Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater My Paradigm center channel match with M80s?

I presently have a lower Paradigm monitor center channel(I believe a cc-100). Getting my M80s next month hopefully. I have read that manufacturers design center speakers to complement the front l/r speakers. How important is it to stick with the same manufacturer? With my center channel being my next upgrade after I received my M80s, I was considering purchasing Paradigms new Studio CC-690 center channel because I think it's better than anything Axiom offers. I have only owned Paradigm speakers ever since I've had a home theater and I am more than satisfied with them, they're an excellent product. But I also love Axiom, my current EP500 upgrade from Paradigm and especially the M80s which will be a huge upgrade from my monitor 9's :-). So yes, back to my original question :-). How important is it to stick with the same manufacturer? Are there certain things to consider if you use two different brands of speakers?

Thanks

It might be worth demoing an axiom centre with an owner in your area...

One of the first rules in home theatre is to try and match your center and mains tonally, usually meaning same brand.
I can't say how well the Paradigms will match, I was using an off brand center at first and then replaced it with the VP150, the blending of sound and panning improved dramatically. The VP150 Imo and many others that use it is an excellent speaker, I think you should give it a try and return it if it's not to your satisfaction. Just my two cents.

If I was to go any route using an Axiom center speaker, I think I would prefer two M22s instead of Axioms loan center channel. After reading another post, many members use this set up and are very happy with it. Only thing is that everyone using this set up place one speaker above and one below their TV. I don't have this luxury, as my TV is a 60 inch with a solid bottom speaker enclosure. Could I lay two M22s on their side on top of my TV? Or would they be better placed upright?

Thanks

Why not try the 150 on top of the TV as it is an option? And yes you could go with M22s on their side but that makes it a 150 minus 1 woofer, not much different, but 2 standing up would be an improvement but I beleive for the dual centers it is preferred to have them above and below to anchor the voices to the screen better. Maybe try a set of speakers hooked up just to see how you like them both above the TV, won't match but you could at least have a much better idea of what it sounds like.

Just looked at the CC-690 holy @#$%, $1400 for a center channel that pretty much only does voices for movies. I must be missing something.

Yes it is important to timber match the center with the left/right mains. I have no issues with my vp150 and I would take what you hear with a grain of salt from those that say the Axiom centers have issues, that is not the case.

Yes, you can use m2's, m3's, or m22's as centers, but you would not want to lay them down as that would screw up the horizontal axis per design, the same problem would be like placing a vp150 vertically, makes no sense.

If you decide on something other than the vp series, I've heard the m3's are a better match for the m80's for a center over the m22's.

However, I would not be concerned about going with a vp150 or 100, they are awesome speakers in my opinion.

Wheelz, if a position above and below the screen isn't possible, consider having a vertical M22 immediately at each side of the TV. The center image would appear to be right in the middle of the screen for a listener in the middle, although it would shift to the side(but not farther out than the M22 on that side)with listener positioning to the sides.