I'm about to order a new center. My current centers been good, has aluminum drivers and generally sounds good but its now the weekest link.
I would like to know which center would be better for my room.
The VP180 is the mate to the M80's but some would say the design of the VP160 has the edge over the VP180.
There are very few reviews online for either model.
We no longer move the loveseat from the sweetspot which is 3 meters from the front my current center.
A larger family room/HT is always on my mind. I just want to avoid another upgrade.
Thoughts?

The VP180 has a unique configuration which I've not heard. Based on general acoustic principles and what I have heard, I prefer a tweeter over mid-range configuration for the widest and smoothest response. If the VP160 has an advantage in this respect, it still applies to listeners in the central "sweet spot", since off-axis sound still gets reflected there by room surfaces and should be as uniform as possible.

I wonder in the DSP will be upgradeable to include either of them.

I have M60s , not M80s, but I LOVE my VP160!

I think the DSP will support the VP180. Not sure about the 160.

I have the LFRs and the VP160 included in the DSP box and it kicks a$$.

I really want LFR's but I can't justify the cost.
I haven't heard them and thats probably a good thing.
Some day...
Think I'll wait to see whats anounced next month.
Outriggers are still at the top of the list.

There are reviews around for both, not on their own individually, but usually integrated with the entire L/R, center, surround speaker arrangement.

Anyway, you really can't go wrong with either. With them you are getting in to the design of a full-range center speaker which with today's BR lossless movie soundtracks, to me, is almost a must. The best test of this is when you have one of these large centers for awhile in use and then re-connect a smaller version, then you will almost immediately wonder why you didn't make the change earlier. I certainly did.

Others who are more versed in the design aspects of these speakers could probably speak better than myself about them however, the VP160 design of the tweeter on top of a smaller mid-range theoretically provides a slightly better "off-axis" performance whereas the VP180 horizontal speaker array is for a more linear vertical response. These differences are subtle so, when making your choice, like myself, it is just a matter of size, weight and space limitations which in my case, because of the considerably large depth of the VP180 and even though I have the M80s as "mains", the VP160 was the more practical choice for my particular set-up.

Space is one of my considerations. With either speaker I will need a new TV stand. I've designed a few for both and don't really like any of them.
I have to work around the TV too. It sits on top of the stand in front of a window.
I'm going to loose the drawers and I'm not too exited about it.
The M80 sit outside the 96" windows frame and the TV and stand cover about half the window. Theres 13" between the stand and the M80s, just enough to swing open the doors.
I like the TV height so the center will need to be lowered.
I think I'll pass the speaker dimensions to the builder and see what he comes up with.

Better than words...

Better than words...

If anybody sits in that seat against the wall outside the speakers on a regular basis I would suggest the VP160 due to the better horizontal dispersion it produces. If the main sweet spot is the only real concern and you really don't care about that off axis position too much then go with the VP180.

Last night, after a long session with some old friends, V4 came to mind.
Think I'll save my pennies and see what happens.
I'm even considering a second matching center while I wait.

What about another M80?
It would have to sit 4-6" off the wall and the TV would cover the top tweeter.

I've never heard the vp160. However, my vp180 is a phenomenal center. I do watch mostly from the "sweet spot", or the seat immediately on Each side (same couch). I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

Also, vp180 is rear ported too so same rules about wall offset apply.

I will be installing it in a cabinet but will leave the rear of the cabinet open.
This should be ok, right?
I have considerded the in cabinet model but I'd like to have the option to stand mount it on its own if/when I get into a larger room.

Yes, as far as the rear ports are concerned. It should also be kept in mind that speakers shouldn't be recessed into enclosures and if possible should extend a fraction of an inch in front to minimize reflections and refractions from enclosure surfaces.

I though you might be ignoring me.Its been a while.
Whats the worst case scenario if I was to install it in this manner?
Keep in mind the stand will be built to fit the speaker exactly. Not so much the depth but it will have very tight tolerances.
It will protrude out the front.

You could still use the in-cabinet version and if you ever wanted to run them out of the cabinet you could easily add a veneer or paint them for a nicer finish.

I have in cabinet vp160. It is quite ugly outside of cabinet. There are pictures of it somewhere in the CatBrat thread. Basically plywood painted black. With a fron piece that's bigger to keep it from sliding back into the hole.

Yes the front baffle is longer and slightly wider than the box the components reside in but it could still be used out of the cabinet, a tall spike/rubber foot would work well under this setup. I do not believe the outer box is plywood but would be the MDF painted black. You could sand this down and add some layers of high gloss black or glue on a wood veneer to dress it up. OK so maybe not so easy if one is not good with this sort of thing.

Does the porting on the front and or the resulting seperation between the woffers benefit the speakers SQ?