Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Center channel placement question?

I am setting up my HT and I am using the M22 on wall for l/r and a VP150 on wall for the center. All of these speakers plus my 60" Sony LCD are being mounted above my fireplace. I am currently resurfacing my fireplace with stone and I plan on placing the rock around the speakers and TV for a custom built in look. Due to clearance issues above my fireplace I have to put my mantel 36" above the hearth, 4" above that goes the VP150, 4" above that goes the Sony which is 36" tall. The Sony would be 6-9 feet off the floor (Bottom edge and top edge). In this setup the center channel is closest to optimal listening height (centered to the listeners ears) but puts the TV up high. If I put the TV over the mantel and the center channel above the TV, The TV is in a good viewing angle/height but the VP 150 is 8 feet off the floor. I can angle the VP150 down towards the listener using the full metal brackets but I am concerned it's placement would be too high. Which would be better? TV lower or VP150 lower? Your comments are appreciated!

(I am leaning towards placing the VP150 on top of the TV.)

Mike

Personally I would keep the TV at the best viewing angle and mount the VP150 above with it angled slightly down.

I would definitely keep the TV lower. You can angle the VP150 down toward the listening position. You probably already know this, but putting the TV above a fireplace is not a great idea (unless you don't make fires).

Thanks guys. I just did a mock up with the TV lower and it looks great. I ordered a pair of the Full Metal Brackets and I should be able to angle the VP150 down towards the listeners. It just looks funny being 8 feet off the floor.
I am aware of the problems having a TV over a fireplace. I am installing a gas fireplace insert with a mantel above it. The mantel will deflect a lot of the heat and I will be able to control the temp the fireplace puts out with the supplied thermostat. So if it gets to hot, I can turn the temp down or off.

I'll post some pics when I'm done installing the rock. 7 feet wide and 15 feet tall, should be fun!

Thanks again

Unless you just like home projects, rock work, etc.... hope you never need another TV or change speakers or speaker locations! (I've been down that path, but with framing, drywall, and trims.) Just thinkin out loud.....

New question,
I am going to mount the W150 (VP 150 wall mount version) above my TV with a pair of Full Metal Brackets so I can tilt it down. Step 2 on the FMB mounting instructions states: Attach the speaker mount to the speaker by using the mounting bolt already installed to your loud speaker. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN

The W 150 doesn't have a "mounting bolt already installed". I assume the FMB are used with the QS8's and other surround models with the bolt installed, but how do I attach them to the W150. There are three holes on the FMB that I could put wood screws through to attach the W150 but how deep into the back of the W150 can I penetrate into without hitting something critical?

Mike

The W150 is designed to be put in a wall; I don't think there is any provision for FMBs with the W150. The VP150 does have mounting holes for the FMB.

The W150? (I think it's now called on-wall VP150) comes with it's own mounting bracket(s).

link. Then click on photos.

Or is it this one instead. The on/in-wall version.

Nope, this is the W150

Axiom makes quite a few variations of the VP150 at this point.

If it's the one that kcarlile says, then you have to make a hole in the wall. An included bracket goes in the hole and you slide the speaker in to this bracket. I'm currently using the w100 version of this and I had to remove a stud to make it work properly.

Also, to make a long story short, I'm going to exchange out my W100 with the original style VP150, because I'm not satisfied with the W100 sound. You can't angle down the W150, but you can the VP150. The VP150 has a single central spot that takes a small bolt from the FMB.

It's funny that I was told to do this in the beginning, but not for the sound quality. But because it would be easier to install. Had I known at the time, there was a big (I think) sound quality difference, I would have gone this route in the beginning.