Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Need Help With Surround Speaker Decision

I have been unsuccessfully searching through the last few years threads trying to make a decision on surround speakers. I presently have the Axiom M60's and a VP100 in my living room along with a pair of CBM 170's for the surrounds borrowed from my basement Ascend set-up. I have a 36" Sony Wega in the living room (13' x 14') and an Infocus X-1 in my basement (11' x 22') so most serious movie and sports viewing is done downstairs. However music (usually 5 channel), regular TV and an occasional movie are enjoyed in the living room. As I am trying to keep costs down, and I already have the speaker stands, I was considering the M3ti's as surrounds in the living room but I have been reading that these speakers are not a good tonal match for the M60's. Why is this? Don't they both have the same 6.5" woofer and 1" tweeter? Why would the M2i be a better tonal match? Also, even though I don't really want to spend $200 more, I have also been reading great things about the QS8's and I have not entirely ruled them out? Your thoughts/advice would be appreciated. And lastly, just for kicks (and to aggrevate my wife), there is a slight possibility that at some point in the future, I may move the Axioms downstairs and the Ascends upstairs. I am a big fan of both brands of speakers. Thanks in advance. Bruce

Both good companies with good products, Bruce.

First to answer your question about the M3s and M60s. I honestly don't remember why the M2 would be a better match for the M60s. Perhaps they have different crossover points. I do know that, for whatever reason, the M3 has a slight bump in it's frequency response, somewhere around the 100Hz range, that gives them a slightly warmer, laid back sound than the M2s or M60s. The M40s and M50s also share this characteristic with the M3s. That is NOT to say you could not use them with the M60s. The M2s are reputed to sound tonally more similar to the M60s than the M3s. Why not the M2s and save a few bucks?

In order to adequately answer your question about the QS8s, you need to define, for yourself, what speakers are gonna be where, and what you'll be using them for.

You initially state that "music (usually 5 channel), regular TV and an occasional movie are enjoyed in the living room." If you stay with that, then perhaps the M2s would be the right choice. If you move the Axioms downstairs and use them primarily for movies, I heartily recommend the QS8s for your surrounds. They are EXCELLENT surround speakers.

To put it accurately the QS8s would be good for 5.1 music listening, but GREAT for surround movies. The M2s would be good for movie watching but GREAT for 5.1 music listening. I doubt you'd be dissatisfied with either, just more satisfied if you use the respective speaker in it's strongest role.

On the surface, and without knowing your motivations, moving the Ascends, with their direct radiating surrounds to the living room for, primarily, 5.1 music listening, and moving the Axioms with the QS8s to the basement for, primarily, movie watching makes a LOT of sense.

Sorry. I know that spends more of your hard earned money. But, look on the bright side. Doing it that way will REALLY aggravate your wife.

Bruce, in addition to what Jack has said, at least a partial explanation for there being a tonal difference(although maybe not a major one)between the M60s and M3s is that the M3s use that 6.5" woofer also for the midrange, while the M60s cross over above about 200Hz to the 5.25" for the midrange and in that respect are more similar to the M2 and M22.

Thank you, John. I knew there was a logical reason for the difference. But, I'm old and couldn't remember what it was.

I run M60s, VP100 and (frequently) M2 surrounds. The combination is wonderful for music.

Having said that, QS8s are on the top of my "next purchase" list as surrounds for HT. At that point the M2s are going to end up as mains (I don't crank the HT up all that loud) and the M60s are going back to the stereo system.

As long as you have a sub and aren't trying to play loud in a big room M2s are hard to beat.

Go with the QS8's u won't b disappointed they are smokin

>>Go with the QS8's u won't b disappointed they are smokin

OK, twist my arm

QS8s ordered, maple, black grills, FO, 1 week ETA.

Thanks for the push!!

Just to let you know, I ended up going with a pair of M2i's. I really didn't have very good wall-placements for the QS-8's and I also think the Axiom's will stay upstairs since my wife has remarked how she really likes the color (Mansfield Beech). Anyway these are great little speakers and very musical and, as has been said, a good match for the M60's. I couldn't be happier with the purchase especially at such a very reasonable price. One other thing, the VP100 gets a little bit of bad press occasionally. I also have absolutely no regrets buying this. It might have something to do with the relatively small size of my room(13x14) but it does its job very well. Anyone contemplating either the VP100 or the M2i in a smaller size room will not be disappointed. Thanks for all the helpful information you people provide. It is the forum I keep coming back to.

"QS8s ordered"
I'll bet I change my mind on this every other day, but I think I might have to say that the Qs8's have made more of a difference in my enjoyment of movies than any of the rest of my speakers. They are all great, but the 8's are hands down the most impressive improvement from the old system.

Bruce,
Thanks for the very informative post. I am sort of in the same position as you although my room is slightly larger (14' x 20'). I finally ordered a VP100 a few weeks ago and am waiting for the 'golden email'. I was contemplating the M2's as well and was curious as to their match with the M60's. My room does not have a suitable location for QS4's or QS8's. My eight month old son is just starting to move around the room so speakers on stands is not safe! I will probably go the M2 route first and upgrade to QS8's once the kid is a little older. Enjoy your setup!
Cheers,
Shaun