Hi all...My speakers finally arrived a few weeks ago, and though I was going to leave them in the boxes, till I moved, I got the itch to test them out (who wouldn't!).

So, I took out the HK and connected everything together, via banana plugs and 12g speaker wire. Easy install, not much of a learning curve there.

Now, I have 2 M80's and 1 VP150 for now, till I get the rest of the speakers. I have tried to check levels, etc. and have found that music, on 2 speaker stereo sounds great. Nice bass, nice mids and highs. Only thing the HK doesn't allow me to set is the mids...though, I wonder why that is?? Maybe an 'upgrade' to the receiver might allow for it? not sure.

Movies play through all three speakers, and though I have to turn up the receiver to a fairly high volume, it definately feels good to be able to watch movies through some real speakers...hehe. TV Speakers just weren't cutting it anymore. I also invested in an LCD HD TV (Polaroid 32" for about 1K) and let me tell you...picture quality on this TV is great (for a tv at it's price). Upconversion via Faroudja technology is great through the HK. Xbox 360 games seem to come alive, color rendition is great (even though I am sure I could calibrate it a little more) and the sound through the Axioms is awesome. My brother has been playing Blazing Angels for a few days...and lemme tell ya, planes sound like planes, guns sound like guns, and everything else in the game is just nice and audible...down to the wingmen on the right or left, bombs blowing up, planes flying past, etc.

I know this isn't the most 'complete' review...but it's what I have right now. After I set everything up, we ended up going to Vegas for the past week (let's just leave that there...hehe), so I haven't had much 'listening' time...although I try to listen to ANYTHING when I have a chance.

Only question I have, and maybe someone can answer this, when I use the 2-channels to play music, everything is great. I barely have to go to -50db on the receiver to get loud sound from the speakers. However, when I switch over to movie mode (I use the 360 to watch DVD's with an optical cable (even though I have a Sony DVD-player -- which I have tried, with no difference in sound)), I have to turn the receiver up fairly high -- as in -35 to -30db. Is this a common thing? or am I missing something? Maybe it's cause I am missing surrounds, and a sub? Maybe someone can guide me here...

Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions/recommendations. I am sure once the system is more 'complete' with surrounds/sub it will be even better than what I have now...which ain't too shabby...lemme tell ya!

Take care,
i.

The same thing happens with my 360, I'm guessing it's the way they are encoded, the games are much louder than a DVD.

Thanks! I figured that that might be the case. All in all though, definately enjoying the experience, which I am sure will only get better once the complete surround system arrives (i.e. when the wallet recovers from the trip to Vegas!!).

The 360 in surround is pretty awesome , congrats on your setup.

It’s quite normal to play movies louder (seemingly louder per the volume control on the HK) than music. Movies and such have very dynamic sound. Meaning, lot’s of variation. With music, the sound is much more consistent.

My 7300 and M80’s with the EP 600 is usually around – 15 db when I watch movies and I sit only 9’ away from the boob tube and it’s about 75-80 db’s. With music, -30 is about 80 dbs.

Plus, although an insignificant increase, in two channel mode the 7300 has a few more watts.

Gotcha...makes a little more sense now. Nonetheless, I truly do enjoy the sound from the speakers, mated to the HK.

I am sure the surrounds and sub will make it that much better, once I have enough money for them.

Thanks again.