Hi,
Right now I have 7 M3v2's in a 7.1 config. Lately I have felt that the front end needed help. I am not sure if it is just the mains or the centre as well. I was mulling over going to M22's (would need new stands,or will Axiom sell the shorter tube?) and a VP 150 so I would have 5 1/4 across the front and 6.5's for surrounds. I also listen to sacd/dvda so I am not sure about this setup. My other idea was m80 or probably more likely m60 with vp150. In this setup I would have 5 1/4's and 6.5s across the front and 6.5s as surrounds. incidently, why doesn't Axiom make a centre with 6.5s?? Spousal unit would probably freak at the 80s, will still freak at the 60's but hey...what can you do? I have Paradigm Monitor 7's upstairs in a 5.1 so she has at least been exposed to floorstanders!!! I have the ep 350 in the mix as well.
What would the 60s do that the M22's paired with a sub could not do?
Room is roughly 24' X 28' with 7' foot drop ceilings. I sit about 13' from the mains. Carpeted floors big puffy couches , room is fairly good sound wise..at least to my ears!! No slap echo or anything like that!!
Electronics so far are a Marantz 7500 as temporary prepro, Bryston 3bst for mains, Bryston powerpac for centre, 3bst for side surrounds and a parasound for rears...if this matters!!
Any suggestions would be much appreciated!!
Thanks,
Mike

Another option would be to move two more M3's to the front, with the new Pro Logic IIz they recreate a second set of fronts (up high) and the new receivers mostly have it if you are going to be getting rid of the Marantz. Then I would buy QS8's for the 4 and 5 channel.

Short of that, I would go with M60's and a VP150. I wouldn't want smaller drivers up front than in the back.

With that big of a room I would go with at least M60s. For myself I would recommend the M80s with that big of a room.

The MM22 + sub is almost identical in sound to the M60 (minus the lowest notes from the sub). I expect the M60 will play a little louder in a large space.

The M80 would be the ideal candidate for that room though.

IMO, M60s/M80s sound a little fuller than M22/sub, but not by much. I can tell you that the M60s/M80s will play much louder than the M22/sub combo.

my basement setup is about a similar size. Mine is 22 wide by 26 deep and the couch is now set 12' back. I'm about 90% home theater. I recently got the M22's and with my sub they are just fine for movies but you definately need to have a good sub to make the M22's work with that size room. If you listen to music I don't think you'll be happy with them. They won't fill the room with decent sound especially if you are listening to music anywhere in the room farther away than the 13' that you mentioned.

I wasn’t sure if you were saying that you already have the EP350 for this setup or it’s a choice between the M60s w/o a sub and the M22s with a sub. If you would forgo the sub with the M60s then I would say the M22s + sub would be my choice. If you also plan to use the sub with the M60s then I would go with the M60 in that size room sitting that far away.

To specifically answer your question. In a room that size with the placement options it should give you I think the M60s will have more presence and produce a slightly better soundstage for 2.0 music. But w/o a subwoofer will be anemic for movies. Whereas the M22s + sub will give you more impact for action movies but the front soundstage might seem a little thin for music even with the sub when sitting that far away.

I’m a big fan of bookshelf + sub combos for the best bang-for-the-buck, but in your case I think you really could benefit from a tower + sub combo for movies. And tower speakers for 2.0 music assuming not all your SACDs are 5.1.

Cheers,
Dean