I need some buying advice. I am about to buy new speakers for a 7.1 setup and I only want to use Axiom speakers. My room size is long and narrow (in comparison) 15' wide x 34' long and it has an opening in the side that goes into the kitchen. The listening area is about half way through the 34'. I have an Outlaw 970 pre-processor, will have an Emotiva UPA-7 (125w x7) and already own a pair of Axiom 3ti as well as a Parts Express DIY subwoofer. My budget for the remaining components (2 fronts, 1 center, two surrounds) is $1700 - $2000). I plan to buy b-stock from Axiom. It's cheaper and the quality is still great. I use my system 70% for music, 30% for movies. I have not yet delved into multichannel music but imagine myself getting an interest once I have the proper setup.

Specifically, I am thinking of moving my existing 3tis back to use them as rear surrounds, add some M60s to the front, add a V150 as a center, and either one additional pair of 3tis or QS8 as side surrounds right next to my listening position. I will postpone purchase of a subwoofer as I already have one (albeit a small one).

What do you think:
1. Should I use 3tis or QS8 at the side?
2. Are my existing 3tis sufficient in the rear or will I need something beefier? I could, for instance, forego the side speakers for now and instead buy two pairs of M60s (one pair for the front, one for the rear)
3. I take it M80s are really not necessary, and M60s are sufficient in this long room?

Thanks for your advice. Marius

1. Qs8
2. yes they would be fine for rear channel, actual many prefer direct radiating speakers for rear for music.
3. The m60's would be fine, but for the small increase in cost you may want to consider m80's so you don't get upgradeitis a few months later.

ps: I assume when you say b-stock you are referring to the Factory Outlet speakers? B-Stock usually can include returns, Axiom does not sell returns, they are brand new speakers, so really not B-stock.

Went from 5.1 to 7.1 w/purchase of my M60/500.
I had direct radiating speakers in my 5.1 Prefer the QS8's w/o a doubt.

You, like most of us, are cursed w/ a goofy room size/proportion/layout. The QS8's are very "placement forgiving," which directionals are not.

And, yeah, I'd consider the 80's. Your room is almost double the length of mine. Then again, where are you going to sit, relative to any and all drivers?

QS8's for sure.


M3ti will be great for the rear. M60's would be a stupid amount of overkill.


Depends on how loud you like it. I'm guessing "regular" ceilings? If so, our rooms are probably comparable in cubic feet, and I honestly never find my M60's wanting.

Thanks, everyone. This confirmed my suspicions My sitting position is about half way through the room, at about 17' or so. I'll assume that a M60 is sufficient but, you are right, there can never be enough power. My concern is that a Emotiva UPA-7 may not necessarily be able to drive the M80s - there are conflicting reports on the internet. Marius

Welcome Marius!

That's all I can add that hasn't already been said.

Marius, where did you plan on mounting your rear surrounds, on the back wall, or ceiling/wall mounted just behind your listening position?

[quote=Marius] My concern is that a Emotiva UPA-7 may not necessarily be able to drive the M80s - there are conflicting reports on the internet. [quote=Marius] You might want to check around, I had a problem driving the M80s with the XPA-2, but as someone else noted here it seems like the problem with driving the M80s was confined to only certain, but not all, Emo amp models, not sure if the UPA-7 was one of those so afflicted.

What he said.

I plan to mount the rear surrounds on the back wall. Do you think I should mount them closer to the listening position?

Marius

17 ft is a fair distance behind the seating area but if I were you, I would try them on/near the back wall AND perhaps 6-8 ft behind your listening area and see if you find any preference either way by placing the speakers on a mock stand of sorts(on a barstool/boxes, making sure they don't obstruct the dispersion of the speaker).

Good idea. Before mounting permanently, I probably should do a thorough sound check. Marius

If you end up with the rear channels that far back I think direct radiating speakers will be the way to go as the QS8s will just diffuse the sound around very far behind you while direct radiating speakers will hit you from behind but with that much distnce it will have a wide dispersion to it, similar to QS8s at near field.

I don't think there will be a problem using the M3's on the rear wall at that distance as long as you calibrate them properly. Agreed that - with your room configured as I understand it - they are probably a better choice than another set of QS8's.