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I am trying to figure out where to go with Atmos
#418420 04/06/16 07:38 PM
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I know that I don't have the funds right not to really consider ceiling speakers. I have 4 older Energy Take5 satellite speakers that I will mount for heights in the front and rear until I can afford to replace them with something better.

But I am a believer in you need to get the basics done right, so that means the 7.1 speakers. I right now have a QS8 for side surrounds giving me 5.1 I want to get the 7.1 installed so I either need to buy 2 more speakers, or sell the QS8's and buy new speakers. But what.

If I am going to do it, do it right. Would the wall mount M2's be enough, our move up to the M3's. What about the M22's

What Speakers for Atmos
single choice
QS for side & M3 for rear (23%, 3 Votes)
QS speakers both side and rear (31%, 4 Votes)
M3 speakers both side and rear (31%, 4 Votes)
M22 all around (15%, 2 Votes)
Atmos - Who needs it. my TV speakers sound good (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Votes: 13
Voting on this poll ends: 04/26/16 07:29 PM

Anthem: AVM60, Fosi DAC-Q5
Axiom: ADA1500, LFR1100 Actiive, QS8, EP500, M3, M3comp, M5
Re: I am trying to figure out where to go with Atmos
MMM #418426 04/06/16 10:07 PM
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I saw your email to me Matt, and can respond when I am at the hotel tonight (work now blocks personal email).

I am a FIRM believer in the technical docs and info from Dolby, DTS, and the experts that offer their knowledge online (real experts working towards the optimal solutions, not just people giving their opinions) so I will stick with monopole for Atmos/DTS:X over any bi/di/quad-pole speaker.

I know that some people have used QS8s for Atmos surrounds, and monopole for overhead and like the sound that it gives, but when trying to make an accurate localization of sounds, you need some level of "pinpoint" accuracy that monopole offers vs. the "spray" effect of traditional 5.1 or 7.1 surround.

The QS speakers are awesome speakers. I went from a 5.1 setup to a 7.1 setup with four QS8s when I built out my current theater just a few years ago. It was amazing, but when I was planning for Atmos after CEDIA 2014, I knew that if I was going to make the jump, I wanted it to be as good as possible, which meant no QS8s and I needed monopole speakers for surrounds.

I then bought four on-wall M3s and put them up in place of the QS8s and I figured that if I timed things right, I could test out the QS8s for surrounds and use the M3s for overhead speakers to see if it was even close to what I had heard at CEDIA 2014.

Then CEDIA 2015 hit and it just reaffirmed that I wanted monopole speakers only. More people were installing Atmos, it was no longer "just announced" technology, but there were a lot of pieces of information from real world installers, manufacturers, and technology experts. So I traded in the QS8s and got four more M3s.

I've just started playing around with my Anthem MRX-1120 and it showed up Monday late afternoon and I flew to Dallas, TX for work on Tuesday morning. I am hoping to have more time to play with it and hear the full potential of Atmos in my theater space, but even without everything fully set up, it really sounds amazing.

I picked the M3s because M22s were larger and pricier for surrounds (approaching $600 more vs eight M3s), plus I wanted the 6.5" woofer that the M3 offered.

I am a firm believer also that the monopoles can "push" sound further *into* a room than the QS speakers (which spray sound along the wall for the most part), and that is needed for better object imaging, so I am not sure how to vote. I would pick either M3 or M22 for you, but not sure which one makes the best sense for you, your money, etc.


Farewell - June 4, 2020
Re: I am trying to figure out where to go with Atmos
MMM #418427 04/06/16 10:59 PM
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So comes with that the question of what does that 6.5" woofer give you sound wise? Yes, it has a larger surface area on the cone of the speaker, but then when you look at sound creation, it's the sum total of all the surface area, so I ask does 2x5" drivers give you more area than a single 6.5"?

