Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Vp150 off axis problem........

tleigh and Geneticdrift, do a search and you'll find much discussion on the subject of running single/multiple bookshelves as centres and I think those that have tried have been happy.

I am currently running a single M22, vertically, as a centre and I'm extremely happy with it. No matter what ones position is in the room the centre channel is perfectly anchored to the centre. The blend from L C R is flawless and better than any system with a designated centre that I have heard. I have not had an opportunity to hear the VP100 or VP150 so can't comment per a comparision but there are many happy VP owners out there and a number of +ve reviews on them particularily making the point of how well they blend in a sytem compared to other centres.

Aesthetics is a major problem with this type of centre for many and a valid enough reason not to do it. But if looks aren't a problem then for sonics I feel that a single M2 or M22 is the ultimate and very much worth considering; particularily, if the traditional approach isn't giving the expected results.

Good Luck


EDIT:
Here's one of many good threads on the subject

No doubt that vp150 is successful but I still think I want to find a center that will satisfy 99% of the owners instead of 80%.

I am still curious if cc-370 is a good sub for vp150

>> but I still think I want to find a center that will satisfy 99% of the owners instead of 80%.

That's easy. Spend a lot more money and you can probably find something that everyone would like.

The challenge IMO is finding something for a reasonable price which, for YOUR purposes, is pretty much as good as the cost-no-object products.

then I guess, phantom center is ideal. So far, all the ones who complained about the center are happier w/ phantom center. $0 center.

Type_E
(old hand)
12/12/04 07:01 PM
Re: Vp150 off axis problem........ [re: GeneticDrift] Reply
(Wrote)
(I am still curious if cc-370 is a good sub for vp150 )


Personally i am very happy with the CC-370, although i wouldnt call it a substitute, just a different animal.....

TypeE, GeneticDrift,and all,

More money will not necessarily buy you a better center channel than the VP150. Properly placed--and that may vary a lot with every setup, given the vagaries of rooms and the influence they have on the perceived tonal balance--the VP150 and VP100 are sufficiently neutral that they blend very well with the M2i's, M60s, M22s, M80s, etc.

Because of boundary effects, no center channel will ever sound identical in tonal balance to its mates on the left and right, even when you use an identical model as a center speaker. The goal is to experiment with center-channel placement until you get the center's timbral balance as close as possible to the mains, such that any coloration is not a distraction. And that is attainable with either the VP100 or VP150.

A phantom center is not a solution. It's extremely anti-social because only one listener can use the system. For anyone sitting off-axis, the dialog will collapse to the nearer right or left main speaker. And you also can't trim the center dialog volume for greatest intelligibility.

Regards,

"...even when you use an identical model as a center speaker."

I just think this part needs extra stress. Placement, placement, placement is very influential in how a speaker will sound, tonally.

Nice info, alan.

This takes us full circle back to the first few posts when we started discussing placement. The reason for the first few posts was based on Alan's historical input on the subject and some other bits from my memory where placement sometimes solved the issue, or at least ameliorated it. I'm not sure what the configuration of your original center - the Infinity (?) was, but I'll guess the VP150 is more robust. If you haven't tried the forward / back thing I suggested - give it a try. Might be a nice surprise.

For me the VP150 is no longer an issue, it is being returned.

This is due to the fact that the Paradigm CC-370 sounds as close to perfect as I could imagine, without timely setup, simply placed atop of my television and a simple channel pink noise adjustment.

In my opinion I shouldn’t have to spend time with resistors or timely setup, and true to my belief the paradigm sounds utterly fantastic with no fuss.

I'm glad you found a solution that satisfied you. I know if I encountered the same thing you did I would not have rested until it was resolved.