I am in the process of changing my current JBL system out for Axiom's...I think, I'm pretty sure. Anyway my room (basement) is roughly 15x25/28x8. I dont want to use floorstanders any longer, they take up too much space. I want to go with bookshelfs. My thinking is 4 M3Ti's and a VP100. Does anyone have a feel for how this configuration would sound??? Please help, anybody

Axelsrd,
What do you plan on using your setup for? Will it be mostly home theatre, 2 channel music, or 5 channel music (SACD or DVD-A)? If you plan to use it only for 5 channel music, you might be better with 5-M3tis all around. If you're going to be using your setup for mostly ht, most here would likely agree that you'd be better off using M3tis as mains with a VP100 center and a pair of QS4s for surrounds. The QS4s should give you a more enveloping surround sound experience.

I do mostly HT applications...HBO, DVD's etc. Only about 25% is music...CD's concert DVD etc. The reason I haven't considered the QS4s is because I don't want to be restricted by having to use stands for the rears. I thought the 4 M3tis would allow flexability. Another line of thought is M22s for front and M3tis or M2tis for rears. I will keep my Velodyne sub and I am running everything through a Denon AVR 2803.

I'm sure you've already decided against it since you didn't mention it, but have you considered wall mounting?

There are also some different, fairly creative options that various forum members here have used to sit the QS speaker up without blocking the bottom firing woofer. Maybe some of them can chime in with some suggestions.

For HT definitely go with the QS for surrounds. Wall mounts, claw mounts, whatever.

If I decide to go with the Q's, what is the desired positioning...straight out from the seating area and a bit higher than my head...or behind and above my head???

"Slightly" behind the listening area, and 1 to 4 feet above the ears.

Now here is a dumb question...If I wall mount them, then what you have is the front speaker is firing toward the oposite wall, the bottom firing toward the floor, the front firing toward the seating area, and the back firing toward the back wall. You have 1 out of 4 speakers firing away from the seating area. How does this envelope me with sound? I know, I am new at this stuff so I opoligize in advance. I don't mean to sound stupid...well, maybe I am but thats why you're here...Thanks.

The magic of reflections...

You're just looking to fill the space... the key word is "ambient".

If you can tell where the speaker is with your back turned to it, it's not doing its job - and it's very distracting to actually consciously hear surrounds, it's like a highway trip where your eyes keep focusing between a mile down the road and a bug on the windshield... it's straining after a while - noticed that tonight at a buddy's place, he's got JBL direct-radiating surrounds of some sort - I think I'm moving him over to the Axiom side.

Bren R.

The beauty of the Qs is that the sound surrounds/washes over you. It comes from everywhere. I don't hear the speakers; I hear the sound. BIG difference.

I understand. My JBL S26II (books) are like that sometimes. Sometimes I hear the speaker and sometimes I hear sound. And yes, you are right...when I hear the speaker it is distracting. I just might do that...the Q's that is. If I don't like it, I can always send back for M2tis.

Just my 2 cents, if you are using a good sub, I really like the M2's better than the M3Ti's, but thats just me
better bass on the M3's though if no sub
you cant go wrong, great products both

Do you mean M2's for rears instead of the M3's or Q's, or do you mean M2's for fronts instead of M3's? I am keeping my Velodyne sub

Hi axelsrd,

In your size of room, you really should be going with M22ti's up front and QS8s as surrounds.

The M22ti's have greater midrange and upper octave detail than the M3ti's. And with the dual woofer/midrange drivers they will play remarkably loud with a sub helping out.

Regards,

Money is an issue as well. I dont want to put out any more than I can get for my JBL system on eBay. I can probably get $800 for them. This means if I get the M22's, VP150, and the Q4's which comes to $906 which includes 5% discount from the factory outlet. I can live with the extra $100. This may be the way I go afterall. Of course, I could keep the JBL's, they do sound pretty good. I was considering Klipsch or B&W's but they are way more than I want to spend. I am sooooooo confused.

I was looking at the JBL's before I ordered the m22s. I already had a JBL sub. I never pulled the trigger on JBL because I wasn't really that impressed during auditions. I don't know how many times I walked into BB and listened to the s38s, the n38s but they just didn't seem to be worth the money to me. When I received my m22s and listened for the first time it was like Xmas. I was actually stunned by the sound these things produced. Everytime I think I made a mistake in ordering them and feeling like I could have done better, I'll hear something from them that says you did not make a mistake. This is the best $360 speaker I have ever heard.