As many of you know I just purchased my M80s to replace my front left/right Paradigm Monitor 9's. My first upgrade will be my center channel to the VP150 X 2, or the M44's (I'm leaning towards the latter). Maybe even trying M44's above and below my television. My question is regarding my surround speakers which I am currently using one set of Monitor 9's for the sides, and the same for the back speakers. I read that some people use M80s all around in a 7.1 set up. Is there anyone out there with this configuration? I would benefit for sure in one way if I switch to the QS8's for my surrounds, and that would be space. My Monitor 9's are just as large as my M80's so they obviously take up a lot of room and I don't know for the life of me how I would mount them on the wall. With the QS8's being designed as a surround sound speaker, would I noticed a huge difference over my current setup?

Thanks guys

Cam,

The biggest differences you would hear with the QS8s are a more diffuse rather than pin-pointed sound field and more immersion and realism. I used to have direct radiating speakers for sides and I thought it was so cool to be able to pin-point gunshots and other effects. When I set up my QS8s, I wasn't sure I liked what I heard. But after a couple of movies, I realized that the envelopment and diffusiveness contributed to a more immersive, realistic and ominous (in some cases) environment. Now, I would never trade them for direct radiators.

Some say that having full range surround speakers results in higher quality since bass doesn't have to be routed to the sub. But others say that managing bass in the room becomes more difficult. I don't have an opinion on this but I do know that I would trade any bass benefits for more immersion/realism/envelopment.

Maybe floorstanding surround speakers with a similar firing pattern as the QS series?

I don't know if even that would work as well. I think the immersiveness has a lot to do with the fact that the QS8s are mounted 5 feet above ear level. So they shower you with sound from above.

Yeah, they'd have to be tall.

I'm pretty content with the QS8s. I've never felt they were lacking.

I think I mainly need to spend more time on positioning at this point. I've done a fair amount, but I could do with some more. Also, acoustical treatments are something I'd like to play with, but I don't want to do that until my home theater is in a more permanent room, and I would need to develop the patience required for graphing out my room's frequency response. What's the easiest way to do that these days, anyway? Isn't there software that can do that?

I came to a similar conclusion for my preferred 'sound' when comparing QS8s and M22s for surrounds.

That's a great review, Chess.

Thanks Chess, that was very interesting. Previous to my renovations I only had a 5.1 system with Paradigm Atom's as my rear speakers. I will obviously get a lot more from my Monitor 9's which I think will have a enveloping sound. With the new upgrade to 7.1 I will try the QS8's for my rears first (won't partially blocked my doorway which is another advantage over my 9's) and leave my other 9's for my side speakers. The parable that I am in, is that I have never heard a speaker specifically designed for surround sound.

Here is a picture that was linked to the original post with the location of our old basement and the M22s vs the QS8s.