I'm sure this question has been asked here a billion times, but searching the forums got me nowhere, so forgive me if this is a recurring question. I'm a very happy owner of a pair of original QS4's (with a pair of M60 V1's for fronts and a Mirage center channel)and am wondering if I would see significant improvements if I were to upgrade my surrounds to V2 QS8's? This is for a mid-sized room, and the surrounds are mounted on the side walls about 3 feet behind the listening area.

Really, I think you're okay with your current QS4s. It sounds like they are pretty close to the seating position and you don't have a giant room. . . so the QS4s should be good.

I know, I know, the upgrade bug is hard to ignore!

Welcome mdavis,

I have to agree with St_PatGuy, I do not think upgrading to the QS8's in your situation will provide a very noticable improvement in your system. If you were moving your system to a larger room, the QS8's would be a good upgrade because they can play louder and lower and fill a room much easier without strain. I use the QS4's in a moderately sized room and they work wonderfully! I love them.

I think a better upgrade in your case is to get a matching centre channel (Axiom VP150) which will improve the timbre matching with your M60's. This can help provide a more seamless front soundstage for your system and could provide a significant improvement.

Good luck,

Agreed. I have the VP100, and am very satisfied.

Another meaningful change for me was a receiver with independent crossovers. I found that Audyssey's suggestion of crossing the QS8's at 120Hz has resulted in a somewhat fuller surround experience.

If you are happy with the way thngs sound then no need to change, but I noticed a poor timbre match between the original QS4s(aluminum tweeter) and the M22/VP100s I have, it drove me nuts. I sent the QS4s back and have been in love with the QS8s ever since, a perfect match.

Tom, that's interesting, Audyssey has set mine at 80 Hz everytime I've run it. What's really interesting is that it always sets my surrounds at 80 Hz and my rears at 100 Hz, even though they're the same speaker.

Audyssey sets mine the same as well, surrounds 80 and rear 100, I have found it to set the VP150 at varying XO's, sometimes 60 sometimes 80.

I usually dial them all back to 80... Is that what you do as well?

I 2nd the recommendation. I feel between upgrading to QS8's vs upgrading the centre channel, matching up the centre channel to your M60's would be the most noticable improvement.

Thanks everyone! I recall reading reports that Axiom`s line of center channels left a lot to be desired. My Mirage sounds fantastic and does not seem to stand out in any awkward way from the mains, even if not timber matches. The surrounds however, definitely do not sound like the mains, which I assume is due to the mismatched tweeters in the V1 QS4s. It`s tempting to try the QS8`s out, but I don`t want to spend 6 bills if I don`t need to, lol!

Oh, so you read and attribute value to tonygeno?

Actually you could do a trade in of the QS4s for a set of v2 QS4 that have the same Tweeter as the rest of the line up now, or even just order a set of tweeters for your QS4s. I belive they used the same size mounting ring as the Titanium tweeters, you may want to ask Axiom on that to be sure.

http://www.axiomaudio.com/tradeup.html

Good point, Jake! I forgot that Axiom did trade-ins. Although I can`t help but wonder if I shouldn`t just go all the way with QS8`s if I`m doing a trade in, lol!

If I just opted to replace the tweeters, provided that they had the same mounting, I wonder if the tweeters switch out easily without any need for special skills or knowledge.

The tweeters just have 4 screws holding them in and have a plug on end the simply slides over the tweeters connections, very simple.

You sure they're the same size, Jay? I'd be cautious about that.

Thats why I said he needed to check with Axiom with the initial suggestion, I seem to recall them being the same mounting circle, and it makes sense they would be, saves an extra step in the CNC machine.

Ah. Me actually noticing that line would probably have helped.