Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo 12x13x8 room, how hard to place M60's?

Greetings and Odd Bobkins!
I've been lurking for a year now. I think I will finally be buying some new speakers this month. This is what I have...please nobody goof on me too badly. I have a Denon AVR-1602 and a pair of Bose 2.2 bookshelf speakers that I purchased in 1988. They really don't sound all that bad. Really. In fact, acoustic guitars sound really nice. I listen to music in stereo and I watch movies in stereo. I also watch music dvd's and it's cool when they have a PCM soundtrack.
My room is 12x13x8. I only have a couch along the 13' wall with my tv and stereo directly across from me. If I measure diagonally from where I sit to where the front of the speakers will be is about 8 feet. I have a hardwood floor 80% covered with an area rug and the couch is leather.
My instincts tell me to get a pair of M60's. I'm worried they will dominate the room. Are these babies finicky? If I could keep them parallel with my tv about 2 feet away from the sidewalls and about 6 inches between their backs and the wall I think it would look ok.
Plan B would be to buy a pair of M2i's put them on stands and get a really big expensive subwoofer like an EP-600.
Hmm, Plan B is starting to sound like a hell of an idea. I might even get a third M2i for a center channel or just to hold in my lap and cuddle with.
Anyways, you guys keep rocking and if I could just recommend one track to listen/watch to:DVD: David Gilmour in Concert: Meltdown Concert+Royal Festival Hall Concert 2002. Track 14, Dominoes.

Love,
Lampy

Your room has the same dimensions as mine. I've got M22s and a great subwoofer (SVS PB12-ISD) and am completely satisfied. So how about Plan C: M22s on stands and an EP-500.

Your room is small enough that anything more might be considered overkill. Not that there's anything wrong with overkill.

When I first purchased my 60's, the room I set up in was the same size with a 9 ft ceiling. I had them in that room for about 3 weeks. The speakers sounded incredible. They did not dominate in either physical appearance or overwhelming sound. I did not find them that finicky to set up at all. I tried them on the short wall and the longer wall. They sounded excellent on both but looked best on the short wall in my room. They ended up about 2 feet off the side walls and about 10 -13 inches off the back wall slighly toed in. I sat approx 9 ft from the front on the speakers. Don't worry the distance of the rear wall is not that critical and with slight toeing in you pick up a couple of inches without coming futher into the room. When I say slight toe in I found I got the best sound stage when the speakers seemed to be aimed at the outer edge of the chair I was sitting in. Left speaker aimed at the outer left edge of the chair likewise on the other side. I have since moved the speakers to a bigger room and they still sound good but I think they sounded better in the smaller room. Do not let the size of the room prevent you from getting the 60's. They are too good to pass up. My purchase of the 60's was for 2 channel stereo listening. They may be integrated into a HT at a later date, not sure. Go for it the sound was amazing!
oz
oz

Peter makes a good point. It sounds like the M22s will work great, but you might as well go with the M60's and an EP500 to cuddle with

I think the M60s would be fine with 2 feet from the sidewalls and 6" from the back wall.

I have M60s in a 13' square room, and they're not overkill.

My very first post to these boards was questioning whether or not the M60s needed "room to breathe" and I was told they don't. I've found that they can crank of course, but also play delicately when needed.

I think the M60s, M22s, M3s or M2s could work in a room that size, the decision being based upon budget and preferred sound.

Ahhh..there's a nasty word...BUDGET.
The M60's seem to be the way to go. Afterall, look how long I keep speakers for. I might as well make the investment. The funny thing is that I really want to try the M2is. I can't explain why.

I don't think it's incorrect to think of speakers as a long-term investment. They certainly don't have a "new and improved" model every year!

I have used both M2s and M60s as HT mains. The M2s actually sound surprisingly good and would probably play loud enough for your room but (a) if you really like to crank the sound you wouldn't be happy with them, and (b) at normal "loud" movie volumes the M2s would be too close to their limits IMO.

M22s, of course, would be a different story. They would handle your room size with some headroom to spare.

M60s would not be too big for your room but most people like to keep them a bit more than 6" away from the back wall. For my room (13x18) I found that about 15" from the back wall was about right, although something like 12" seems to be most common.

On balance, I would also vote for M22 + EP500. That would be awesome for both music and movies and would also handle a move to a larger room in the future.

I don't mean to confuse you, but if I had to do it all over again, I would get M80s. Nothing to worry later about upgrading.

Lampy, welcome. I second Peter's plan C for your size room, with the additional suggestion to use a vertical M2 for the center.