Hi everbody.
A while ago there was a poll asking what kind of finish we all had. Someone askeed me to post pics - sorry for the delay.
(2) M80s Main L&R
(1) VP150 Center
(2) M2s Front Off Axis
(1) EP600
(4) QS8 Side & Back Surround

7.1 system in VaSSallo Oak w/Buttercup Stain w/Burnt Sienna Grill

Wow, I love that finish! It matches your room very well.

How does the QS8 by that door sound? I'm also curious to know if the off-axis speakers make a big difference. I've never heard a set-up like that. Thanks for posting.

That's a great looking room. Lots of nice wood there -- almost seems a shame to put the grills on.

I'm also interested in the off-axis M2s. Do you have them wired in parallel with the M80s somehow ?

Becarfeul or you may blow the fur off the cat!!



Also, in the last photo in the background there's some sort of Axiom plaque or poster...Care to share what it is?

If curosity doesn't kill the cat the 80's and 600 sure might

Cool set up and matching with the finish. Thanks for sharing and I hope pic doesn't offend.

I think the plaque came with the Valsallo speakers. It reminds him that he is one of the elite .

I was thinking that's was what it is, but I thought the plaques "custom made for..." were on the back of the speaker only... If not, even more of reason to order a custom finish

Wow, I don't know what to say about all of your kind words. Thanks! Glad you all like the set-up. It's incredible to the ears, that's for sure. I'm extremely happy with it, and the wood/stain and grill colors.
I not sure what someone mean by a custom plaque in the background, but if you meant the white rectangle inside the bookcase in the last picture, behind the loveseat - then that's just the of the boxes that contain the wooden chest filled with feet, alan wrench such as part of the VaSSaLLO Line.

Oh, and "HAY", me, upset over your photoshop pic - NO WAY. IT WAS GREAT. I'm sure you only expressed what my cat (Mina) is actually expressing/repressing, inside.
That's a keeper!
Actually one reason I keep the grill on the sub is due to the large front port openning - it large enough for a cat to get into.

Oh "Mojo" and "Bridgeman" about the side axis speakers...
I don't know what kind of set-up/amp/rec you guys have but my Sherbourn actually has a side-axis channel output on the receiver/decoder which in turn is powered by an outboard amp. (The main Sherbourn amp only does 7.1) On the Sherbourn the axis is made up from the differenct between the front Left and Side Left Surround - and same of course for the Front Right and Right Side Surround.
I find it actually spreads out the frontal soundstage more, depending on the film and how it is mixed. It broadens the scope to extend beyound the front 3 channels. This is especially true with music at times giving the impression of have an orchestra laid out begore the listener swaying across the front part of the room, not just side to side of the TV. Also it tends to really extend the Right/Left much wider. The real trick I found was the volume setting. I tend to make the axis speakers lower than the Front R & L. This allows them to stand by way of the delay setting in stead of being overly loud and drowning out the real Front L & R locations. It's weird really since there isn't just the L&R Axis but also plain Front L&R. Again, this is how it works with the Sherbourn, it may be different with other Rec/Amps and how they decode. So "Bridgeman", to answer your question, I don't have them wired in paralle.


"Mojo", the surrounds sound just fine near the door. Becuase of the way the room is the alcove, near the front door tends to focus the sound from both the Side Surround and the Back Surround so I have to compensate with a lover volume - just one would with any set-up via a sound meter.
One thing I have noticed while experimenting was slightly differnt heights to all the speaker tends to accentuates each channel and allows each to standout better and more defined. This is why I have the heights all off from each other but in pairs (except the Front Center to itself of course).
Again, thanks all for the great response.

Also

Scott, great looking set-up. I must say, it looks like you did a lot of careful measuring. Not much room to spare. Good job fitting everything in!

Everything looks great Scott, I really like the finish on the Axioms....they look right at home. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Looks very nice indeed.

I've read about the additional front speakers, that I've heard refered to as "presence" speakers.

Nice room.
Is that the 'The Exorcist' playing on the TV?
My face will look just the same as the cat watching that movie w/ your system.

