I am hoping to have a few hundred $$ to spend on upgrading my home theater. See below for my current setup.

I think I have the choice narrowed down to a pair of M2i or M3ti rear speakers (which I pre-wired for when I did the room) to make my system 7.1 - say $400 once I have added brackets, cables, and some banana plugs, or a pair of Outlaw M200 Monoblock amplifiers to make my M60's open up and sound even sweeter when listening to stereo music - around $600.

Anyone been down either avenue and care to comment??

Thanks,
ExpatBrit

I have been down this road a few times and I would say without hesitation, go for the amps. I think a lot of people might say speakers but going from past experience, POWER rules and 7.1 is overrated! lol

I agree. The Outlaw M200's will make the M60's sing.
I'm running a 7.1 system and it's rarely used due to the lack of 7.1 encoded movies.

I too would say go for the better amps.I would like to hear what your impession will be adding some serious power to the 60s.

Stuart, unless there are sound reasons(no, not intended)for thinking that the 3803 doesn't have adequate power for your M60s(highly unlikely), there's no reason why they would sound "sweeter" with M200s. Unused power is simply that; unused.

As to rear speakers, you may receive some benefit. You could choose to have your 3803 play the M2s for the surround channels on DVD-A/SACD if you prefer the more direct sound for those formats. Although there is no such thing as a 7.1 format, in addition to the relatively small amount of 6 channel material, processing such as DD EX or Neo:6 can be used to expand 2 and/or 5 channel formats to give the rear speakers some work to do.

JohnK,

I agree with you to some point. However I don't think MOST (I’m not saying all) receivers can push a system adequately (all channels driven). I can hear audible distortion with the Denon (and others) receivers that I have ether owned or installed at reference levels. Keep in mind that the speakers where not as efficient as the Axioms either. One way to tell if the receiver is being taxed is throw in you favorite CD and turn it up to your reference level, if the lights DIM on the receiver during peaks then you receiver is being taxed and more than likely distorting during those peaks.
The average listener may not be able to hear a difference. I certainly can.
If I were to upgrade to the M200’s I would stick them on the mains and let the receiver handle the centre and surrounds.

This is just my opinion and personal experience.

Tom

I would have to agree with JohnK. Tom, you mentioned "that the average listener may not be able to hear the dfference" and that you hear those distortions at reference levels. Personally I know that I do not turn my system up to ear bleeding levels, ever. I don't see the need for it and for those that do turn it up to those levels, I would be surprised if they kept it at that level for extended periods. I feel the trap that most of us get into is that we feel that there is not enought power in our system when, as JohnK pointed out, we need to use the power we do have or pay for the power we are waisting. I would go with the speaker addition. Then, if you do hear distortion, and with money saved, go with the M200's for the centers in the future.

I must have very acute hearing or have owned some really crappy receivers in the past. I think anyone that owns an amp and has experience with them would agree with my take on this. I'm not saying owning an amp is the only right path or choice it's just a preference that I choose. Yes, it may cost more to own, but the benefits out weigh the TCO, in my opinion.

Tom

Tom-
I've been eyeing the Outlaw ICBM. I am not that well versed in it. What benifits have you had with it?

Update - A buddy of mine had a Harman/Kardon Signature 1.5 amplifier laying around gathering dust. Apparently this is an amp from before HK got out of the 'high end' market. Spec is 2 channel with 200wpc into 8ohms, frequency response 1Hz to 170kHz +/- 3dB. I just hooked it up tonight to run my m60's and am going through a few CD's (Rush - Moving Pictures, Prince - Musicology so far). As I expected the difference is not 'night and day', but there seems to be a big improvement in the mid bass punch, and maybe a little more definition in the soundstage (Stop me if I start to sound like a 'Secrets' reviewer!). One definite difference is the clarity at high volume. I always got the impression that my Denon 3803 was not quite as clean when I pushed up the volume, that feeling has gone now I am using a seperate amp.
So for anyone thinking about going down the same path I would definately say that more power headroom is a good upgrade. Now to find some money to add those rear speakers as well - damned upgradeitus!