For me, they will be hung on a wall and that is where they will live. I guess there is a side for price, and I guess it comes down to if I have the patience to wait for some M22 on walls at a good price to his the b-stock store. I missed the ones that were going for $260. Guess I just have to wait or see if Deb is willing to cut a good deal.


Anthem: AVM60, Fosi DAC-Q5
Axiom: ADA1500, LFR1100 Actiive, QS8, EP500, M3, M3comp, M5
Re: I am trying to figure out where to go with Atmos
MMM #418432 04/07/16 03:17 AM
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I should have been more clear. I was looking at the M3 vs M2 as the price and size of the M22 put it off my list... So the M3 wasn't much more in price, but goes a solid 10Hz lower than the M2, thus I choose the M3.


Farewell - June 4, 2020
Re: I am trying to figure out where to go with Atmos
MMM #418434 04/07/16 06:12 AM
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You need LFR1100s all around including in your ceiling for Atmos. You don't want your surrounds sounding different than your fronts. While you're at it, bury some LFRs in the floor because Dolby Vythos is around the corner.


House of the Rising Sone
Out in the mid or far field
Dedicated mid-woofers are over-rated
Re: I am trying to figure out where to go with Atmos
Mojo #418439 04/07/16 08:34 PM
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Originally Posted By Mojo
You need LFR1100s all around including in your ceiling for Atmos. You don't want your surrounds sounding different than your fronts. While you're at it, bury some LFRs in the floor because Dolby Vythos is around the corner.


And that will mean you'll need to have your joists be greater than 17" high, both above and below. That'll be messy, unless you're starting from scratch. It's also likely to render your second floor and bsmt fairly useless, but it's for a great cause.


Always call the place you live a house. When you're old, everyone else will call it a home.
Re: I am trying to figure out where to go with Atmos
MMM #418447 04/07/16 11:53 PM
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That's the spirit! lol!


House of the Rising Sone
Out in the mid or far field
Dedicated mid-woofers are over-rated
Re: I am trying to figure out where to go with Atmos
MMM #418609 04/16/16 12:32 AM
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I'm with Nick.

Go Monopoles all around and PROPER ceilings speakers up top. No silly front speakers with atmos modules pointing at ceilings.

What you buy depends on room size. I have not heard M3 on walls. I own M22 and M2 on walls. I do own M3 Bookshelves. The M22 on walls will NEVER have the bass of the M3 bookshelves. Honestly they sound thin and I'd never use them without a sub. The M2 makes a pretty good surround.


2xAA
M80/VP150/VP160/QS8
4xM3/M22OW/M2OW/VP150OW/4xM3IC/4xM3OW
EP500/800/HSU VTF3/SVS PB2k/SB2k/SB-12
Re: I am trying to figure out where to go with Atmos
MMM #418611 04/16/16 02:05 AM
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Atmos is (back) in the house tonight!

LOVING IT!

(Sorry, I will move along to my build thread and post there...)


Farewell - June 4, 2020
Re: I am trying to figure out where to go with Atmos
MMM #419190 05/25/16 11:33 AM
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It seems like it's a bit of a slow slog forward.

I had bought a Rotel RB985 amp for the center and rear channels in my room, but I am convinced that there are sinister evil forces afoot inside my room to make my life hard. That phantom device that wants to add background-hum noise to my speakers. I have had this problem with just about everything that I buy used (except for 2 inexpensive amp/ones that I got). I am told it's from devices that give off RF or noise into the power lines. I replaced an old HTPC as it was a culprit when the power brick was plugged in. Now I moved a Synology NAS into the wiring closet in the room and the hum is back.

On the plus side, the Axiom amp is totally amune to the phenomena, so I broke down and purchased another one for the rear/center channels and sold the Rotel. Guess I spent all the play money for this year. Unless I win a lotto or there is a wicked good deal, I am not getting rear speakers now for the room and will have to put up with using whatever I have laying around.


Anthem: AVM60, Fosi DAC-Q5
Axiom: ADA1500, LFR1100 Actiive, QS8, EP500, M3, M3comp, M5

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