Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Anybody using an M60 as a center?

Regarding your m60 to m80 upgrade, did you find it worthwhile?
I'm torn between the two. If I do get the m80 I will probably have to put a stereo power amp for them. My AVR supports 6-8ohm.

Worthwhile is hard to measure. If you are torn I'd say go M80, otherwise you'll spend all of your time together wondering, "what if?". The difference when upgrading was about C$300 plus a loss of the 5% shipping discount because only two items were being sent in the second shipment (the discount originates from the shipping co). So if, like me, you always wonder "what if?" it makes financial sense to go all the way from the get go. For me the M60s were an experiment with the M82 concept (simulcast with M22s) which ended up as a marginal improvement not worth the hassle. Doing it this way allowed me to deal with both "what ifs?" at the same time. I also got a great pair of M22s for the computer set-up.

As for the AVR, almost all say 6-8 ohm and almost all have little problem with 4 ohm. It all depends on how loud you push them. I've played M80s with Sherwood Newcastle, Denon, and Yamaha to my loud listening levels with no problems (I live alone with the theatre in the basement, so no external restrictions).


Edited to add: I guess I should state that, although the M60s weren't really lacking anything, I believe the M80s are better speakers worth the extra ~$350. An extra $600? Maybe, maybe not.

All I can say is that I have 2 rows of seating, 3 lazy boys up front, and a couch on the elevated back row that could hold 4 people. I've never really experienced any major drop in performance when sitting in the left/right locations. I'm sure there are limits with any speaker, including the M60's or M80's, when you go beyond the soundstage. However, if everything is set up properly at ear level, or aimed at ear level, you'll be happy. Most people can't use a tower for a center.

since you also have the m22, can you tell me is there is a big change from m22+sub to m80+sub? My wife gave the green flag to order the m80s but she's relying on my 'it's supposed to great' assessment. I want to know if this is a 40% improvement or 5% improvement.. if it's like 3-10%, I may spend my money elsewhere.. like another qs8 pair.

If I order them, I will also put them on my computer..

thanks again

SirQuack - I read all the reviews on this site - in fact, I have reread them many times. One of the reveiws comments on the 150's off axis performance - stating that just moving to one end of the couch or the other that there is a noticeable drop in performance. I would be interested in your or other's opinions in your real life situtations

Yes, I have considered the VP150, but honestly, from what other opinions I have read, it was the weak part in others systems when paired with the M80's.

SirQuack - I read all the reviews on this site - in fact, I have reread them many times. One of the reveiws comments on the 150's off axis performance - stating that just moving to one end of the couch or the other that there is a noticeable drop in performance.

Doing a near field comparison I'd say the SQ in general is similar with the M80s+ sounding "fuller", but in a large room (mine is 36x14?) I'd definitely go with the M80s. The 22s+ sound good but "thinner" in that area. If you are using them for a 2.1 or 5.1 system on the computer in a small room (my office is 10x12) the M22 is a no brainer.

I will also agree that in the smaller rooms M22+sub is most likely the best/cheapest way to go, if you have always wanted floorstanders and feel the M22s are missing something, like I did, then by all means by the M80's they are a full range speaker and do sound that much better than M22's, IMO. You won't be sorry you bought the M80's over a second set of QS's.