My question is if you are building a surround system primarily for music would q8's still be ideal or would it be more practical to spring for something with more omph? Also, are rear signals without bass typical, or do they have the ability to move some air? All the surround systems I've seen at friends and families houses have practically nothing coming out of the rear speakers except atmospheric treble. Do they just have the wrong settings or is that normal?
Unfortunatly, that is how most "home theatre in a box" systems sound combined with improper calibration.
All the speakers should be crossed over at an average of 80hz to the sub woofer to handle the low end. LFE is non-directional, so you shouldn't be able to tell where it is coming from.
Concerening mutlichannel music, many like the QS8s, but direct radiating speakers are suggested. Such as the M2 or M3.
The M3 has a little more umph than the M2 does.
I do not currently do any multichannel listening, perhaps others will chime in.
-Hutz
In my opinion even though the Q's are the best surround out there, they also to a fabulous job for music, in my opinion.
They have plenty of ummmmf, I had my Emotive mps-1 turned up to 110+dB and they didn't sweat.
I can only relay my specific experience. I didn't buy the QS8s right away and was going to use my old trusty HK bookshelves for surrounds.
I adjusted and readjusted their angles but they were just to directional or something as they just seemed lacking despite their great performance as fronts in my old much smaller house.
I saved up for QS8s and was blown away by the difference in surround effects and I preferred them for music as well. To phrase it in less than professional terms, the room just semed more filled up with music. Admittedly, I didn't swap them in and out to compare.
Actualy, the treadmill is the generator for my AV equipment, so I was running really fast.
