Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater How does this setup sound:

that setup sounds good to me, QS4s should complete it very nicely.

If you are going 80/20 HT, then I bet (warning: fairly uninformed opinion about to proceed) that the Panasonic will work great, except for the caveat in the next paragraph. It's a digital receiver, and you're planning on going using it mainly for digital ends -- in the best way intended. If you were going SACD/DVD-A, which necessitate analog outs, phono, or even primarily music over HT, I'd have reservations about trying a new product category. But I bet you'll be very happy, based on the reviews of the XR45.

Caveat: Bass management. I seem to recall the XR45 had pretty feeble bass management options (apologies to XR45 lovers if I'm wrong here), with variable crossovers starting at 100 Hz and higher. I recall this from several reviews, and also saw this posting on the audio asylum forum knocking the XR45 for HTIB-quality bass management.

Unless the XR50 has improved bass management, with the ability to set a crossover down below 80 Hz, at least, and to 50, preferably, then I'd pass on it, and spend about the same amount getting a low powered Harmon Kardon, like the AVR-230, or one of the lesser-powered Onkyos ... or even a Yamaha-HTR series. They are heavier, and thicker, and there's a reason. More importantly, they'll deliver better long-term value (and short-term enjoyment with your expensive and great sub) than any receiver without good bass management.

I fully support the XR50 experiment, if the bass management is good. You might not think you need to worry about bass mgt, since you're using small mains, but why saddle yourself, at any price, with a product that can't handle this fundamental of HT, especially when you can get an H/K AVR 230 at Harmon Kardon Factory Direct for about $300 (or new on etronics for $350)?

You're paying for a good sub, so make sure you can use it flexibly and to its fullest.

Only other thought: It's worth it, if you can shell out $165 more, to get the M22s instead of the M2s, because they will stand you in good stead longer. You'll go from having a well regarded small bookshelf to getting an award-winning large bookshelf -- something you will probably be proud to own for 10-20 years. Costs more now, saves you more down the road.

My .02. Cheers, Bman.

S9, since you're on a tight budget, let me suggest that you consider using a third M2 vertically as the center speaker rather than a VP100(or any horizontal MTM design).As far as the receiver, if the XR-50 still has a 100Hz crossover, something slightly lower would be a bit better, but 100Hz should give acceptable results. The Hsu can handle that frequency with its own internal crossover switched out.

space and clarity is more of an issue for the center than money.

not too many low end recievers have crossovers under 100,

I'm thinking of starting with that reciever and building from there down the road,

we'll see today, g/f is seeing if she gets a deal through work on the Cambridge 540R ($600), which i like a lot as well

here's a good question:

would the vp150 be a better center over the vp100 (or would it be overpowering)

down the road i may move the m2is and the vp100 to the rear for a 6.1 but that's down the road.

which center?

Your room is plenty small enought that the VP100 would work perfectly well. I don't know that you'd gain all that much by jumping to the VP150.

Onkyos do not run hot, I've owned two of them. They run warm just like every other receiver on the market. I suppose if you stuffed it in a cabinet w/no ventilation that it would run hot but so would any other receiver.

I don't know who started this "Onkyo's run hot" stuff but it's wrong. By the way that panisonic xr45 would crossover at 100hz, kind of high for the speakers you plan to use. Anything over 80hz is localized and your sub, depending on size, may have trouble at the higher frequencies.

It might be a bit simplistic to say that 'anything over 80hz is localized'-- I've heard that a lot of folks think that THX was a bit conservative and 90-100hz isn't commonly localizable either. But your thought about matching crossover with speaker is well-taken.

Ordered: Axiom m2i, vp100, and css stands
Purchased and Recieved: Hsu STF-2
Pre-ordered: Panasonic XR50 (may change it before it ships)

75 dollars in banana clips, interconnects and a Digital Audio Connect

Don't you mean banana "plugs"? References to "banana clips" are usually found with firearm discussions...most often than not semi-automatic to automatic weapons...

Although there are those who may resort to having to guard their Axiom's after letting friends listen to them.

WhatFurrer