Looking for speakers for a HT small room with 46 hdtv
size 10*16. Looking at m3's and vp100 or m22's with vp150.
Have a hsu sub. I watch a lot of hd concerts and music don't care for surrounds at this time. Any thought's? Thanks.
Hello Whiskers.
I would suggest M22's for a serious music setup. They have a more accurate upper bass then the M3's without a bass hump. IMO they are very accurate and go more then loud enough in my room (11x14x7.5). I haven't heard the M3's, but have heard nothing but good about them as well, just that the M22's are a better overall package. The center is up to you. I have the VP100 and it works just fine for me. If you plan on moving into a larger room eventually, you may want to go for the VP150 to avoid upgraditis. Do you mind sharing what model of HSU sub you have?
Just bought a VTF-2 MK 2 Subwoofer as the first part of my system. I was looking at the m22's as all the reviews on them and from people in forums seem to like them..The vp 100 would be a ok match and give me good sound? Thanks
That sub and M22's should give great results. During my search for speakers, a lot of people said that the VP100 and VP150 sound very close to the same, just that the VP150 will play louder without distortion (mainly for use in large rooms). I'm using the VP100 with M22's and I'm completely satisfied. Haven't heard the VP150, but its a fair bump in price when it supposedly sounds the same.
Another considerstion is a vertical M22 for the center. This should give a seamless blend across the front since all three speakers would be the same. It depends on whether you have the room for this or not, but it would be your best bet in terms of sound quality. To sound their best, the tweeters on center/mains should be at the same height, so space constraints may make this option impossible.
Welcome, Wisk. I'd also suggest the M22s for your size room. If your budget is causing you to hesitate on getting surrounds, my view is that you would do better to instead delay getting a center speaker and let the mains do the center channel in "phantom" mode. The surrounds(probably QS4s)add significantly to the enjoyment of music even from two-channel sources. Using processing such as DPLII to extract the ambience naturally present(in varying degrees)in the two channels and steering it to the surrounds where it belongs is a benefit that shouldn't be underestimated.
Whiskers,
I have the M3's in a 2.1 setup, and just love them - they are an amazing little speaker.
But Jason nailed it on the head - with that HSU sub, I'd spring for the 22's. And try them without a centre speaker. You'll be surprised how well they throw a "phantom" centre.
M22's it is! The reason I don't want surrounds is it's a small room. I'm 8 feet from the tv and stairs are behind the sitting area into a hall way. I don't want wires etc running around the room...So the m22's with the sub as a 2.1 and use the m22's as a phantom center? Would a center add anything to music/movies. The m22's with the sub should great for music and it has to sound better on movies than the tv's sound...right?
Sure, the M22s are superb speakers. What a center speaker does(which may or may not be significant to you)is that it anchors dialog and other center sound to the screen, even for someone sitting far off-center. The phantom center moves to the side in step with the listener.
Ah yes John, you are absolutely right. But when sitting in the sweet spot, it is amazing how the voices seem to be coming directly from the TV when in phantom mode.
Oh, you forgot to suggest using 3 M22's across the front.
Ok I'm sold on the M22's.....I was watching crossroad's in HD and the concert and guitar work sent chills up my spine...so a center would not add anything to the music? Sorry to keep bugging you but just want to get it right before I order....Also I see alot of post on using an m2 or an m22 as a center....Maybe I'm reading too much into what a center would do. Again thanks for all the input!
For me personally, when listening to music, I don't much care for a centre speaker. To me it sounds more natural in 2.1 instead of 3.1 or 5.1.
Having said that, when watching a concert, I usually have it in 5.1.
No, it doesn't really "add" anything that the mains wouldn't play, since when you set your receiver to show no center speaker, anything that the center speaker would get is automatically sent to the mains. Some report that they hear more clarity in the center sounds with a center speaker, but that hasn't been my experience.
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Whiskers,
I have the M3's in a 2.1 setup, and just love them - they are an amazing little speaker.
But Jason nailed it on the head - with that HSU sub, I'd spring for the 22's. And try them without a centre speaker. You'll be surprised how well they throw a "phantom" centre.
Wow I'm slow tonight. Just went back and realized that John & Jason EACH got a post in before this one. Kind of makes it mute. 
Moot.
Did I just hear a German cow?
I thought this would be easy but no! I'm reading the how to section to see if I can find room to put in some Q4's. I have a couch against a wall....Can I put the q4's on either side of the couch..or right behind the couch on a railing that is at ear level? Thanks for all your quick reply's!
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Did I just hear a German cow?
LOL! 
Sure, unless you have some other reason not to, the side surrounds can be mounted on the back wall about 3' above ear level and separated as widely as possible. Sitting that close to the back wall there's very little difference from having them on the side walls almost at the back wall.
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The reason I don't want surrounds is it's a small room. I'm 8 feet from the tv and stairs are behind the sitting area into a hall way. I don't want wires etc running around the room...
I can't fault your explanation in any way. I loathe wires running all over the place, but I will tell you that a good pair of surrounds (and the QS series are outstanding surrounds) really adds a lot to the movie experience. So much so, that I actually tolerate wires running up the wall to my surrounds. UGH! 
(I'm in a rental). Not pretty, IMHO, but, to me, well worth it.
I'll cite the opening rainstorm sequence in the movie Open Range as an example. I often use this particular scene to demonstrate my surround system. Not one person has failed to turn both ways in their seat, look to the rear and exclaim somthing akin to "jeez it's just like I'm out in the rain, myself."
Another example is the movie Monsters Inc.. When Mike and Sully walk into Monsters, Inc. the first time, they are greeted by many hellos from fellow workers, the "hellos", "heys", and "hiyas" come from all around you, with one, in particular, coming from the left rear surround. Really fun.
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So the m22's with the sub as a 2.1 and use the m22's as a phantom center? Would a center add anything to music/movies.
IMHO, most definitely! As John pointed out, the phantom center works perfectly if you are seated exactly (and I mean exactly) equidistant from the left and right mains. Any other position and the dialog will to shift to the right or left of the screen's center. Your situation may be different, but I often watch some TV programs that, for whatever reason, even though I have my receiver set for surround sound, push the dialog to the left and right mains with nothing at all coming from my center channel. If I'm seated anywhere other than in the "sweet spot," having the dialog coming from off the screen really bugs me 
. YMMV.
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The m22's with the sub should great for music and it has to sound better on movies than the tv's sound...right?
Absolutely true! You will most certainly enjoy the improvement M22s and a sub will provide. And, since you haven't experienced the enjoyment a pair of surrounds can provide, you, in all likelyhood, won't mind their absence at all.
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Did I just hear a German cow?
And I thought it was a hairlipped owl. 