Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater QS4s vs. wall mounted M2is?

I'm looking for the final 3 surround speakers in my 6.1 (couldn't accomidate 7.1) setup. All must be wall mouted (WAF) with the 2 surrounds slightly behind the listening position on the side walls and the rear speaker 6 feet behind the couch on the rear wall.

Three QS4's seem like a good idea but are they worth the $60 a speaker even though they lack the bass response of the M2i? I would like a little bass response to balance out my fronts and three QS8s are a little more than I wanted to spend. I don't do any SACD but like multichannel music and there is the whole dipole/direct debate over that. Any ideas?
Thanks.

Welcome NegativeC,

The QS series speakers are the best surrounds I've ever heard.

FYI, the QS series are not dipole speakers. Dipoles have the drivers wired OUT of phase. All the drivers in the QS speakers are wired IN phase making them like bipolar speakers. But, there are 4 drivers in the QS speakers, so they are bipoles x 2 = quadrapolar speakers.

As you say, there is a debate as to whether direct or polar speakers are best in the surround role. It is my opinion there is no "best." It just comes down to your personal preferences. There are those here who use directs, and some who use polar speakers. I fall into the latter category, and I LOVE my QS8s.

However, as for a single speaker in the rear surround position, the consensus is that it should be polar speaker, because with one direct radiator in the rear, it's sound seems to come from the front rather than the rear. I have a direct radiator in the rear (I didn't know better when I installed it), and that is how it seems to me (I have no idea why this is so).

I don't think you need worry about the lack of bass response of the QS series. Your subwoofer will be putting out plenty of bass, and bass is non-directional so you won't be able to tell where it's coming from.

It would be a good idea to give Axiom a call and ask them your questions. They're just plain folks who will be glad to help without trying to talk you into something you neither need nor want.

Just my $.02.

The QS4's are great for dispersing the sound for the surround channels. My question to you would be what is your music to movie ratio? Movies would benefit from the QS4's.

Do you use a sub?


Tom

Thanks for your input. I am using a sub, and although I probably listen to music more than I watch movies I enjoy a great DTS soundtrack a lot more than many of my CDs. The QS's seem like more and more the right choice due to the rear channel and the sides being almost even with the speakers.

I listen to a fair amount of multichannel music, and I don't feel I'm losing anything by having the QS8s on the sides. YMMV.

I listen to a multichannel music too on my QS8's and I think they sound outstanding. I'm about to buy the M22's for the 7.1 setup. I can't wait!

Well, I finished running the inwall cable and went ahead and ordered 3 QS4s. The room isn't too big so they should do the job nicely but I will have to wait and see of course. Thanks for all your input.

You're very welcome. Be sure to stick around and let us know how it works out. We LOVE seeing pictures around here. Hint Hint!

Good to hear that you are on your way to audio bliss.

Please let us know how it sounds.

Tom