VM selection for a 5.1/7.1 setup

suliman

I'm working on my new HT setup using the VM series...

Center: VM20
Front Left: VM20
Front Right: VM20
Surrounds: VM10
Sub: DSW Micropro 3000 most likely

Now my question comes into reality for music. How will the VM20s handle standard music listening, compared to using VM30's. Or, do I swap the two fronts for VM30's instead of the VM20's?

What do you all think?

IRLRaceFan

I have yet to hear the VM30's, but I do have a set of VM20's with the matching stands. I think the 20's are great surrounds, especially with my configuration and room size. But...when I've listened to music with just these, I was less than impressed.

MarkG62

I think you most definitely would want the VM30s. But, to be honest I like the VM series much more for movies than music. I have 2 VM30, 1 VM20, and a BIC F12. I also have 4 VM10s I'm currently kicking around installing (deciding whether to go 5x1 or 7x1).

I have a very good AVR, Denon 4310CI, and I get plenty of bass with my BIC F12. But, I'm not that impressed with the music -- which is good as I don't listen to much music on them. If I had it to do over, I'd go with the Polk RTI A9 as my main floor standing speakers and go from there. I listened to them and liked them A LOT! Then, I compromised with the wife because the RTI A9s were taller and didn't fit as good into the room's aesthetics. That's an argument I win now because even she questions the music sound and wishes we went with RTI A9s. But, for movies, I have no complaint, although I know I wouldn't have had any with the RTI A9 movie performance either.

My 2-cents.

MarkG62

I'm not a audiophile by far, but I remember back when I was first even considering the VM series, reading where folks got three VM30 instead of two VM30 floor standing and a VM20 for the center channel. There was some logic behind the decision to forgo the VM20 in favor of the additional VM30, but someone smarter than me would have to explain it.

Joe08867

I prefer the VM30 for 2ch over the VM20's. They just don't seem to have the same ability to reproduce full stereo like the vm30.

The sub will help but I wouldn't personally expect a lot out of them.

suliman

Thanks for the responses so far. The system will be powered by a Yamaha RX-A2000 HT Receiver.

So with some of the info above, I'd probably be better off using a left and right pair of something "beefier", like those RTi A9 (yeah, they do sound great, I like them) and then just fill out the rest of the surround speakers with the VMs. I like my music and still want something that will sound pretty good, but of course will still need the movie setup as well.

Anyone else running a similar setup using the non-matched left and right for use in the HT config?

lumpy

I have the vm30's as the mains (with vm20 center, vm10 surrounds, and sub) in my living room set up, with a yamaha receiver and this is great for movies, tv, and cd/radio listening for the family. My family and I are very happy with this system.

I find that the combination of the yamaha and the vm series is a bit on the bright side for just music (SACD, PCM) however, especially in a surround listening mode. I solved this by using a warmer seperate amp for the vm30 mains and listening to music in stereo mode plus the sub. The 30's sound much better by themselves for music without the other tweeters from the center and the surrounds.

MarkG62

I'll have to try without the VM20. I'm getting my four VM10s installed tomorrow, so I'll definitely play some with the setup. I think I'm more excited about getting a Harmony remote setup than even the speakers. I have five remotes I mess with from time to time and it's just a mess. :-/

suliman

I'm still on the fence with my left and right choices...

Center: VM20
Front Left: ??
Front Right: ??
Surrounds: VM10
Sub: DSW Micropro 3000 most likely

I'm still wondering if a nice pair of RTi's or something else other than a pair of VM30's for the left and right would sound ok for the movie surround setup so I can still have a decent 2-chan stereo setup for music... anyone else playing with the setups like this?

B Run

If you go with Rti's i'd recommend getting the Csi center instead, you want your front 3 to be timbre matched, they're sound a lot different than the VM20 center.

suliman

Still fence sitting with my HT/music setup. AHHHHH!!!

Right now it's really a battle between HT and 2.1 Chan audio
vs.
Ascetics
vs.
Wife Factor

It's the front sound stage selection right now killing me. The rears are easy, I have almost zero choice but to use VM10's. If I swing for the RTi9's/12's, then wisdom follows to get a matching center there, like a CSi6.

There's only two solid walls in the pretty big room.. the wall the TV will be on, wall to the right with all windows and a fireplace, wall on the left is open, and the wall to the rear has a large opening and the rest are open stairs... (hehe, audio imaging nightmare). With all the open space, I know I'll need some beef to fill the sound.

My question for those of you who were not thrilled with the 2-chan music from the VM30, did you have a sub on or off with them?

Also, is Polk discontinuing the VM's? Less and less places seem to carry them anymore.

suliman

Hmmmm, maybe I should just got with a new set of Blackstones, add a sub, and still get a pair of RTi12's, wife be damned!

Topper

Anyone have experience with both the VM and Blackstone TL3? How do they compare?

Joe08867

The TL3 will crush the VM series. The TL's are quite good speakers with a very small footprint.

I have been looking into those myself for my HT setup.