To say I got the magic email from Axiom that the VP160 has shipped. To say I'm excited is an understatement.

Great news Wid!

Good deal!

Party at Ricks! Woo Hoo!

No email yet, but Amie is keeping an eye on mine.

I'll have the BBQ all stoked up for the party

Looks like I may need to take a road trip!

I'm really eager to hear how you like it, Rick.

And you always make me hungry.

Rick. It's what's for dinner.

Well the other day was

Well that seals the deal. I'm on my way down when the 160 is in house.

that is awesome news Rick, Stevie will sound awesome on that new center...food looks awesome. Rick's BBQ, I can see it now.

I think we are all headed over to Rick's for dinner.


Looking forward to reading your impressions of the VP160!

Good show, Rick; hope that it might even make it on Friday.

Awesome! I'm looking forward to additional reviews

I know, looks pretty crappy, but too bad. I'm tired.

Congrats, Rick! Enjoy your new toy!

Just hooked up my 160 for a preliminary tryout. Great sound, lots of bass and off-axis horizontal dispersion is better than I expected at -1db or less at 20% or so off center. I can't help but think in looking at this new model that although considerably larger and heavier, a quasi-bookshelf in a L/R configuration complimenting the 160 would be a great addition to the Axiom line.

And, would 3 VP160 in-cabinet models, flipped vertically, behind an Audio Transparent screen sound good?

I asked this question about a month ago, but no-one knows the answer. It sure would be nice if someone at Axiom Audio would try 3 of them vertically in a L/C/R setup, over a period of time, and give back an honest opinion.

CatBrat,
If you are using a transparent screen then opt for three M60 In-Cabinet model. Why would you want to install vertically as main speakers two center speakers which were designed and built to be installed horizontally?

The new driver configuration allows for better footholds for climbing cats.

Cat, this comes up all the time, flipping a vertical speaker horizontal, or flipping a horizontal speaker vertical, defeats the purpose of the design.

I was just trying to get a smaller size cabinet, less depth and less height. Important when your ceiling height is just under 7' with 2.40:1 screen and having to extend wall into garage. And I want something bigger than M22.

I hear the off axis stuff all the time, but was wondering if it was all that bad with the 160. My listing room will be rather narrow to begin with, so there won't be any seats in the off axis sitting zone. Only 2 or 3 seats about 11-12 feet back from screen.

I'll probably end up with 3 M60's there, but this would be an excellent application for the 160 size box, meaning I can get more speaker closer to ear range. My wall thickness currently runs about 10 inches.

If my OCD's said I had to stick with the purposed design, then I wouldn't have 2 sets of M22's stacked on top of each other, and loving every minute of it.

Woo-Hoo! I got "the email"!!! Time to start making some room for the new baby. Now, what to do with the old VP100...

Nice!!

Got my e-mail too,whoo hoo!

Just got my email. I can pick them up any day after next Tuesday ......weather permitting.

Received my notice of shipment today as well. Wish I could hear the darn thing when it arrives, but I'm outta luck for a few weeks. Come on Lowes carpet installers, I've got movies to watch and music to hear!

I didn't get my email!

I should get mine next week.

Mark, I think you have to actually ORDER it first.

Picky, picky.

Crap!

Sounds like this should be a great weekend for many, congrats!!

sniff,sniff I won't get mine until next week!

The VP 160 just came in. Oh boy is this thing huge

Got it hooked up and for now all I can say is DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had my daughter come in to listen for a minute. Like me she said what seemed like a hole in the middle is now filled. This is a completely different beast than the 150, no doubt about it.

The fronts are now crossed over at 50HZ and it sounds flippen outstanding. The M80s powered by the Rotel RB 1080 and the 160 (and rear surround)is powered by a Luxman M-117. The Onkyo 707 is just powering the sides.

Excellent!

That is awesome Rick.

Enjoy!

Pictures or it didn't happen!

Well, NOW I want one!

::shakes fist in air::

My photographic skills are horrible but here it is.




The same with the 150, and no I didn't raise the TV.

You've just reminded me, Wid - Alan, Ian and I were joking this weekend that we forgot one thing in the box:



So glad you're liking the new center, and those pics look great!! What a size difference!

To late but if you have any pain pills for a back ache I could use some LOL.

Rick needs a sports bra?

It's called a Manzere Mark, you should know that.

I just called mine a regular bra.... I didn't know there was a fancy-schmantzy name.

If you were older you would have known Damn kids.

Looks very nice Rick, I think the pug is liking it to, always has his tongue hanging out.

