Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Pics as I Promised

You can also get the cordmate wire channel as well as a bunch of other wire management accessories here.

That looks great, Rick! But how does it *sound*? Are you happy?

Tom,

I am VERY pleased with my investment so far. Pairing up the Axioms with the new Onkyo 601 really makes them shine. Now that I have the 601 with the 6.1 I must have another QS8 to fill that last speaker output!!

Thanks to all the support here. It has been outstanding!!

Rick

Many have recommended not using a QS8 for the rear, but the M2 or another direct firing speaker instead. Stick to the QS8 on the sides.

I could be mistaken, but I think the poop is, if you're going 6.1, you should use a QS series speaker as your back surround. If you use a single direct radiating speaker, like the M2, as a rear surround, it's output seems to be coming from in front of the listening area rather than from behind. If you're going 7.1, then using M2s as your rear surrounds, particularly if you're going to be listening to SACDs and DVD-As, is recommended. Guys, have I got this correct?

So what exactly is wrong with using the QS for the surround back L/R speakers? IPeople say they suggest using direct firing for these, but isn't the point to have a more fluid surround envelopment? Wouldn't the QS and any bipole or dipole achieve just that?

These are actual questions, not statements. I would like to know if that is right or not.

Anyhow, I have no choice but to put the surround back speakers on the back wall where the couch is right up against. So I opted for QS for my surrounds just because I thought I thought it would be more enveloping and spread the surround stage out a bit more. I don't know if direct firing would work better for this, I haven't really had a chance to figure it out (or the money). Let me know what you guys think?

I think if your rears are going on a wall immediately behind the couch, the QSs are the better choice. I would have some concern that the downward firing woofer was the primary thing heard though. You might want to tilt them downward so that woofer isn't aimed directly at your head. If you used direct radiating speakers in that configuration, they would essentially be playing "over your head" and you'd mostly hear the reflection from the front wall.

All that said, I am not so sure it's worth going to 7.1 unless there is ample room behind the seating position to place the rear speakers (basically for the reason you mention). For 6.1, you have one speaker to fill all of the rear area, something that a direct radiating speaker can't really accomplish. But with 7.1 you are essentially creating a rear soundstage with the 2 rear speakers, and that requires some distance between you and them in order to fully develop.

There is nothing wrong with using QS series speakers as rear surrounds. In fact, if your system's primary use is HT, I'd prefer the QS series speakers in the rear. In your situation, I would have gone with QS series speakers for rear surrounds too. Ringmir said it. The direct radiators, would only be superior if you have some distance between the speakers and the listening area, AND if you do a lot of listening to SACDs, and DVD-As

No experience here w/ 7.1, but I believe I heard one of the old wise men suggest that there is not a lot of sound that comes out of the rears in a 7.1 set up. Using direct radiating spkrs at the rear would emphasize their presence while the QS's would tend to "disappear" and not give you anymore bang for the buck. I believe something like that is what was said.

Well, now I'm TOTALLY confused.