I have the Pioneer Elite VSX 21 TXH with 2 pairs of M22's hooked up on the left and right channel which would probably be more problematic than a single pair of M80's and I've had no problem.

I did some checking, price wise, with the combinations of M80 theater system and substituting QS8's out with M2, 3 and 22's in a 7 speaker system. You save with M2 and 3's but M22's are little higher. IE: 2-M80's, 1-VP180, 2-QS8's and 2-M2's comes in around $1,000 cheaper when compared with all QS8's. It's around $20 more with M22's compared with all QS8's. I was also playing with finishes so the numbers may be different with other finishes.

My real concern is timber matching all speakers for best sound. I know the VP180 plays well with the M80's but which of the bookshelfs are best suited in this combination?

Another reason I was looking at towers and bookshelf's is that when we watch movies I use the surround mode (DD or DTS), for TV we both prefer 7 channel stereo. We find TV not as good audible as movies and the 7 channel stereo seems better for TV. I'm not sure that all QS8's would be as capable as a bookself for clear dialogue in 7 channel stereo. Correct me if I'm wrong here.

Hey CatBrat

Do you mean that you've hooked a pair of speakers to one channel, IE: in series or parallel? Not sure what issues that would cause. At worse it may cause an overload, or not! Again not really up on this stuff. As I said earlier, ohm ratings are beyond me

I would still consider a sub, even with 80's all around. Even the 80's can't create the low LFE as intended in movies.

I'll agree with the good advice already given here. M80s or M60s would both work well as fronts esp if your not using a sub, and will both integrate well with the VP180 for which it was targeted for. Having said that, you should consider another possibility....you could use your M22's as fronts combined with the VP180 and a sub to cover the lower end. The M22s are still in the same "family" as the towers and SHOULD work well with the VP180 since many users have found the M22s(and sub) to be sonically close to the M80s. That combo could save you some $$, otherwise I'd go M60/80, VP180 and Q's as surrounds/rears, or M2's as rears if you have room behind the listening position so they can disperse properly.

You have pre-outs which is a bonus if you need to add an amp, but try your receiver out first, you may not require it and as Chris mentioned, leave the AVR on the 8 ohm setting.

I would think that running two 8 ohm speakers in parallel, would be a 4 ohm load. If that is true, then I've been running the equivalent of M80's on the smallest Pioneer Elite without a problem.

Thanks all for your input.

To answer the sub issue, I haven't used one in years and while the LFE is nice but I find I don't miss it...probably my neighbours too!

And the M22's are great speakers but the wife doesn't want stands so the M60 or M80's are my only option...besides it was her idea, please don't take away my bonus here! .

If I need a better amp then so be it, it's all good!

Sent you a PM

I power my M80's, VP150, and QS8's with a Pio Elite VSX-84TXSi
set at 8 ohms and it works fine.

I would certainly suggest trying the Pioneer on it's own and then add the amp should you feel it/you needs it.