I was thinking about the Maggie 1.6's but decided to go with the Axiom solution because I wanted an integrated HT setup, maybe I will eventually go with the MMG for a bedroom HT or home study stereo setup. I did notice with running the M80s on their own that the issue of "speaker as (2 separate) box(es)" was audible (which was the only criticism I read in online reviews of the M80s and where the Maggies supposedly excel); I chalked it up to the incredible accuracy, precision, and focus of the M80s for which perhaps the tradeoff is excessive on-axis imagery/location-inside-the-box, if you want to couch a strength as a weakness. With the Vp150 and 4 Qs8s, there is not much of a soundstage issue, which fits with what Alan has explained in one of his articles as to the AE history/theory re: 3- and 5- (and beyond) versus 2-(stereo) speaker setups, for lack of a better phrase; however, I have to wonder, why do folks run two centers and/or turn up the center speaker? I find myself turning down the center so I can have a louder overall sound and groove on the soundtrack coming through the M80s without being blown away by the prima donnas or talking heads (or commercials) front and center, and I never have an issue of intelligibility, sorry off topic . . .

Speaker of the Year

Hmmm, this is way in the wrong thread isn't it!?

Maybe but what the heck!

Those are interesting thoughts of yours. Actually I am hoping to check out the M80's real soon and I am hoping to get away with just a set of towers for both music and movies for some time. Actually hoping to leave the centers for last of maybe not even at all.

The M80s are an amazingly capable set of standalone speakers. Whenever I run them full range I am always amazed at the amount of bass they can put out.

Jason

The 80's will do fine alone, with no center channel they will simulate the center channel in phantom mode. For movies you will need surround speakers though.

I run my M80s full range and they really do provide alot of bass for my small apartment. My next purchase will be QS8 surrounds, then the centre and sub.

I used to have a full Axiom 5.1 setup, and the component I miss the most (from my current one) is the surrounds. Surrounds really add so much sound information to the movie. I didn't realize that until I "downgraded" in my move to California, and bought two M80s...and no surrounds.