Currently at 2.0. What next?
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 233
local
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OP
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Joined: Jul 2010
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I have a grand total of two speakers, a pair of M80s. I am indescribably happy with the way they sound and how they have brought me back in touch with my music collection. But, of course, I am planning to upgrade to 5.1 eventually. I am thinking of doing it in steps for budget reasons. My first instinct for the next step is to go to 4.0 with a pair of QS8 surrounds. My neighbour, a movie nut with his own rather expensive dedicated home theater, disagrees and says I should get the best center money can buy. I think my M80s produce a pretty darn good phantom center. An "audiophile" co-worker says I should get a subwoofer next. He has PSB Imagine T's and two REL subwoofers (I forget the model). I think my M80s produce superb bass down to at least 30 Hz, so I am not sure that a subwoofer will give me much extra for the money. Looking forward to plenty of awesome and conflicting advice from everyone here too.
Axiom M80s + QS8s + VP180 <-- Pioneer VSX-1120-K <-- Squeezebox Touch / XBox360 / Oppo BDP-93
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Re: Currently at 2.0. What next?
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,466
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,466 |
I'd say go with your instincts. The addition that will add the largest change to your current experience, will be some surround speakers.
If you, singularly, are the primary listener, then a phantom center will serve you well. So I'd go with a sub after the surrounds, and take the center as your final upgrade step. (Unless you want to go to 7.1, then I'd add the rears after the center.)
Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011 Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8 Sony PS4, surround backs -Chris
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Re: Currently at 2.0. What next?
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654 |
Henry, in my view your "first instinct" is absolutely right. Go with the QS8s for a 4.0 setup as the next step. Although a sub would be desirable, the M80s have good enough bass so that it isn't a crucial matter at this point. As you've learned, although a separate center speaker has certain advantages, a "phantom" center can be quite satisfactory, and doesn't need an immediate change.
On the other hand, there's no substitute for surround speakers and without them you don't really have a home theater. Both 2-channel(using a mode such as DPLII)and 5-channel source material benefit greatly from the surrounds and make the listening experience more enjoyable.
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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: Currently at 2.0. What next?
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,569
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,569 |
Go with the QS8s first. They will make the most difference from what you have now.
3M80 2M22 6QS8 2M2 1EP500 Sony BDP-S590 Panny-7000 Onkyo-3007 Carada-134 Xbox Buttkicker AS-EQ1
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Re: Currently at 2.0. What next?
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044 |
I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
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Re: Currently at 2.0. What next?
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654 |
Okay, Henry; so there you have it: a very diverse selection of opinions. Although it'll be tough, it's now up to you to sort them out.
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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: Currently at 2.0. What next?
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 282
local
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local
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 282 |
Center>Subwoofer>surround.
Nad C356 DAC & C515 Axiom M3v3 Grant Fidelity RPF-120 MKII Analysis Plus Black Oval 12&10 JRiver 19
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Re: Currently at 2.0. What next?
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,270
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,270 |
QS8s, then center, then subwoofer.
Your co-worker says "subwoofer" first because the PSB Imagine Ts don't have as extended bass output as the M80s.
Cheers, Alan
Alan Lofft, Axiom Resident Expert (Retired)
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Re: Currently at 2.0. What next?
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 37
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 37 |
I echo the recommendation of Alan: Qs8s, then center, then sub. I'll warn you, you'll want to travel that route really fast, perhaps all the way to 7.1 if your receiver accommodates the config.
In my case, I am re-deiscovering the sweetness of 2-channel sound since I switched to Axiom speakers, although I also have the 7.1 setup.
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Re: Currently at 2.0. What next?
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,786
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,786 |
If you are happy with the phantom center, take that off the list.
If you watch mostly action movies and love rumble, go for a good sub.
Personally I would go with the QS8 as it adds something none of the other speakers can. The first time people walked overhead during a scene was soooo cool!
Fred
------- Blujays1: Spending Fred's money one bottle at a time, no two... Oh crap!
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