Anybody out there heard or currently using the in-cabinet series? We are in the planning phase of a new home with large open first floor which will incorporate the HT system. Currently under consideration L/R - M80's & Ctr - VP150 in-cabinets.

Sorry can't comment on in-cabinet designs - I have in/on wall design. However just a suggestion to consider going with a vertical center channel speaker if you can accomodate it instead of the horizontal. Suggest M80, M22 or M2 (in that order) to match L&R M80's.
Or if you want/need to go horizontal center consider the VP-180 to match the M80's.

I second Dan's thoughts.

I will add to just get the VP180 instead of the 150 if you can not utilize a vertical center; it plain works better with the M80s. If you have seating that is off axis ie. outside the golden triangle(reversed) listening area, I would then consider getting the largest vertical center speaker that you can utilize as they have better horizontal dispersion for improved listening from those off axis seats.

I've aded some reference info. As you can see, this is an above fireplace application, so I am vertically challenged. The area is quite large > 4000 cu-ft and continues into the adjoining dining and kitchen areas. Based on the lack of walls and concern from the wife, the surrounds will definately be in-ceiling rounds.

Based on what I have seen from other posts, I'm hoping to get a lot of good advice from the forum.

Do you think I should repost under a more general heading than "in cabinet" to attract the other experts? Many thanks!

I am not a fan of inceiling speakers but you really look like you have no place for wall mounts, other than to ceiling mount the QS series, which works VERY well, you might possibly be able to mount them above the windows and on the stair wall?

If you must have in-ceilings I would suggest moving the rear surrounds a little further back and try to find in ceiling speakers with adjustable tweeters, this will halp with the surround feel.

I am more or less looking at the same set up as you across the front and would really like to use in cabinet M60 or 80s built into some bookcases on either side of the TV mount and then add an in-cabnet VP180 mounted above the TV angled down towards the listening position. I plan on making the tray ceiling at the correct angle for the VP180 that way it can be part of the tray. I am going to mount QS8s for my surrounds as I have walls I can use.

+1 on the VP180. It's a bit more expensive but well worth it IMO.

Much to my dissapointment...can't do anything other than in ceiling for surrounds based on wife issues. I will probably post again looking for input for suitable surrounds. RSL is back in business and looks like their in ceiling might be a cost effective solution.

Good point on the angle of the Center. I am still concerned over the height relative to the L/R's, but the venting of the fireplace eliminates the possibility of anything other than the flat screen being directly above the fireplace. Since the tray in my ceiling is about 3', that would put the center 3' in front of the TV if I located it there.

I was planning on adding an XPA-3 for the front and keep my current HK AVR335 (55W) for the rears. No HDMI but pre-outs and still suits my needs.

I'll need to find a friend to take delivery for me...If she sees the size of the boxes before they get hidden in the wall, it's curtains for me. Planning to use my current EP175 and add another (shown in pic). If she sees that box, I'm doubly screwed. There's probably a lot of people on this forum who would volunteer to take delivery, but I actually want them in my house.

We all have been down the , wife issues discussion, well at least some of us. If you want to do it correctly and experience what the movie producers intended, you really need to use the correct speakers. The Q's correctly mounted with the ceiling bracket look very nice, and they don't shoot downward.

Not to worry about the height front back issue, the avr compensates for the timing etc, it sounds quite natural, at least I never noticed much of an issue with my old set up; the M80s were about 2 ft in front of the center.

Hi digs,

I did the double-blind listening tests to the in-cabinet Axiom models and I assure you there is no sonic compromise with the M80 and VP150 in-cab models.

The VP-180 is, of course, stunningly good--Axiom's first no-compromise center channel and I've not heard better at any price.

I really encourage you to somehow work the QS surrounds into your setup. In-ceiling speakers really don't work well, partly because human hearing is acutely sensitive to direction and timing for lateral sounds and those in front. (Notice the angle of the pinae--the external part of our ears.) We don't sense directionality nearly as well from above or directly behind us.

Think about if you hear an aircraft flying over you somewhere outside. If you do NOT instinctively turn your head upwards so your ears can help locate the position of the sound, you'll have trouble figuring out where the plane is.

The same applies in directional cues mixed to the surround channels in 5.1 soundtracks. They're intended to be reproduced from side channels, not above.

Regards,
Alan

Alan - Thanks for chiming in! As we are designing provisions for this system into an interior wall of the house as opposed to a cabinet, you can imagine that this is a huge commitment on my part. I had hoped for a lot of feedback from other successful in cabinet users.

The look for the room will be extreme minimalism - no cabinets. The interior designer will be doing something special with that wall (the only one in the room). My plan is to disguise doors into the structure which will operate like an armoire - folding back and exposing the L/R/C only when in use.

I haven't given up on the idea of Q's for the surround. There is only one way that can be done, IF I can get approval. That would be to mount them on the 1' vertical section of the tray ceiling. The front to back dimension is adjustable, however, the height and width would be determined by the tray ceiling.
Height = 9' and Width = 5' (each from centerline)

I was hoping to find some good pictures of this concept to "make the sale". So far, the only thing I have found is from the QS4 product page photos.