Well I finally pulled the trigger and bought them: M80 x2, VP150, QS8 x2. I also went with the Hsu 2/3 sub which I realize is not up to par with the other speakers. My rationale is that I live in an apartment and LFEs are the most likely thing to upset the neighbors (mom, dad, and 1 year old baby share a bedroom wall with my living room), and that I'll have to save the bleeding eardrum depth charges for when I get/rent a house. At that point I'll get quadruple EP600s for a 5.4 system
I've also decided to start with 5.1 instead of jumping straight to 7.1 since it will give me a chance to get familiar with the basic equipment and positioning first. With QS8s I wonder how much you'd add by going to 7.1 anyway...
I ordered an Onkyo txsr805 from amazon and I just got an email saying it is out of stock and will be delayed a week. As Homer said, "Why do you mock me?!?!?!?!?"
This forum rocks.
Time is creeping by very slowly right now.
That sound like a great system you have coming. Don't discount what that Hsu sub can do, I think you are going to suprised. It is up to par with the rest of your system.
Enjoy, that is when you get them.
Yes, the HSU, easily, will be able to upset the neighbors and keep the family awake.
I see so many people buying either the compact (M22s/M3s) or all out (M80s) system components lately.
Doesn't anyone buy the M60s anymore?
Maybe mix them with a VP150 but only QS4s?
It doesn't seem like many people are grabbing 60s. And no one appears to be getting 50s at all. F107, you're not doing your job!
Anyway, congrats. I envy you your new sub.
Have you seen this thread?
http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/showfla...;gonew=1#UNREADAlan Lofft basically says you shouldn't drive M80s with an Onkyo 805 (or any Onkyo). This is a big concern for me becuase the Onkyo N905 was on my short list to drive a M80/EP500 setup.
What is the Onkyo rated at, how big is your room, how far do you plan on sitting from your M80s and how loud do you like your music (specify average dBC level).
this is from the Onkyo website.
Amplifier Section
Power Output
Front L/R 130 W + 130 W (8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz,
0.05%, 2 channels driven, FTC)
150 W + 150 W (8 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.7%,
2 channels driven, FTC)
160 W + 160 W (6 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.1%,
2 channels driven, FTC)
Center 130 W (8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.05%,
2 channels driven, FTC)
150 W (8 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.7%, 2 channels
driven, FTC)
160 W (6 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.1%, 2 channels
driven, FTC)
Surround L/R 130 W + 130 W (8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz,
0.05%, 2 channels driven, FTC)
150 W + 150 W (8 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.7%,
2 channels driven, FTC)
160 W + 160 W (6 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.1%,
2 channels driven, FTC)
Surround Back L/R 130 W + 130 W (8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz,
0.05%, 2 channels driven, FTC)
150 W + 150 W (8 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.7%,
2 channels driven, FTC)
160 W + 160 W (6 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.1%,
2 channels driven, FTC)
Dynamic Power 300 W (3 ohms, 1 ch)
250 W (4 ohms, 1 ch)
150 W (8 ohms, 1 ch)
THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) 0.05% (Rated power)
Damping Factor 60 (Front, 1 kHz, 8 ohms)
Input Sensitivity and Impedance 200 mV/47 k-ohms (Line)
2.5 mV/47 k-ohms (Phono MM)
Output Level and Impedance 200 mV/470 ohms (Rec out)
Phono Overload 70 mV (MM, 1 kHz, 0.5%)
Frequency Response 5 Hz–100 kHz/+1 dB, -3 dB (Direct mode)
Tone Control ±10 dB, 50 Hz (Bass)
±10 dB, 20 kHz (Treble)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 110 dB (Line, IHF-A)
Speaker Impedance 4 ohms–16 ohms or 6 ohms–16 ohms
I had seen other threads specifically about this combination and they mostly seemed to agree that it would work. One guy had even contacted Onkyo I believe. My room is 13*30*11.5. It is a open living room / kitchen. The AV stuff is at one end and the listening position is ~10 feet away. I'd like to play it loud but it is an apartment so I can't... I want a great system now, but more than anything I'm looking for really good bones for a proper theater in a couple years.
What is the verdict on the 805/m80 combo?
Well, if it's any consolation, I think I'm buying M60's to replace my M22's in my main system. We're moving to a house from our apartment, so I'll finally have room for big floorstanders. And I don't think I'll have the need for the M80's. So it will likely be the M60's, and I can't wait.
Well, those specs sure beat my cheap Denon. I'll bet dollars to donuts you won't have a problem.
I'm in a 4,000 cubic foot room (10% smaller than yours), I sit 8 feet away from the M80s and I listen to music with a half watt per side. At this level, my average SPL is 75dB. When I turn on my 600, the average level is 85dB.
For movies, I'm a bit more adventurous and pump it to a few watts per side
.
Hi Jess, I also live in an apartment and can’t play my sub as loud as I like most of the time so I got a Buttkicker and attached it to my futon. It’s not a replacement for a sub but it does a good job of giving the feel of the LFE without having to play the sub so loud that it rattles the windows.
Just wanted to throw that out to you in case you end up in the apartment for a while and can’t get satisfaction without the LFE. There are many brands of tactile transducers I got that one because a local store gave me a deal on it but you might want to think about one if you can‘t get the most out of your system because of the neighbors and baby.
As for the 5.1 vs 7.1 give the QS8s a chance. I have a friend with a 7.1 system who thinks my 5.1 with the QS8s sounds better. Plus I don’t think there’s that much out there for 7.1 compared to 5.1. So if you have the extra money to spend right now I think you may notice a bigger difference with a tactile transducer that 7.1.
Where in Madison do you live? I was there for 10 years, some of it in school, and lived in many places on the near West side of campus on out into Fitchburg.
Yeah - I may need the a** (oops) butt kicker. I want to give it a shot first, but my neighbors are actually pretty normal people (it can be a bit of a rarity in The People's Republic of Madison) so I'd like to try to go easy on them. If they mess with me I'm getting dual ep600s
I'm going to stick with 5.1 for now. I'll post some pics when the loot gets here and get some feedback from everyone on the room size/layout and potential benefits of 7.1
Grunt - i actually live in middleton off the beltline, but literally feet away from madison city limits. Madison is a pretty cool town - been here 2 years now and like it.
7.1 also really needs a good sized room to stretch out, an apartment livingroom is going to lovely with 5.1, and as already mentioned the QS8's are no slouch, they're going to blow you away.
Also, I'm also wondering your system can handle the M80's, they're the top of the line Axiom speaker for good reason, 60's are pretty easy to drive (and loud as heck), the 80's are a whole other breed.
I've got 60's in my 20x14 room and I can't really see the need for 80's anytime soon
- D
the room is 13*30*12 so it has a pretty good volume (>4000). i'll only be in an apartment for a couple years and will build after that, so i'll be able to stick a proper theater in it. future proofing....