Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners M80/VP180 Upgrade?

Hi guys. I presently have the M22/VP150 v1 and considering upgrading to M80v3/VP180. If I play at the SAME volumes, will the upgrade prove worthy?

Room is 26' x 15' x 9 (w/ a 15' x 12' stairwell opening in front). Use is 60:40 HT/music.

Thanks in advance.

I don't know about at the same volume level, but I think that you will get a big gain, mainly going from M22s to M80s. With that amount of cubic feet to get sound through, it will be a big step up. The VP150 is a nice speaker, but if you can afford the VP180, it will very nicely match the M80s and WILL be a bump up in sound quality.

Nickbuol is abso. right!

The VP180 is just like having a 3rd M80 for a center, only on it's side. If your room can accomodate it, I highly recommend it over the 150.

I haven't done a direct comparison between the M22's and M80's but a few members here say that M22 + sub is very similar sonically to M80's(+ sub?). Having said that, you are comparing M22's V1s to M80 V3s as well as a V1 EP150 to an EP180 V3, so there'll be an improvement there which will be more pronounced as the volume increases(you said same volume...I believe the differences will be more noticeable at higher listening levels due to cabinet volume, more drivers ect).

There is an improvement, only you can gauge if it is worth the investment. I went from M229v1)/Vp150 to M809v2)/VP150 and the upper bass the M80s play adds some added warmth the M22/sub combo doesn't play to the same extent. The M80s have a warmer less technical sound to them, yet are as equally detailed as the M22's. For me it was worth the investment.

I just upgraded from M22 and VP150 v1's to the M80v3, VP180 and EP800v3.

I agree with Nickbuol and Jakewash’s comments. I thought the M80 was the biggest bang for the buck in my upgrade. The M80v3 was much richer sounding with the added bass yet was still very clear and detailed. I also felt there was a much smoother sound to the highs. I couldn’t get this level of “sophistication” from my M22v1 and dual subwoofer setup.

The VP180 voice matching was a nice improvement over the VP150v1, but it was a smaller upgrade for the dollars invested. I had the same feeling about adding the EP800. It’s a really nice upgrade, but it took lots of dollars to get that smaller improvement.

Compared to my original “WOW” when I got the M22’s, only the M80v3 upgrade came close to giving me the same feeling.