Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners New poster with help question for V150......

I have recently purchase the M22's and have been tremendously
satisfied with the speaker. I been reading these forums daily
to catch up on alot of info about AXIOM and other things.
So, I went in for the V150 next. The problem is when
I sat down and hooked it up last night with my wife, we both
sat in my normal listening area {about 12 feet away} and
she commented how on the switch from stereo to surround
to use the center channel, it sounded like the sound went
in a "tunnel". The sound in stereo was much better. I know
that this speaker is supposed to "create" a better soundstage. But the sound was just awful. I adjusted my
speakers on my ONKYO 502 and have the center channel atop
my HITACHI 46 HDTV. What have I done wrong? Please any help?? Have I hooked it up wrong?

Use the search function. You'll find lots of discussion on optimizing the VP150.

You should probably play with the positioning--move the VP150 to the front edge of whatever it's sitting on (if it's behind the edge, there's a vastly increased potential for reflections, etc. How far apart are the M22s? Are they all in the same depth plane? Do you have surrounds? What mode were you listening to the speakers in (DTS, Dolby Digital, DPLII, 5-stereo, etc...)

Did you set the delay settings? If not, do this first.

Did you set the SPL with the test tones? If not, do this next.

Is it horizontally aligned with the stereo image? Listen in stereo, and pick the point where you think "center stage" is. Put the middle midrange driver of the VP150 in line with that spot.

How's the vertical alignment? The VP150 "shoots" straight out, parallel to the floor if is is sitting on a horizontal surface. If it is below your TV, it might be directing the sound at your knees. Flip it over, and it will direct the sound upwards. If it is on top of the TV, it may be directing the sound over your head. Tilt it down using door stops, the cat, a stack of old Vanilla Ice CDs, etc...

What is it sitting on? I have a 65" Mits. If the VP150 is sitting directly on it, the sound gets "enhanced" by the big empty box resonating under it. Other "boxy" things could have a sound to them as well.

Kcarlile mentioned one of the other most important things. Sound waves bounce, reflect, bend, etc.. (Remember making waves in tubs of water with various obstructions in it in science class?). Check that out also.

Go west and tweak young man...

Keep us up do date on how it's going.

Is it possible that the center channel is wired out of phase? Double check the connections on all the speakers to make sure that the same wire is connected to the positive terminal on both the receiver and the speaker.

The music is playing in Dolby Pro Logic II. I have it tilted
down to my listening area. I have wired and re-wired. It just
doesn't sound very good at all. Is this possibly due to no
surrounds playing?? I have moved and re-moved.I have tested and retested.If this is
the best I can get, I'll have to send it back. I even played
the Peter Frampton track the reviewer mentions on the web
site of his DVD. Awful......any more suggetions

I dislike music that was meant for 2 channel in any DSP mode such as Dolby PL2. Just does not sound right. So I leave it is stereo with a sub.

Todd, I think your disappointment has more to do with DSP modes than speakers.

I whole heartedly agree with Curtis. 2 channel matrixed to a center channel sounds detached and not seamless and seems to suck the life out of the music and bass lacks vitality no matter how good the speakers are. I even prefer SACD and DVD-A in 2 channel. There is something about a drum lick or a piano note coming from behind that I don't find quite palpable and realistic. PLII is ok for crappy TV program sound but not much good for music.

Todd, you might also try repostioning the M22s. First, relative to a stright line across the 3 speakers, just pull them out in front of the VP150 a few inches. Then try to set the M22s a few inches deeper . See if there is a difference.

Hey guys, Ray stopped playing golf long enough to post! Cool!

Todd, wait a darn minute here. You're playing music in Dolby PLII, but don't have any surrounds hooked up, right? You're listening to ONLY the front L/R and the center? I think that is the problem.

Most (all?) DSP surround modes are designed for 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 channels. I don't think you're going to get very good results by trying to listen through 3.1.

You're probably better off adding surround speakers before the center, if you have to choose. (You could "phantom" the center channel). Do you have any other speakers you could use as surrounds, even temporarily?