Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater M80 as center channel speaker

The closest I have come to an M80 center is dual M3s, with one above and one below the tv.

Dual M22s work very well especially one above and one below. One on either side....not so much, as the nearest speaker to the listener moves the dialogue off center while watching off axis.

The M80 vs a VP150 as a center is no contest. The M80 is much more dynamic and lively than the VP150. If I could run an M80 center or even an M60, I would do it in a heartbeat.

Since I have dual VP150 (the one below firing straight, belly-level and the one above slightly pointing downwards about a foot or so above the head), I would now tend to vote on the dispersion of dual-centers over a single M80. Sounds is still very directionnal to satisfy dialog and character movements, but evenly distributed accross all my seating positions.

How widely spaced are your L/C/R, and how far away from them do you sit?

You know, a comparison between a marching center and dual centers above and below would make an exlellent article for the Axiom newletter.

Edit: um, matching. A marching center would probably be a real dissaster.

I wasn't talking about dual 150s, there is something unique to a dual center set up, dialogue is very centered to the screen, IMO. But I still feel the M80 as a center adds more dynamic range to the whole experience and still has a wider dispersion than dual VP's, but I am going on my testing of dual VP's (a 100 and 150) compared to an M80 not dual 150s.

A question to no one in particular. If I decide to try my M80 as a center should I leave it outside of the tv stand because of the rear ports on the speaker. Would having it placed in the stand under the tv affect the sound enough to not make that option worthwhile? I really don't what to use up space in front of the tv if I don't have to. (This is for experimental purposes only, no speaker will be harmed in the proposed set-up) or I could try both options and see if there is a noticable difference. Now I'm talking to myself again.
Mel N.
Another thought besides sound differences is there a way to accurately monitor the difference?

What massive kind of a stand do you have that accomodates a 39.5" high speaker? You're not talking about laying it horizontally, are you?

Would lay it horizontal then move the tweeters to the outside. Hack and slash.
I know the best way to set-up the M80 would be to have it standing but that would be very very difficult. Would just try it horizontal to see the outcome sound wise.

Horizontal would probably not sound very good--much too long. Also, driver position plays into the sound of the speaker.