Originally Posted By: MarkSJohnson
Originally Posted By: Nick B
Now the VP180 should be a very good match to the M80's sitting right on axis. But, off axis there will be lobing issues where it doesn't sound the same as in the center seat.

Nick (B), I really don't have the energy to get into some kind of big back and forth here, but what makes you convinced that:

A) This is positively the case?

B) Even if there ARE some lobing issues that can be measured, that they can even be heard in real-world use?

I mean, if I'm understanding you correctly, you're saying that all the people that have bought VP180s and spent hours listening to them (and reporting that they are amazing!) are wrong, and that there's a fundamental flaw based upon your first-hand knowledge of audio engineering?


I'm not bashing Axiom or saying that all of the folks who purchased the VP180 are wrong and it is not a very good center channel. All that I am saying is that I have had my VP150 for about 5 years now. If I sit one seat cushion off center, I notice a difference in how the center channel sounds compared to being on axis. It isn't that Axiom did a bad job at all designing the speaker. Having a horizontal center channel is a compromise to begin with. But, I like many other people cannot fit the identical bookshelf or floor-standing speakers in the center channel position, so we have to compromise. I would like to upgrade my VP150 sometime in the near future. When I do, it will most likely be with the VP160, which is supposed to help better with off axis listening from a design standpoint. Alan has mentioned that all of the center channel speakers blend well with all of the Axiom line of speakers. The smaller center channel speakers may have a harder time keeping up with the towers, like many here on the forums have said. One of the biggest differences between the VP160 and VP180 is that the 180 is going to have more output, if people have large rooms and/or like to listen to things very loud. I don't need that extra output. And like I said, I am really upgrading the VP150 to help with off axis listening. The tweeter over midrange design in a center channel is supposed to really help with this issue. So I'll be happy just getting the VP160.