Down to my last question, hopefully... I am getting the 60's, 150, QS8's. I think I will have the option to do 7.1. If I do I was think to go with M2's for the rear. Should I do this or stick to 4 QS8's? If really debating getting the 500 instead of the 350 as well. If I go with the M2's then it would be in an easier price range for my wife. Thanks for your help as always.

Generally, the M2s are considered the right answer for the rears. The QS8s would work, but the M2s are recommended most often. The use of M2s apparently also gets you the EP500, so it looks like the right answer for you.

Having said that, there really isn't much out there that produces audio to take advantage of 7.1. Mostly it's 5.1.

To help the $$ discussion with the bride and get LFE which IS available all day/every day, you might consider skipping the M2s for now and go for the EP500 (makes for an easier discussion with the wife). This approach allows you to enhance the audio with a superb sub that will be in use al the time vs. spending money on rears that may not be used much. Might even get you to consider the EP600.

If 7.1 availability cranks up a bit, you could always order the M2s later (when the budget is a bit less stressed ).

You may be making a small improvement in going from the M2 to the QS8 (or maybe none at all depending on listenting preferences). Upgrading the sub though, will be a very noticeable. Absolutely get the 500 instead 350!!!

I prefer my Qs8's over bookshelfs for the rears especially for HT, but they do very nice for music also. Unless your in the sweet spot, Qs8's or Qs4's will do a better job than a direct radiating speaker, just my 2 cents.

Most of my usage will be movie, games and tv. I am going to get the RX-V2500 doesn't it convert a 5.1 signal into 7.1? Even though this won't be near the quality of a direct 7.1 feed it will still be there on all my sources for an option.