Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners I need advice

My theater is 12 x 21 feet. I will be using Axiom M22ti's for the left and right fronts and the VP150 for the center. But I am undecided on the surrounds and rears. The QS8's are out of the budget, so the question is, do I go with the QS4's or perhaps 4 M3ti's or 4 M2i's? Anyone use the QS4? They just seem to have such a small driver. Would the larger driver of the M3ti be better? Or what about this...6 M22ti's all around, a VP150 center and an SVS 20-39PCi sub?Just looking for suggestions. By the way, this is 100% home theater and an Elite 53TX. Thanks.

I'd go for 2 QS8s and wait on the 7.1. Failing that, I'd go with 2 QS4s and 2 M2s (for rears). From what I understand, M3s are somewhat different in sound from the M22s, M2s, M60s, and M80s (as well as the QS series and the VP series).

That said, I don't have any speakers yet, so...

Chris, I'm pretty much with Ken here. Get a pair of QS8s now and wait for the rears. There just isn't enough out there in 7.1 to worry about the extra 2 speakers. This will leave enough to grab the SVS 20-39 PCi. I have M60s and love the sub, but you will really need the sub with the M22s. I have one in a 16x22 room and it is great. There is plenty "subwoofing" still available, if needed. You will get much more appreciation out of a quality sub for HT than you will from a set of rears.

Now, having said all of the above, I read through your posting and I'm a little fuzzy on the budget. Getting into multiples of speakers got me a bit confused. Have you considered M60s for your fronts? That size room is starting to ask the M22s to be a bit heroic. Once you consider the the required stands for the M22s, the difference to the M60s is about $300. If you get the VP100 instead (I have one of those too and it's terrific), you can lop off another $130 to apply to the M60s.

Again, I'm a bit fuzzy on your budget, but M60s/VP100/QS8s and a 20-39PCi brings you in right at $2000 and you get a pretty special system.

I seem to have twisted my self into several knots here. Hope it's been helpful.

In reply to:

---

They just seem to have such a small driver.

---

A few things to consider :
- there are dual 4.5" woofers in the QS4, so they're not really that small of a driver (especially if you're considering M3s as an alternative - the M3 has a single 6.5" woofer - I'll let the math & physics majors figure out the surface areas)
- your surround speakers are only there to provide fill (unless you also intend to use them in a bridged stereo setup for CD audio, which you made mention this was for HT only)
- using M3s as surrounds changes the whole feel of your HT - you'd be using direct radiating speakers rather than the quadpole surround effect the QS series would give you

Currently I have a pair of M3s for mains, and my center and surrounds are all scratch built:
center - 2x4.5" + 1x0.75" aluminum
surrounds - 1x6.5" 2way poly

And I have to say I HATE the sound of direct radiating speakers for surrounds... they're far too directional for HT use... I can't wait until I get my QS4s.

Bren R.

I think Ray and Ken nailed this one. M60 mains and/or QS8 surrounds are much more important than adding two more channels behind you. I made the jump from 5.1 to 7.1 and have since pulled the rear channels back down and moved them into my game room. The difference between 5.1 and 7.1 was minimal. The difference between an amazing subwoofer (Hsu or SVS) and a so-so one is night and day.

I also agree that the M22ti's will work in that room, but if you're hoping to play are moderate to loud volumes, you're asking quite a bit of them.

Depending on budget here are my suggestions.

M22ti
VP100
QS4
Hsu STF-2 or STF-3

M60ti
VP100
QS4
Hsu VTF-2 VTF-3