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VP160 upgrade advice
#420373 09/19/16 03:42 PM
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Escaron Offline OP
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Hi there, I currently have the VP150 and looking to upgrade to the VP160 as I've read that it's a significant improvement in dialogue clarity, off axis performance and overall a better match for my M80s. I noticed there is a VP160 HP available through the pre-owned store for about the same price as a B-stock VP160. The specs for the HP edition of the VP160 say that its rated 6ohm while the regular VP160 is rated 8ohm. My current receiver is a Denon 3808 and it powers the center and surrounds (QS8). Will it be able to provide sufficient power for the VP160HP and its new bigger drivers or should I stick with the VP160? Price wise I would prefer to get the VP160HP as it's a better speaker and less expensive than the regular VP160 (the pre-owned part doesn't bother me much).

Just looking to get some thoughts from people.

Thanks for your help!

Re: VP160 upgrade advice
Escaron #420374 09/19/16 04:08 PM
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Originally Posted By Escaron
Hi there, I currently have the VP150 and looking to upgrade to the VP160 as I've read that it's a significant improvement in dialogue clarity, off axis performance and overall a better match for my M80s. I noticed there is a VP160 HP available through the pre-owned store for about the same price as a B-stock VP160. The specs for the HP edition of the VP160 say that its rated 6ohm while the regular VP160 is rated 8ohm. My current receiver is a Denon 3808 and it powers the center and surrounds (QS8). Will it be able to provide sufficient power for the VP160HP and its new bigger drivers or should I stick with the VP160? Price wise I would prefer to get the VP160HP as it's a better speaker and less expensive than the regular VP160 (the pre-owned part doesn't bother me much).

Just looking to get some thoughts from people.

Thanks for your help!


Yep, go for it, that is a very good price especially for an HP unit and I am sure the folks at Axiom have made sure it is functioning as it should be and because it is, in essence, a full range speaker, you will notice a substantial difference in performance over the 150. Before I moved to the VP180, I had a VP160 that in many respects I wish had kept because of its design, it does have somewhat better off-axis performance than even the 180 and it will blend fine with the 80's.

Re: VP160 upgrade advice
Escaron #420375 09/19/16 05:09 PM
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I can only add that I've been a very happy camper since replacing my 150 with a 160!


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
Re: VP160 upgrade advice
Escaron #420376 09/19/16 09:36 PM
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Your Denon will have no trouble powering the VP160HP. Go for it.


Rick


"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Sigmund Freud

Re: VP160 upgrade advice
Escaron #420377 09/20/16 12:48 AM
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Great upgrade! Go for it.


House of the Rising Sone
Out in the mid or far field
Dedicated mid-woofers are over-rated
Re: VP160 upgrade advice
Escaron #420378 09/20/16 01:13 AM
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I went from a 150 to the VP180 and love the difference.


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85


Re: VP160 upgrade advice
Escaron #420381 09/20/16 02:08 AM
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Ditto on the 150 to 180. Amazing upgrade. After all, most of the movie sound comes from the center channel, and it is usually the most neglected speaker of the "front 3."


Farewell - June 4, 2020
Re: VP160 upgrade advice
Escaron #420397 09/21/16 02:28 PM
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Thanks for all the advice, just placed my order for the VP160HP, super excited to heart in action! Hope it's as much of a difference as everyone says haha!

Any thoughts on placement? My current VP150 is shelf mounted above the TV, but I don't think the shelf will be sturdy enough for the weight of the VP160 so I'm thinking putting it under the TV. Can the speaker cabinet take the weight of a plasma? It's a 55" panasonic, it's not overly heavy. I'm assuming I'll need some sort of wedge on top to level out the screen as the speaker appears tapered to the back.

Re: VP160 upgrade advice
Escaron #420398 09/21/16 03:05 PM
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Ideally you want the tweeters of your LCR speakers to line up, or as close as possible. Tilting the centre channel upwards slightly can help as usually people have it set up under the screen/TV. Axiom speakers are tapered cabinets so placing your plasma on top of the centre channel would be a no-go. Even if they were parallel I wouldn't do it anyway(if it were me).


Half of communication is listening. You can't listen with your mouth.
Re: VP160 upgrade advice
Adrian #420400 09/21/16 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted By Adrian
Ideally you want the tweeters of your LCR speakers to line up, or as close as possible. Tilting the centre channel upwards slightly can help as usually people have it set up under the screen/TV. Axiom speakers are tapered cabinets so placing your plasma on top of the centre channel would be a no-go. Even if they were parallel I wouldn't do it anyway(if it were me).


If you don't mind me asking, why wouldn't you place it under the TV? Do you think it would impact the acoustics of the speaker or would be concerned with the cabinet being able to handle the weight? Or just that the TV might fall off?

I think I will eventually wall mount my TV, but not something I could do right away, so just curious if putting the TV on top of the speaker would be good enough as a short term solution.

Last edited by Escaron; 09/21/16 09:04 PM.
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