Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners New Center.. Which One?

I have an old 6yr set of sony speakers for my front speakers,
and 2 CS60 in-wall infinities for my rear.. I'm looking to buy the axioms in steps.. I am looking for a new center.. I like the VP150. however i've read people using the M22's as the center.. My sound preference from country to BB King to Nine Inch Nails to Johnny Cash to Floyd. Movies are just as diverse.. What do you prefer?

Welcome Joe,

How big is your room? The reason people use the same speaker for their center as their left/right is you get the best soundstage and imaging from matching drivers. This is not specific to m22's, it can be done with m2's, m3's, or heck m80's.

The vp150 uses the same tweeters as found in the other speakers as well, so don't rule them out. In my opinion they give a better horizontal dispersion in larger rooms since they have two tweeters on the outer edge. Also, it usually is easier to place a horizontal design speaker like the vp150 above/below a tv, or below a screen.

Joe, welcome. If you're going to buy your Axioms in steps I certainly wouldn't suggest that a center speaker be first in your case. It would seem that the Axiom main speakers that you may be considering(M22s, M60s, whatever)would be significantly more beneficial over your present Sony mains than a center speaker would be. Even if you're especially dissatisfied with your present center channel sound, you could use the Axiom mains at least temporarily to form a "phantom" center which might sound significantly better than your present setup.

Joe,

Replace your front Sonys before all else. Johnk is right. The size of the Axioms very much depends on the size of your room, listening distance and desired sound pressure level.

I concur with the above 2 posts. If you order Axiom Mains and use a phantom centre for awhile, it will sound a heck of a lot better then keeping your sony mains and getting a VP150.

JMHO.

Current size of the room is 14x20..

I sit 12' away from the tv, the fronts are the same distance.
I Like the DB level to be around 90 -> 100..

Go M80s all the way for the fronts.

With M80s, expect to hit 96dB with four watts in at your 12 foot listening distance.

A 90W amp should be able to drive your speakers up to 109dB measured at your listening position. So you would have about 13dB of headroom before your amp starts to clip. Recommended headroom is 10dB to 15 dB to account for dynamics in the source material.

I don't know what your amp is rated at but a 90W amp should be adequate.

I would not rule out the m60's either, they did great in my much bigger room prior to my current m80's. Also, m22's with a sub will do fine as well...