OK, I guess I have to be the party-pooper. I can’t believe no one else has said anything to you, so I’ll apologize for saying it first………

Pull those 80’s out, toe them in some and let them breath. If you like the way they sound now, you’re going to be blown away when you get them the space they need. Move them to where they have at least six inches behind them, and around six inches of space all around them. When you toe them in, point them at an imaginary point six feet behind your favorite seating location. Move the 600 around the room by doing the “crawl” method. Leave it where it sounds best, provided it’s a spot in the room you can live with.

Great looking speakers, and again, sorry for being a party-pooper.

I was thinking the same thing, Mike... You've got them all confined! Boundary effects! Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! Danger!

Beautiful system, you've got there. Really great looking Axioms, and I dig the side-axis speakers. The size of the EP600 never ceases to amaze me .

But, I have to say, I agree with the other posters. It's too congested. Those M80's are *not* reaching their full potential being boxed in like that. There's also going to be a lot of bass vibrating through that left M80, being sandwiched right up against the EP600. I can't help but think that might have weird effects on the sound.

Of course, you have to make due with what you have, but I bet you'd get a nice improvement in SQ if you removed one or both of those bookshelves flanking the TV, and then readjusted the space accordingly to give those M80's some breathing room.

Good luck, and thanks for the pix!

I have to agree with the last three posters. That was exactly the first thing that came to my mind.

The advice given about pulling out the M80s and toe’ing them in is correct. In fact that’s the way they were- pulled out and over boarding each side of the TV. However due the constraints of the room they did stick out a bit too much and also added a channel for the center speaker which, no matter what I did had a limited dispersion due to the two M80s causing boarder.
I also turned the center upside down to aim it directly at the viewer – but still the M80s continued to cause a problem.
Neglecting the obvious I played musical “chairs” with the speaker placement and just happened to put them into the order you now see.
I was surprised to fine not only did it open up the center channel but it also cleared up and expanded the width of the M80s in terms of getting further away from the center allowing them to shine as distinct signal.
Although they appear to be pushed back up against the wall they are not. There is still over 5in of space behind them to the wall, and yes, they are slightly toed-in towards the viewer. The unique structure of the Axiom cabinet allows this due to tapering.
In the many hours of “playing” with endless positioning, re-calibrating, and such I found the most unlikely of locations works.
Although there certain rules of thumb we can all apply and adhere to sometimes different situations and acoustics with in a room break and or allow normally set rules to be bent or even broken. There are so many elements, even the power of the receiver used, that can dictate what can and can’t be done.
In the past I had tried something like this with Polk towers, but at the time had a Denon that was nowhere as powerful as what I have now. It just didn’t sound right. Then again now Axioms have been into the equation as well and I find them very forgiving, and incredibly wider and detailed.

I also found that the sub just disappears. My fear was it would "lean" the spectrum" over to that side, but know. I played with the setting on that baby for weeks.


To answer someone's question - yes, it is THE EXORCIST on the TV. It's the very first DVD version ever release - although it hasn't the best sound, it still has the best color of any version since, and has become a bit of collector's piece because of it. The depth of color is just fantastic unlike later ones where the director played with the tonal values and tinted certain scenes blue.

Scott,

I didn't want to be critical of your set-up because frankly I saw that you didn't have too many options. I didn't want to start something between you and the Mrs. .

Mojo
No offence taken. I had posted a reply earlier but it seems to have disappeared?!
In any case - you're correct, room, or lack of is problem. But afte much testing I'm happy to say the sound is better than think most speakers would deliver. I held my second audition today, and I really enjoyed the company of the person who was interest in these speakers. I find the general feeling is surprise over the quality of the speakers and a bit a mystery over the fact they aren't available in stores. There's a little of apprehension as well over ordering speakers online, or over the phone, especially out of the country. But I assure them it's all legit and well worth the purchase. I love to see their expressions over the size and power, yet subtle presence at times, over the EP600. Also, their reactions over the directional clarity of the sounds in 5.1.