M2/M3s vs. QS4/QS8s in surround - Axiom Message Boards

Does anyone prefer the sound of the M2s/M3s over the QS series? I am still having to take a few shortcuts due to my budget and the QS4's are realistically out of reach. Just wondering if there are those who prefer the direct sound of the bookshelfs vs. the ambience of the QS series. I have heard a few mention that with the QS speakers in movies, sounds/effects can be difficult to place, which can be a positive or a negative depending on your point of view. I guess without listening to both as surrounds it is difficult for me to see if the QS series would be my preference.

Please see the "Is this a decent set-up" thread as this was touched upon briefly. I also have budget restraints and have similar decisions to make.

I just went from M2s to QS8s in the last couple of days. You definitely lose a bit of the "gee whiz" effect that comes from hearing all the surround effects coming from "there" or "there" (pointing to the surrounds) but IMO the overall effect of the QS surrounds is nicer.

If you're listening to a lot of music the M2s surrounds are great. The QSs seem just as good, just trying to say that for 5 channel music the difference between directs and quadpolars is much less.

Where are you located ? There's probably someone in the area with both...

TNT, i put my personal thoughts into a post some time ago. They may be of interest to you.
You can find the ancient thread here.

I am in Utah. I would love to audition them somewhere, but haven't noticed anyone from around here.

I went from direct surrounds to QS4s and at first I was a bit unimpressed becuase I was expecting a huge night/day difference. But after listening to them for a while, the fact that they aren't "in-your-face" is what makes them great! They are enveloping and immersive, making echoes, rain and effects more realistic.

I would recommend saving up for a bit more and then getting a set of QS rather than buying M2/3s now.

Man....you guys are sucking the cash right out of me. You guys secretly in cohorts with the IRS?

Ok...I will go the QS4s route. Anywhere I could get some CHEAP speaker stands for them? I would love to buy the Axiom stands that were designed for them but I am so ridiculously overbudget now that I can't justify spending $160 on stands.

The QSS stands are actually pretty short for suggested surround height (but on the other hand, building stands that held the QS series up to a "normal" height would either have to be bulky or tippy). Instead of stands, could you use mounts? (there are T-straps included with the QSes and the Full Metal Bracket or something from racksandstands.com might do you as well).

Bren R.

Mounting on the wall is cheap and easy if you have walls in approximately the right place.

Remember that QS's are more tolerant of placement than direct speakers -- mine aren't even at the same height or orientation but they sound mighty fine. If I did that with direct speakers it would sound quite odd.

In reply to:
mine aren't even at the same height or orientation

We're still talking about speakers here, right?

And why do I get this mental image of one lying on its back on the floor and another hanging by the speaker wire from the ceiling?

Bren R.

In reply to:
We're still talking about speakers here, right?

Testes, testes, 1 ... 2 ... 3 ?

huhhuh....shutup beavis

>>We're still talking about speakers here, right?

Yes... we... are... talking... about... speakers.

The layout isn't great today -- it's also temporary until I have time to move everything back to the other end of the basement where things sound better.

The mains and center are on a ~30 degree angle at one end of the room, sort-of in the corner. The long wall is split on one side by a stone fireplace and on the other side by a built-in bar that runs almost to the ceiling.

Like this. If I did this with M2s the sound would have been pretty bizarre, but with the QS8s it sounds quite normal.

3 foot high soup cans?

That's a lot of Campbell's Chunky!

Bren R.

Actually I think the soup is 'Habitant' pea soup

Yes, Habitant it is. Not to worry, Bren. The soup cans are on top of two stacked end tables. I only had enough soup cans for about a foot and a half and the result seemed a bit wobbly even for something I would build. Pics in this thread :

http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=Advice&Number=82220&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7&fpart=1

EDIT -- I believe Romeo deserves credit for the idea. He used four Campbell's cans instead, no doubt for increased clarity and tighter bass.

In reply to:
EDIT -- I believe Romeo deserves credit for the idea. He used four Campbell's cans instead, no doubt for increased clarity and tighter bass.

That clarity is Mmm Mmm Good!

Bren R.

True... but you can't stand a spoon up in it. It's not very thick bass.