Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater QS8 vs. QS4 -- Big Difference?

Has anyone heard both of these speakers? If so:

How much difference is there between the QS8 and QS4 surround speakers? (Huge difference? Barely noticeable difference? etc...)

These will be used as side surround speakers, and will be paired with Rocket 850s, RSC200 center, and an SVS Plus/2 sub.

Thanks!

Someone on this forum has promised a review of QS4/QS8 today.
Follow this thread:
http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showthreaded&Number=190065#Post190065

Considering that you have some really nice speakers and monster sub, I would definitely go with the QS8. They will play louder and cleaner.

Will do... thanks!

Yeah, I figured. But due to WAF appeal, I was hoping that the smaller ones sounded almost as good as the larger ones.

I use the QS8's as sides and QS4's as backs in my 7.1 setup, they sound almost the same to me, both do an excellent job. I have never done an AB comparison on them, but I would guess by the specs alone the 8's will handle much more volume. If I was only using a 5.1 system I would definitely go with the QS8's.

If the goal is for them to sound "almost as good", then I think the QS4s surely satisfy that test. I had to downsize from QS8s to QS4s in our current configuration, and although I never had a chance to compare them directly, I don't feel too much of a loss going to the QS4s. Sure, the QS8s were likely a bit fuller-sounding, but if you gotta go with the QS4s, don't worry too much--they still have all the great attributes of the QS8s and can definitely hold their own.

I think the big difference is that the QS8s can handle more power and play at higher volumes (or same volume in a larger listening area). Many people (including myself) went with QS8s because it was one less thing to worry about, or because that gave the same driver size on all our speakers, but I don't remember seeing anyone who observed a real difference in sound between the 4s and 8s (except, presumably, at high volumes).

OK, I hate to post this, because I really want to deny it for my own sanity. However, I think the QS4s (at least my tis) tend to sound a little congested when you're playing music with a bunch of bass through them. This could be my own room, my own crossover settings (120Hz?), or just me being oversensitive. I must emphasize that I only notice this when I'm doing pink noise sweeps or when I'm almost directly underneath one of them (or walking by near it) when certain music is playing. I would assume that the QS8s (with a larger internal volume and larger woofers) don't have this (possible) issue.

Ag, mustn't acknowledge it! I don't have room (or money) for QS8s!

Who plays bass through the surrounds?
That's what the subwoofer is for (i.e., the .1 channel).
There should not be any bass sounds mixed for surrounds in DD/DTS or dvda-sacd material, though perhaps you are referring to music bass notes while using a DPLII or a similar DSP?

The QS4s and 8s are the same speaker, only different size.
I second Bridgman's notes on the topic.

Um... I said that I'm using a 120Hz crossover, so there really shouldn't be much bass going to the surrounds. I'm using Neo6 or Logic7 most of the time.

120Hz isn't bass?
So where does 'bass' begin?

Logic7?
Ah Ken, i thought you were more refined than that.
{poke poke]

Well, I don't know... what crossover should I be using? 120Hz is getting fairly directional.

Logic7 seemed to be better to my ears than Neo6 with my current setup. I don't like DPLII at all.

How about 80hz...

Through QS4s? I don't think so...

Well i again reiterate that the LFE material will be mixed for movies and high res discs to the subwoofer so a surround crossover should be set for 80Hz, given the Dolby specs for this purpose. I understand though that some surrounds are not rated for frequencies as low as 80 so you have to compromise. But really, do you think that 20-40 whopping missing Hertz will so greatly detract from one's experience of watching a movie explosion?
Bah.
Bloddy purists.

I am not sure i have Logic7 on my Onkyo. I don't recall ever seeing it, but i never use DPLII.
Not since i did that surround only listening test to see what comes out of them during the DPLII use. It was right weird.

Oh, there's the missing bit: I have an H/K, so I have independent crossovers. My M80s are crossed at 40 or 60 Hz, the VP100 at 100 Hz, and the QS4s at 120Hz.

That does help to solve the general dilemma.
I still run my surrounds on 'small' but have my sub crossover synced with the natural rolloff of the M60s around 50Hz.
Can't say i've missed any bass that i know of.

The difference is that big with QS8?

I don't know; I haven't listened to QS8s extensively. Dan? Over to you!

Thanks guys. I'll probably go with the QS8s for the side surrounds, since the ceiling pre-wiring for the side speakers is only about 5 inches away from the side walls.

But I'll most likely have to use regular ceiling speakers (flush with the ceiling) for the two rear speakers. Reason is because the kitchen is connected to the family room front-to-back, and the living room and dining room are connected to the kitchen. It's one big open space. Therefore, having anything hanging from the ceiling (right smack-dab in the middle of the house) would look nasty. My wife would never go for it. Actually, I'm not sure *I'd* go for it!

Anyone have any recommendations for plain ol' ceiling speakers that don't sound too bad?

If you look at my review...there is a difference between the QS4's and QS8's...

http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=189754#Post189754

I did find the older QS4s sounding different tonally than the QS8s I wonder if it was the smaller driver causing that difference as well as that hybrid tweeter they ran.

Anyone know how much clearance is needed from the top of the QS4/QS8 to the ceiling?

I would say try to go no less than 4" if possible. I used some DIY brackets with nice plastic covers to hide the wires, I picked up at Menards. I believe I have about 6" or so of clearance and it works fine.

Current Qs8's


Back when I had the mansfield color...

Also, if you have the money, Axiom has some nice new brackets that swivel and tilt and work good for ceiling installs.

Good stuff... thanks guys!