It a statue Randy, his tongue is always out

I know, I remember him from some old pics, but in the second one he moved, so I thought, crap, maybe he is real.

LOL!

Looks great, Rick. It appears to be a perfect fit for the space under the TV.

Now I want one, too!

Lets see if this looks better.

That damn dog hasn't moved yet, Rick you may want to check on the little fella.

Looks great amigo, I really like it!

He hasn't ate in ages either.

Poor little guy doesn't seem to know the ball is behind him either!

The new setup looks great Rick.

Congrats!

We play tennis in the living room.

Is that an Outlaw on the left and a Pure AV protector 2 above the Rotel?

Randy, that's a Luxman M-117 amp on the left and yes it's a Pure above the Rotel.

Looks great, Rick! Glad you like the VP160.

Very good, Rick; appears that it was worth the wait(five years or more).

Well John, it took me a few years just to move to an all Axiom HT system. Then another couple to get the 160, so all together coming up on 9 years

Yeah, Rick; I was referring to Axiom's delay in offering a type of center which had been suggested here and which several competitors had available.

Oh, got ya. It's a very nice addition to the line up.

LOL

VP160 looks great there.

Got my VP160 yesterday. Yep, it is big, I guess everyone knew that. Well it sounds big too.
I started by setting up the center at the place I had my old one (not an Axiom). First it sounded ok, I checked the level and it appeared lower that the M80s so I up the dB, but the sound was not the same as the M80s just listening to the white noise generator, so I decided to rerun the Audissey XT32 on my Integra DTR70.2. Woahhh, the difference was amazing it sounded just like the M80s. The audissey cross them at 40Hz like the M80s.
The movies sounded great (crisp, clear and loud), but I have to say that what I am completely amazed off, was the ability to play Music in 7.1 Dolby Pro Logic II. I never really liked mode other than stereo, and I have to say now that with the voice coming from an amazing center channel, the music experience in DPLII is mind blowing almost bringing tears to my eyes. I will definitely listen to this mode from now on.
Thanks Axiom for this great piece, it was worth the wait!!!

If the Audyssey settings that were previously on your Integra were set from your other speaker, I'm not surprised it didn't sound very good until Audyssey was run again!

Congrats!

Yes, the curve of the Audissey was compensating based on my old center channel, so it makes perfect sense that it did not match with the M80. It is clear that a calibration is required when updating speakers, I was just too much in a hurry of finding out how it sounds.

Sounds like what I experienced. The 160 sounds amazing.

Stop saying that dammit!!

Well Fred, it does

Mine should be here tomorro,can't wait!

Damn! I really have no complaints about my M2s as centers, except that they are missing the bottom end.

Edit ::throws Murph's bouncy ball at Wid::

Fred, there wouldn't seem to be a significant "bottom end" problem if they're crossed over at maybe 80-100Hz to your sub.

I got mine today! I couldn't wait to hear it so admittedly, it's a bit of a jury rigged set up. You can compare the size with the VP100 above the TV. Holy crap, this thing is a beast! I sized the VP100 location to be able to upgrade to a VP150, but it looks like it may be time to build a new entertainment center.

I ran the Audessey set up and put in the Hell Freezes Over DVD by The Eagles. I think I finally get the 'sound stage' that everyone talks about. This center speaker is such a perfect match for the M60. It completely and seamlessly fills out the front. I don't feel like I need to bump up the center speaker any more. My first impression is that my money was well spent. This speaker has finally completed my system.

Thanks Axiom!!! You nailed it!

Sure, saillard; if your previous center was rather mediocre overall, and in any case wasn't a close match for the M80s, the Audyssey corrections will be significantly different with the VP160 which is a near-perfect match. Enjoy that great music in surround now.

Very nice, Joe!

Congrats Joe and Rick, glad to hear you are enjoying the 160 as much as I have been enjoying mine, I think we can officially start the VP160 owners club

I'm in! By the serial number, I think I might have #7. I can't wait to watch a movie with my new baby. This is an amazing thing Axiom has created.

I was this close >< to purchasing a Paradigm CC590 or 690 then Amie posted about the VP160, I am glad I waited.

You guys are buggin' me with this...I might have to stop reading this thread.

Honestly, I was getting to the point of just "order now, apologize later" when I was surprised by an unexpected $1K bill from my plumber yesterday.

Now, a simple apology wouldn't work.... !

We watched our first movie since getting the 160. I think it could be said it worked great, there were no "what did they say" moments like what happened quite to often with the 150.

I sat a bit to the right of dead center and the dialog was still locked dead centered where it should have been.