Hello,
I'm still 'waffling' on the center speaker set-up for my new install. I'm definetely going with in/on wall M22's. I don't know whether to go with another M22 for the center or a VP100. The only difference is the mid-woofer arrangement, correct? Any thoughts / advice would be appreciated?
I'm using a Yamaha RXA2000 or Integra 70.2 - not decided yet.

The room is 1800 cu ft. 12 x 16 x 9

Thx,

For sound quality, M22.
For aesthetics, VP100.

If it were me, I'd go with the VP150.

Inwall/onwall M2 above and below the screen would be my vote for both SQ(assuming M2 on/wall has same charcteristics as M2 bookshelf vs M22 bookshelf) and aesthetics.

Don't overthink it, Tony. Whatever you decide will be great. I'd agree with CatBrat that aesthetics are a consideration. If you're already doing inwall/onwall, I'd probably get a VP150, too. If you are doing the INWALL versions, I think the VP100 makes a lot more sense.

Tony, rather than simply the order of the drivers, the most significant difference would be the vertical orientation of the M22(or M2s, as Jason suggests). This leads to a wider and smoother horizontal dispersion and would be my suggestion.

Hello,
I apologize for my ignorance but am I reading correctly that you are suggesting a center speaker both above AND below my 65" Panasonic? I've never read or heard of that type application before.
My only reservation for using the VP150 is what I have read about some problems with off axis listening with the two tweeter arrangement with the VP 150.
You are right, maybe I'm over thinking this.

Thank you for your input,
Tony

The off-axis problem is common to horizontal speakers. It is why some folks have recommended using the M22 if you can accommodate it. The problem is that most of us can't.

I have the VP100 and off to the side, at about 25 to 30 degrees, the volume is noticeably lower than in a narrow head on situation, such as a couch 10 to 12 feet back. I'm assuming the VP150 will increase that listening angle a little, but I haven't been able to prove that yet.

It is an age old issue in that center channels were designed as a convenience in setting up HTs as opposed to maximizing performance. I can recall back years ago when THX and surround sound came on the scene in home systems and they always recommended the same design speakers across the front sound stage, however, in most cases it just wasn't practical,hence, the horizontal center.

The new large horizontal speakers like the VP180 and its design goes a long way toward negating that disadvantage, however, because of its size, that, unfortunately, opens up another area of limited practicality in its usage.

IMO, internet discontent with the VP150 is wildly overblown.

While I don't necessarily disagree with the premise of a vertical center channel, I think people tend to undervalue the very significant crossover changes that are made to horizontally-oriented speakers, especially in Axiom's case.

It's not just putting a traditional speaker on its side and living with a wider baffle; it's a whole new design. That's part of the reason why the VP100 is sealed; it's not an M22 arrayed differently - it is a different speaker.

And Alan has addressed the comb filtering / lobing assertions before.

I still maintain that speaker placement and room interaction are better places to focus your energy regarding the center channel than second-guessing R&D like Axiom's.

Yes, Tony; there are some setups with center channel speakers above and below the screen. The benefit is that, as with any two speakers playing the same sound, it images midway between them, and therefore appears to come from the middle of the screen, rather than above or below it.

I would go with jakewash and JohnK’s suggestions of over and under M2s. Aesthetically the M2 is not a big speaker and I don’t think it looks odd either over and or under a display.