I'm about to try out some M3s for my mains. If I like them I may consider going with them all around for a 5.1 or 6.1 setup. Has anyone ever used an M3 for a center and if so did you use it vertically or horizontally?

I did and for a time I actually ran two. I stood had them horizontally when I had two and vertically when I ran one.

The M3 works well as a center. I lost nothing versus a regular center channel.

F107plus is using an M3 center with M50 mains and I believe he is real happy with it. I expect it is vertical but don't know that for a fact.

If I had a smallish room I'd likely go with M2i's or M3ti's all across the front with QS4 surrounds. If you do use an M3ti as a center I'd suggest keeping it vertical, there's no need to lay it on it's side.

Hi; F107 here; the resident "happy M3 for center forum member!!"

Actually, yes I do and Yes I am. I've been using a vertical, inverted M3 as center for a few years now in two different rooms on two different TV types and am more than satisfied with the results.

You may already be familiar with the reasonings involved, but just in case....

I run it vertical for a couple of reasons that work in my room(but not necessarily in yours)I have a fairly narrow listening area so that I don't need overly wide dispersion angles. I run it inverted so that the tweeter is closest to the TV screen so the the sound is more firmly anchored to the action, and the tweeters in the mains aren't seperated by too great a vertical distance from the center tweeter, and that helps with panning sounds. Running inverted also helps with std. CRT TVs as it keeps the more powerfull woofer magnet farther away from the tube to keep magnetic interference to a minimum.

I had used it horizontally for a bit a few years back in an asymetrical listening area, and while it sounded OK in its "below the TV in a box" situation, it really opened up when I placed it on top, out in the open, vertically oriented, just like Ian designed it to be used!

Another benefit, in my opinion, of using an M3 is the fact that it's a full range speaker and can happily be crossed over to the sub down to 60hz.(The voices stay in the center and out of the sub-where they belong!)

I'm currently using M50s for mains almost exclusively BECAUSE they sound like M3s!!

Before we moved into this larger home I had been using M3s as mains and center and couldn't have been happier! The next step would have been to add two more M3s in back.

We moved...I needed larger mains.

Now I have M50s as mains, the M3 as center, and the two M3s I had as mains....in back! The next step will probably be two MORE M3s in back for 7.1!!

But Yup, in my opinion, 5,6 or 7 M3s is a wonderfull way to get a full range set-up. That, plus a sub would have been my "Speakers for Life" had we not moved into a larger house.

(On the other hand, if you end up in a larger room, may I introduce you to the M50s, along with my M3s; my "Speakers for........")
Rich.

Well, I just ordered my the M3s so I hope they sound great, I'm sure they will.

Good for you!! I just hope that you like yours as much as I like mine!!

If you haven't done so already, you can pass the time until they arrive, going back over the last five years or so of the published reviews on these speakers. They're the speakers that put Axiom on the modern map. At last count I've found nearly two dozen "Professional" reviews and references on the M3s!

Good Stuff;
Rich.

Got my M3s yesterday and I have to say I am very impressed. The sound is so clear. Compared to the Klipsch I had before these sound smoother, not so harsh on the high end.

Extreemly glad to hear that you like your M3s so far!

It's always a scarry thing to recommend speakers to someone who is not only wearing a different set of ears, but has a different brain stuck in between them!!
Rich.

hmm, i wonder, would two m3ti's be better for a centre channel than the VP150?

Hmmm! Ya know Darren, I wonder too!!

I'm quite happy with just one M3 as center, but I have been thinking of other ways to go; like an M50!(three M50s across the front whould match beautifully, and whould be even "more" full range!)

But yeah! what about TWO M3s at that?!

What about two M3s laying on their sides, butted together, with the tweets "in"? And with one of the tweets disconnected?(after all, the 6.5" runs free, so the missing tweeter wouldn't be missed) Basically an MTM in a wide cabinet?!

Hmmm....wonder if it whould work?

(Of course I'm still hoping for a 25th center with 6.5s)!!
Rich.