Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Given the choice btn side-by-side150's or M80s...

No. With 2 VP150s, I get better quality than phantom with my 2 M80s.

So when are you replacing your M80s with dual VP150s?

I'm starting to get the idea that perhaps ignorance is bliss! I love the way my system sounds right now with the VP150 hanging above my screen pointed at my head. If I go into the Denon and chose 'phantom center' I may ruin this audio zen of mine by discovering that indeed the grass really IS greener on the other side of the mountian!

Please step away from the remote sir!

That’s exactly how it happened to me. Can’t remember why I even tried a phantom center but once I heard how a “simulated” M80s center sounded I seldom used my VP150 again. I’m not trying to be dismissive of the VP150 but a couple questions.

How many people are using or get recommended to use 3 VP150 L/C/R across the front?

How many people are using or get recommended to use a VP150 (or M2, M3, M22) L/H main with an M80 R/H main.

Do you suppose there’s a reason for this?

Ok three questions.

To be fair I‘d ask this question of any speaker brand and did ask an AV123 fanboy why he bothered with buying rockets when he posted that his bigfoot sounded “as good or better.”

Jay said it most succinctly above:



Back off! I see you eyeballing that remote.

Cheers,
Dean

Well curiosity killed the cat, but not my set-up. I resisted the urge to try out using the M80's as a 'phantom center' for all of 5 minutes... well that's a bit misleading, I've sort of wondered about it ever since I first read some on here prefered it to the VP150.

So anyway I went in and turned the center channel off (does this automatically create the 'phantom center' that you all talk about when it's in 5.1 mode? Because I did not prefer it at all. I thought it completely obliterated the center channel. And I'm one who does like more of the center information to come out of the mains. But this I didn't like. In fact turning the VP150 back on was so exponentially more impressive, and sound field expanding, that it made me wonder how anyone could choose the phantom center over the VP? This made me think that somehow I'm not getting the 'phantom center' that you all are experiencing. I couldn't be. If I was, then I must somehow have gotten ahold of a super top secret beta version of the new VP200 that's coming out in the future that's going to knock everyone's socks off!!!

Oh well, guess I may have just dodged a bullet. Right now I'm more in love with my VP150 than ever before, but had I experienced that phenomenom everyone talks about, perhaps right now I'd be wondering how in the hell I was going to fit another M80 underneath or above my 65 inch Sharp??? :P

Man, if I had high enough ceilings, I would definitely go for a third M80. Our basement ceiling isn't even 7' high, which is really going to feel cramped.

Glad it worked out for you. I’ve come to accept some people just perceive things differently, well perhaps I perceive things differently than most people is a better way to put it.

I had my speakers very close together (at the edge of the TV) and sat close (6’) both of which can make a big difference with even slight tonal mismatches. Also didn’t have or like my center running hot. Note that people usually perceive louder to sound better which is why level matching speakers for an A/B comparison is a must.

What I found better was the overall detail and clarity, tonal quality of vocals, especially males, and a greater dynamic range (running 40Hz crossover). The soundstage stayed pretty much the same.

I haven’t even tried the VP150 as a center here in the house so I should in due diligence hook it up to my Onkyo and give it a run. I’m pretty sure my Denon was faulty so perhaps that was also effecting the center channel. It was the one that Auddyssey screwed up the most on that receiver. Who knows I might own my 150 an apology, but I’m still not breaking up the with M80 to get back together with it.

I would have traded the apartment for a 7’ high basement any day.

Grunt have you ever tried placing the VP150 vertically on top of your tv? I know you have that option, wonder how it would sound?

Thanks everyone. This was a veiled attempt at curing my upgraditis. This way, I won't have to buy a new AVR and add two QS8's for height speakers. My current setup doesn't allow for wides. More things to consider now. Thanks again.