anyway...being wrestled at every angle by one guy who's sweating profusely because he doesn't like air conditioning and refuses to turn it on.

The camping chair is a standard "Eddie Bauer" fold up from Target. Lets just say if I did have a date over to watch a movie there would have to be a second one and it would be all but impossible to get fresh. I assume as long as I continue to use phrases like 'get fresh', that won't be a problem.

I'll be sure to post pics of everything.

Yeah.

That sounds pretty funny.

Are you SURE there's no YouTube video, 'cuz I'll pay $2........

You know how much I'd pay?

About tree-fiddy.

[quote=x94blair3
Oooh...and the new M80's in my living room stereo setup that I bought because I hated going to the basement to enjoy music...in my camping chair.

-Nick
[/quote]

Nothing wrong with that Nick, I have an extra set of M60s in the living room so that I can actually leave the basement sometimes.

You monsta! You get outta here!

I have my M22s in the living room so I can have the Axiom sound upstairs as well. Hmmmm, trade up to the M60s for the living room .......Nah, another set of M80s

M22s (in an Algonquin shell) are on my birthday list... I soon will join the club. At some point in the future I want to get M22s for my game room as well (for 2-channel listening).

Looking forward to it!

Jason

Thanks everybody for the feedback. got my VP150 last week and instantly plugged it in. Having a dedicated CC instead of a phantom is great. I instantly notice the dialog from it and it allows my M22 front speakers to handle other sound and effects.

I have only tried out a couple movies with it, but listened to some music in DPLII and notice the great soundstage. Watched some HD sports in 5.1 and NFL football has more of a live sound to it.

Initially I thought it was very lean and noticeably different than my M22's, but after recalibrating, they all blend in nicely. I'm sure the VP100 would have done fine, but no regrets here on the 150.

Congrats Ctown. Glad to hear you're liking the addition. I agree with you on the NFL games in surround sound. They do a better job than I expected broadcasting those games. I find they sound great and very immersive as well.

I find that NFL games have much better surround than college games

I always watch the HD football games in 5.1. Depending on the broadcast sometimes the sound is mixed so the commentary comes out of all 3 front speakers. I much prefer the dialogue just coming out of my VP150, it sounds sweet.

I do not like listening to the compressed commercials however, very annoying.

Dr. House

The sunday night game on NBC last week (Jaguars vs Steelers) was pretty cool. felt immersed in the crowd noise while the commentary came from the VP150.

True that the NCAA broadcasts arent as good.

Yeah, but this Monday's night game was much better. Go Browns!

Too bad for your Browns.....if they lost a couple more then they might have fired their coach and done you a favour. The Steelers should put the final stamp on his career later this season.