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Centre channel Help!..VP150 versus old Athena ASC1
#184567 11/19/07 04:59 PM
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Hi there - I'm hoping someone has had personal experience that could help my decision making.

I have an old Athena Audition speaker set up that has served me really well. Due to the atypical (but appreciated) foreign exchange adjustments by Axiom, I'm very tempted to try an Epic 60 - 500 set up. I have a reasonable offer for my old speakers, which helps soften the blow too.

My question is about the centre channel speakers. Did anyone upgrade from Athena to Axiom? I always feel like dialogue in movies is too quiet and I'm hoping the VP150 will "fix" that. Unfortunately there is not an auditioning option in Vancouver yet...maybe I can fix that soon.

I realize this is very subjective but I'm hoping someone was in the same shoes I am in (and did the A/B listening that I should do). Thanks.

P.S. (in case it matters): The amplifer is a Pioneer Elite VSX 92THX. There is currently nothing blocking path of centre channel to listening position. I have left the original MCACC settings as they are, since things seem perfect for TV and video games. Just movies seem too quiet. Movies are currently played from a Playstation 3, and in past were played from Xbox 360 and/or HD DVD add-on. Lastly, dialogue always seemed too quiet with my older Marantz 6200 too.

Re: Centre channel Help!..VP150 versus old Athena ASC1
Perc #184568 11/19/07 05:04 PM
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Have you calibrated your current system?


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Re: Centre channel Help!..VP150 versus old Athena ASC1
Hutzal #184569 11/19/07 05:07 PM
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Hutzal probably meant "Have you calibrated your current system with an SPL meter?"

Ears-only can give you a nice first setup, but to really get the best of a system, nothing beats measurement, especially with central channels that are often listened to off-axis.


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Re: Centre channel Help!..VP150 versus old Athena ASC1
Perc #184571 11/19/07 05:16 PM
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I am guessing you have contacted Amie about the 2 members listed(Duncan BC - M80s, VP150s(2), M40s, QS8s Axiom cables - (ask Amie), Richmond, BC - M22, VP100 (1madman1)) that have Axiom centers. I do remember a few people having posted about hearing Athenas and then Axioms and the response was in favor of the Axioms.

As the others have already asked I won't restate the calibration question, I will just add you can always run the center channel louder than the others to boost the dialogue. Just go into the speaker setup section in the receiver and add a couple of db to the center channel, this should help. I run my center 2 db higher than the mains.


Jason
M80 v2
VP160 v3
QS8 v2
PB13 Ultra
Denon 3808
Samsung 85" Q70
Re: Centre channel Help!..VP150 versus old Athena ASC1
jakewash #184574 11/19/07 05:35 PM
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MCACC is auto-calibration, guys... But yes, you can definitely bump the center a little bit. I think most of us do.


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Re: Centre channel Help!..VP150 versus old Athena ASC1
Ken.C #184582 11/19/07 06:47 PM
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Yes, MCACC is auto calibration and I have read in a few places that some people have had issues with it not setting things up entirely acurrately, so a calibration check with a SPL meter would be wise.


Jason
M80 v2
VP160 v3
QS8 v2
PB13 Ultra
Denon 3808
Samsung 85" Q70
Re: Centre channel Help!..VP150 versus old Athena ASC1
Ken.C #184583 11/19/07 06:48 PM
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Hi all. Thank you for your comments.

As kcarlile mentioned, I have used the autocalibration (with the microphone that shipped with the receiver). I have not bought an SPL meter for more precise/involved set-up.

I will manually increase the centre channel setting tonight. The reason I was hesitant to do this was because TV and games already sound perfect. That said, I could make another MCACC setting and switch back and forth, depending on what I was listening too.

In my nervous buying state, I was hoping someone would have something like this to say...."I had Athena's ASC1, then switched to the VP150, and I couldn't believe how much easier it was to hear dialogue".

But that would have been way too easy!

Re: Centre channel Help!..VP150 versus old Athena ASC1
Perc #184584 11/19/07 06:50 PM
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We have heard that, but not with the Athena in particular. We've also heard it the other way around, to be fair, although not with the Athena in particular. Generally people are pretty happy with their VP150s, although they can be a tad picky about positioning. Be ready to play with it.


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Centre channel Help!..VP150 versus old Athena ASC1
Perc #184585 11/19/07 06:51 PM
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 Originally Posted By: Perc
I was hoping someone would have something like this to say...."I had Athena's ASC1, then switched to the VP150, and I couldn't believe how much easier it was to hear dialogue"

The day is still young...


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Re: Centre channel Help!..VP150 versus old Athena ASC1
Perc #184586 11/19/07 06:58 PM
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Have you tried the center in different positions just in case it is a positioning issue with the Athena?

I guess we could have all said we have have heard a difference and sold you an Axiom system but you seemed happy with the Athenas so why try to sell you more. OTH, the few Athenas I have heard are nice sounding but do lack the extra detail/forwardness of my Axioms.

Since it is only one speaker you are looking at, the return shipping cost for a VP100/150 wouldn't be much if you end up not liking it and we would all benefit from a review of the comparison.\:\)


Jason
M80 v2
VP160 v3
QS8 v2
PB13 Ultra
Denon 3808
Samsung 85" Q70
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