Right now I have a 5.1 setup that has served me very well, in-cabinet T60's, VP150, QS8s, and EP500. When I was setting up my theater last year I decided to wait on 7.1 since there weren't really many 7.1 titles out there. I figured I would try to stick to the original sound track. Well, the last several Blu Rays I have bought have 7.1 surround, so maybe now's the time. My AVR is 9.2 capable, so no probs there.

Here's my right rear:


And left rear:


The columns you see on either side of the couch are wired for the additional speakers, all I need to do is pop a hole in them.

I put the QS8s up high and in back because they just worked better there. You can see my rear wall is pretty open, and I think when I had them mounted on the columns (while I was testing my setup) alot of the sound that went backwards never came back and it just didn't sound good at all. Plus they stick out so far you have to walk around them when they are on the columns.

My options are the in-wall speakers, although I will have to build a frame out around them, the columns are only 2" deep and have load bearing 2x6's behind them- I don't want to notch out the 2x6's. So those would stick out an inch from the column. Or just the flat On-wall speakers which look like they stick out 3" but would be simple to hang. I think the in/on wall ones would still have to be built out and would look funny compared to the full in-wall speakers. I'm leaning for the full in-walls for a more slick look.

So two questions: would direct firing speakers right at my head ruin the otherwise great non-directional sound from the existing QS8s? If that's the case I can stick with 5.1.

2: Any reason to look at the M3's over the M2's as surrounds? I figure the M2's 5.25" drivers would be the same as the midranges in my T60 towers, and the same drivers as the Center channel and surrounds I already have.

I realize a lot of people like the high and wides, but right now, in my setup, this is the easiest to add. Plus I want to stick to the dedicated streams in the original sound track and not have my AVR try to guess what goes where.

Thanks for any thoughts.

I myself would opt for another set of QS8's. You have no room for sound diffusion to take place so those direct radiating speakers are going to give you pinpoint sound from the sides. You could use 2 M2's in place of the present QS8s as those points look to have a good distance to the listening position and then move the QS's to the side surrounds, to save some money.

Yeah, I too vote for QS8s all around, or moving the QSes to the sides, and getting M2s for rears.

Agreed.

Oh, hey, you mentioned T60s. Got any pics of those?

RP, the positioning of your QS8s is actually more ideal for back surrounds in a 7.1 setup than for the 5.1 side surrounds which they are now. If you're going to add additional surrounds for a 7.1 setup the side surrounds should now be placed directly to the side of the listening position and should be QSs rather than direct radiators because of their closeness, among other things. The current positioning of the QS8s, as was said, would be about ideal for the back surrounds.

The advanced technology from sources such as Audyssey and Dolby which expands 5.1 sources to 7.1 or height and width speakers certainly can't be fairly described as "try to guess".

I've not heard width or height speakers, but I can state that the expansion of 5.1 to 7.1 via Dolby Prologic IIx is completely convincing. I don't know which discs have 7 discrete channels and which don't, I just leave it on PLIIx all the time, and enjoy seamless surround effects.

I hear what you guys are saying, and I did try the QSs in the 'correct' place where the columns are, and I was not happy at all, it was almost like having no surround, I think because I really don't have a back wall to bounce the sound off.

If direct speakers would interfere with the great surround I'm getting already I can leave well enough alone.

I'll try to get a pick up tomorrow of the T60. We are still finishing our basement and I had to do all the cabinets for a bathroom and kitchen down there so I only have one speaker built in so far. Gotta go to work now.

Since I've had my Axioms, I've not had any back wall or right side wall, the Qs8's are mounted on the ceiling, and they sound great. Yours is not wide open like mine. Looking at your room, it doesn't really make sense that putting them in the correct location would give you poor results, 2-3 ft above ear position and to the sides for 5.1. For me the sound travels right through you.

Excuse the poor quality, taken with my phone before the can lights were warmed up and fully bright.



There will be a four panel pocket door to the left of the speaker (this is my left front). Then I will install trim and crown across the top to cover the screen housing. The screen drops down behind the flap on the right of the speaker, that helps hide the tensioned sides of the screen. The idea is that when the screen comes down, it's framed by the cabinets and speakers. Behind the screen are two display cabinets (seen here with toys) flanking a plasma. I needed something to fill the space to make it look nice when the screen is up.

That looks really sharp and professional, 54!

I do concur with you on all accounts Mr. Adrian, that is indeed a very nice setup.

Looks great 54!

Very clean looking indeed! You need to post more pics on the Gallery, it's not often that we get to see pics of in cabinets

I will whenever I get to finish the cabinets (IF I get to finish would be more accurate). Once I get the doors made and installed I'll post some more pics. I've been thrilled with the speakers so far, and the wife is thrilled that they install flush with the cabinets, no wires, no mess.

Dude! Raised ogee, panel cherry doors! Nicely played. Very nicely played.

Hmm? All these "54's" and "53's."

They were very good years.

That is one very clean looking built in, makes me want to get to work on the basement, where i have a similar plan for my system.

Here's the goal:


So the general consensus is not to put direct speakers in the columns?

If those are the cabinet mounted ones, I think it would probably be fine. Looks nice!

I'm sorry, I was getting back to the original question. I meant for the surrounds- the columns on the sides. I have the cabinet mounted speakers already for up front, they work great.

I'd tend to agree that direct radiators on the columns would not be the way to go. I'd leave the back QS8's where they are and add 2 more QS8's on the side columns.

BTW, like others have said - nice looking install!

Possibly Q's on the sides and bookshelf in the rear, but not the other way around. Ideally, Q's all the way around is best. But, I guess you are the one that has to be satisfied.

Because of how close the columns are to the seating area, especially your left one, the QS8's really will perform better than bookshelf speakers.

I tested both in just such a scenario and it wasn't much of a contest. You can always get M2/3's and test for yourself, and then use them for the back, but with your layout you'll get the best surround sound from QS8's all around. Whether or not that is worth the extra $ is up to you, but once I heard QS8's all around in my room there was no going back.

I'll take the QS8's down and try them again on the columns and see how it goes. I may go for a pair of QS4s as they are a bit smaller but still the same depth. I totally agree on paper that would be the way to go, although I don't need people bumping their heads on them as they walk by. I'm trying to find some other thinnner options from other speaker manufacturers as well.

IMHO, it's not just theory on paper that says the QS's are good on the side, it truly does bear itself out in real world listening and comparisons.

I wouldn't bother trying the QS8's on the columns again. If you've tried them there before and didn't like it then it's not likely to sound any better this time around, mainly because you'd still be missing two back speakers. My vote for QS's on the columns was assuming you had two surround back speakers as well, now THAT would be a worthwhile test for you to do.

Bumping of heads and other mitigating factors are another thing. We all need to work with what we have, so if QS8's protrude out too much then you would need to look at the smaller QS4 or other in/on wall models instead.