We're building a new house, and should be moving in a few months. I've had my current 5.1 Axiom surround system for years -- M22Ti, QS8, VP150, and EP350. Probably all first generation.

I plan on going to a 7.2 system. (Still haven't decided on the receiver, maybe Denon AVR-X4000 or Onkyo Tx-NR727)

I plan on upgrading from the M22 to a larger floor model - M60 or M80, but staying with the rest of the speakers. I will need a second sub. Should I just buy another EP350 to match, or can I go up to a 400/500? I don't know enough about subs to know if they should be the same or not.

I have M22V3s (L & R) in my HT each with its own 10" Velodyne sub that are used as stands for the 22s. Two subs is really the way to go. In my medium sized room (2400 cu ft) there is absolutely no need for towers if you are going to use two 350s (they are way more robust than my modest subs).

I'm not trying to talk you out of towers but the current M22s are not deficient (when accompanied by subs) in any way unless your HT is really large where you might need more power handling.

Where you probably should put your priority is acquiring a more capable CC such as the VP160 or 180. In the past couple of years, the movie front sound stage audio mixes have moved away from just dialogue to where now 70 - 80% of the front content is routed through the CC - the L & R are often just idling. Smaller CCs with their limited low end response just don't do justice to these new mixes. Based on this reality, I recently upgraded from a VP100 to VP160 & it really is an upgrade in sound & enjoyment. Be advised though, these are big, imposing speakers - I had to get a new stand, ha!

Hope this helps...

TAM

Welcome, THP-
For what it's worth, if you have a first generation EP350 a new 350 wouldn't be a "match" anyway./ They've made very big changes from the old 350!

I think it would be a good idea to have matching subs, but it is not a "must". I have an EP600 in the back and 2 EP350's in the front.

THP, another welcome. I agree with Tom that looking at your setup, it isn't the M22s that should be objects of "upgrading", but rather the center channel. With subs handling the low bass burden the M22s can still do the necessary work. As to power handling(above the bass)keep in mind that the M22s have two 5 1/4" drivers handling the all-important mid-range(as does the M80), while the M60 has only one. The result is that the M22s have more capacity there compared to the M60. The size of the enclosure has no direct bearing on this, it's simply the number of drivers handling that frequency range.

Of the receivers that you mention, the X4000 would be the better choice if within your budget, most notably because it has the top Audyssey MultEQ XT32, while the 727 version is two steps down with the MultEQ. A better buy at present though would be the factory refurbished Onkyo 818 for about $600 from Accessories4less .