My new M3ti Fronts and VP100 Center should be arriving in a day or so and I'm wondering what my best options are for surrounds using my current speakers. I can use either:

Cambridge SoundWorks Surround II 5.1 (multipole)
..or..
Infinity REFERENCE 2000.1

I use a 5.1 set up, and the speakers *cannot* be placed at the sides of my listening position, they are about 1-2ft behind the listening position. Since I don't listen to music in surround mode I've been using the CS surrounds, but was wondering if the Infinity's might be a better choice.

Any advice is greatly appreciated since I'm still pretty new at all this. Thanks!

Why are you not considering Axiom's QS4's or QS8's?

Welcome, Willy. Even for listening to most music in the surround mode my view would be that you should use the CS(S300?)in bipolar mode for surrounds rather than the infinities. Except for recordings such as some multi-channel SACDs and DVD-As which put instruments discretely into the surround channels, the broader dispersion of the CSs should give a better effect. If you're not thinking of 7.1 the Infinities could possibly be used in another room.

> Why are you not considering Axiom's QS4's or QS8's?

I am. I'll probably go for the qs4's sometime next year.

> my view would be that you should use the CS(S300)
> in bipolar mode for surrounds rather than the infinities

Thanks for the advice. My new Axioms showed up last night and I was using the CS surrounds (not S300) and they did sound pretty good.

pmbuko (another addict 'round here) uses CS The Surround I with his M22s and is fairly satisfied. (in case you needed further validation)

Speaking of Peter....?

He's out of town until tonight or tomorrow. I'll be gone for about 5 days, but I will probably still be online.

I've been lurking for 4 days just waiting for someone to say that!

j/k -- I just got back from a pre-xmas vacation in the Russian River area (CA, west of Napa). Hit a bunch of wineries (including White Oak, Ken ) and explored the coast a bit with the wife, son, and dog.

To bring the post back on topic, however, I currently use CS The Surround I speakers for surrounds. I usually leave then in dipole (diffuse) mode, but I switch them to bipole (direct) mode with some SACDs. I'd say I'm happy enough with them that I haven't replaced them yet. There's not a doubt in my mind that either the QS8 or 4s are much better, but there's a time for everything.

Glad you're back. Missed the humor, wit, charm,(is your head expanding yet)...oh! and not to mention the spelling and grammar corrections. Sounds like you and the family had a great time. My family and I spent a week last August in and around San Francisco and up and down the coast near there. We were based at Half Moon Bay. We had a wonderful time in your beautiful state and look forward to visiting it again soon (unless the quakes get worse).

[toes the ground with chin tucked to chest]
aw, shucks.