I've decided on QS8's for the surrounds and a VP150 center, but I can't decide on what I should use for my mains. Please take a look at my layout and give me your opinion on whether I should get the M22ti's or the M60ti's. In case you can't tell from the picture, I will be building the speakers and TV into the front wall. Thanks!

http://www.geocities.com/lchuck78/basement.jpg

Building your speakers into and flush with the walls may not give you the optimal "sound stage" and allow your mains and center to blend well enough. Also, putting speakers into a box like structure, can cause colorization of the sound i.e; boomy bass.

Speakers that weren't meant to be "in-wall" shouldn't be put in a wall. If you want in-wall speakers, you should buy some that were designed for that purpose.

Ok, so if I don't put the speakers in the wall, can I put them right up against the wall? The main seating is only 10 feet back and I don't want to put the speakers 3 feet away from the wall. Also, can the VP150 be wall mounted? Thanks!

Optimal speaker placement is mainly a result of experimenting with different positions. So putting them "right up against the wall" (front wall I presume) may or may not be the best position. Usually, you would want at least some distance from the wall (it could be a matter of only a few inches). However, putting them right up against the side walls is definitly not a good idea.

Even if you absoulely have to put them up against the front wall, it will be a heck of a lot better than in the wall.

Don't know if the VP150 can be wall mounted or not but mounting speakers on a wall especially a center channel speaker can be an iffy proposition but you won't know until you try. It may sound just fine. I've heard wall mounted centers that did sound very good.

Mounting surround speakers on wall is not too bad because the surround material usually doesn't contain dialogue and other such critical info.

Having them a few inches from the wall would be ok. Like mwc said though, keep them from the side walls.

The center channel can indeed be wall mounted. Amie and Ian have two VP150's wall mounted. One above and one below their screen.

Ok, so I won't be putting the speakers in the wall. If I go with the M22ti's they will be wall mounted and if I go with the M60ti's, then they will sit on the floor, a few inches out from the wall. Which do you think will sound better in my room? Thanks for the help so far!

What size room? Will you use a sub woofer? If you mount the M22ti's, how high up must you put them?

Btw, the link to the room pics in your first post doesn't work.

If the speakers have to be close (within 1 foot) to the wall, I would advise against the M60's. After experimentation, I have found that my M60's need to be at least 18 inches from the back wall to sound their best. I don't know what the optimal distance for the M22 is, but why pay the extra $$$ for M60's if you won't be able to hear them at their best?

Mark

Sorry that the link doesn't work, I forgot that Geocities doesn't allow outside linking. The room is approximately 13'w x 30'l with the viewing position about 10' back from the TV/speakers. There is no specific height at which I need to mount the M22's if that is the way that I go. As for a subwoofer, I will eventually be adding one on (2-3 months later) and have picked out an SVS that should work well with the Axioms. Thanks!

I have both - M22's and M60's.

M60's : Atleast 8 inches from back wall gives me good sound although I can live with 4-inches too. Definitely, definitely avoid the side wall. I felt the bass was too strong and kinda booming when the M60's were right up against one of the sidewalls.

I haven't really pushed my M60's that hard (volume wise). They sound as great as the M22's but with more bass. I am sure that in your room, you will be happier with the M60's especially if you like to listen at loudish levels.

My M22's are in the living room (30' L X 11' W X 10' H) and they can easily fill up those 3000+ cubic feet with great sound (receiver volume at 40%)!

M60's are in the bedroom (12' L X 11' W X 10' H).

My main seat when listening to the M60's (the bed) is a little bit on the high side (27"-28"). When I use a chair that is at 18"-19" (as a test near the bedside), I found the details to be even better. I am planning to raise the M60's off the floor a bit for this reason. I know some other people have had similar experience too. I think it maybe because I am seated very close to the speakers (9-feet).

Also both these speakers (I felt M60's are a slight bit more precise) really point out recording mistakes (level problems, abrupt transitions, background noise, etc).

On my previous speakers (Bose / Sony), I had never heard these details (irregularities) in the recordings (I have been listening to some of these songs for the last 12 years).

You may want to demo these before making the actual purchase. Look at the foll. link to see if anybody in your neighbourhood is willing to let you listen to any or both of these...

Good luck in your decision.

Cheers / Mahesh

Just wondering why you have the m22's in the large room, and the M60's in the small room. ???

Have you tried switching them around?

Hi Craig,

Yes I have. And that was the original plan.

The M60's sound just as good in the living room too but they are simply too big and the folks at home (wife, daughter, mom - all in one voice) dont want any furniture re-arrangement.

Actually I am beginning to like my M60's in the bedroom setup. My eyes have gotten used to Beech color and now they really look much more attractive than when I got them out of their boxes back in early Sept.

Also I prefer the 2-channel / stereo for music playback and this works out perfectly. While the family is watching their daily soap operas in the living room (HT is off), I can still enjoy music on the M60's in my own bedroom.

Had the M60's been located in the living room, I would actually have less access to them as I can only play them a couple of times a week and at specific hours (to avoid disturbing others).

The main disadvantage of having the M60's in the bedroom is that I have to re-position them each time before listening since I have them tucked away in the corner (one is against the side wall and other is against a cabinet) when they are not being used.

Looks wise, I have to agree with my family. The smaller M22's look very good in my living room. The M60's do look a bit out of place in the bedroom but they do perform the task very well.

Cheers / Mahesh

I've noticed that several replies caition close placement especially Re: side walls, what problems are created if speakers are placed too close toside walls and what's the optimum distance? Re: Help me choose... room dimensions are similar to mine