Ok so I have whined and moaned over this very tough decision and yet I still can't make up my mind. I am setting up a 7.1 system and I am definitely getting (4) QS4 for the surrounds and rear, VP100 for the center, and the EP350 for the sub. I probably watch more movies than music but when i do crank up the iPod, CD, or Satelite radio, I am very discriminatory towards crappy sound. I listen to classic rock, pop, country, and easy listening. What speakers would complement the other speakers in a 18x10 room?

I only considered the M22, M40, M50, and M60 because they seem to be what I need and not too much more. Only reason I am kinda staying away from the M60 is because I already have 4 QS4 and probably provide all the midrange I need.
Thanks for all the advice. So hard to choose.

How far away from the main speakers will you be sitting? Depending on the distance, and especially if you listen to music mostly in surround modes (like DPL II or DTS Neo6, then the M22s should work very well.

probably sitting 15 feet away.

At 15 feet, I'd go with either the M50s or the M60s. The M50s are just a teensy bit kinder to badly mastered material, but play well mastered material just as well as the M60s. The difference between the two is quite subtle, actually.

So for you, I'd recommend the M50s.

Yeah, the price difference between the m50 and m60 isn't that great but didn't think they would match too well with the other speakers, maybe too overpowering.

They wouldn't be overpowering at all. That's what calibrating if for. Even the biggest speaker in the world would not overpower the others if calibrated well.

Nautec: This may help

I would say the 50s also. If you're intolerant of badly mastered recordings, supposedly the 50s are the choice.

(Though I base this on common hearsay here. Hear?)

Still looking myself. Quality and range. So I'm concentrating on post about quality vs volume. The 60's have the 5.5 which should give extra depth to the sound. A crappy recording is a crappy recording. So is bad sound on TV. Why can't it all be stereo or surround quality?

At 15' away I say M60ti all the way. With that much breathing room they'll really, really be able to sing. There's absolutely no issue with them "over powering" the rest of your system. They'll blend seamlessly.

I think i am going to go with the M60s. After auditioning the B&W 603 and the Paradaigm something and Vienna Acoustics, I think spec wise the M60 is my best bet. However, I wish i could listen to them first. Hopefully a Marantz SR7400 can power all the speakers.

Ya know, going back to your original post on this thread-being concerned about "crappy sound" on a variety of different inputs-the M60s may not be forgiving enough.

From what I've read in these forums, your Marantz should work perfectly. BTW, can't sleep or do you work nights?
A qustion concerning fronts. Is it better to get M22 and play loud or M60 and play mid-volume with the occasional "got to bring down the house" ?

M60's at mid-level volume. when I owned my M22's the sounded terrific at low and upper middle volumes, but when pushed hard they sounded like they were being pushed hard. (I also had a fairly large room). The M60's don't even break a sweat, even when the blood begins to drip from my ears.

The M22s are very efficient speakers. They are totally different from what you may be used to. If you want forgiving speakers that you can turn up to insane volume levels, the M50s may be a better choice. I think the whole point of the M22s is that you don't have to turn up the volume. They sound there best at medium volume levels. And as Spiff has said, they might start to strain a bit if you like to push them alot.

Couldn't sleep, all this speaker choices have gotten me all wound up.

Well, when i listen to music, i'll only be using the two front speakers so they should be good. That is why even though the M60 aren't forgiving for crappy sound, I want to know that my source is crappy sound and not fake it out.

Briant
my vote will be for a little different setup than what you originally suggested. Though I don't recall the history (if it was mentioned) of your 7.1 choice, but I would stick with 5.1. You'll save $400 from the extra pair of QS4s and you could then go with the QS8s, VP150 and M60s with change to spare. It will also help you avoid any bouts of upgraditis. Now depending on your wiggle room, you may want to look at adding the EP500 also, rather than the 350.

Regardless, you are going to be very happy with any Axiom setup you choose. Good luck!

Absolutely. Go 5.1 and get the M60's.

I hate to paraphrase Rooster Cogburn, but now you dunit. I went to to BB today to buy my son a digital camera for his graphic design class and then I cruised back to look at those large screen tvs I've been drooling over for the last 2 years. At that precise time that little man in my head was talking to me again. He was saying things like, you could have done better for yourself when you bought those speakers, and you should have bought paradigm's or even a psb setup, you fool, you shouldn't have listened to Chess and Spiff. As I walked into the DLP tv enclosure, a salesman was showing off a Yamaha HTR 5790 av receiver and some Klipsch synergy tower speakers. In a sheer moment that little man just disintegrated. My m22s rock, but now I want the M60s. And I know I will never be able to justify the upgrade to the better half.

Well, I am now thinking that since I won't have the optimun configuration for a 7.1 system, i'll probably go with the 5.1 M60, VP100, QS8, EP350 and buy some B&W in ceiling speakers for a 2 channel environmental sound. Have those in ceiling speakers on like all the time to provide conforting classical or soemthing and turn those off and the 5.1 on for when i want to listen to music and movies.

That config will probably be best because I usually always have music on and don't want to have the whole system on all the time just for the radio. That would end up needing two amps. Probably a Marantz sr5500 for the 5.1 and some cheapo amp from best buy to power the in ceilings.

I just ordered 60's 8's 150 500 today.
You will get my first and continuing impressions

One more thing. I placed the order because I need to hear speakers IN my home. it will be worth the return freight if I don't like them

Awright! Good for you!!!

Now, if you like your new speakers as much as I enjoy mine...!!

Now comes that interminable wait for them to arive!!

I'll be guessin' you won't be sending them back!!
Rich.