So I finally installed a 5-pack of Webern speakers that I had purchased when the gray aluminum series were being discontinued at Magnolia. They are replacing a 7.1 all Axiom system as well as an additional two M22ti's for my 2-channel listening. Ironically, I like going back to a 5.1 setup since it simplifies movie sound selections, allows me to configure a second zone with the 2 extra rear channels and clears out a lot of space.

I also found that I like the sound better, particularly with SACD (and I am only just starting to listen to the new setup, so there will be more thorough testing later). I know these speakers are a notch higher, and quite frankly the Axioms are no slouches, but I also think that the speaker configuration has a lot to do with it. For example, unlike with the Axioms, all the speakers are identical, so all 5 channels produce what the recording engineers intended for each of the 5 speakers around me. Also, being on-wall speakers, they allowed me to have them further from the listening position. With the Axioms, the fronts were too close and the rears (QS4's) sounded too far away. Finally, will be using the HT bypass on the preamp, rather than a separate pre & amp with an extra two speakers, because I think the Viennas are up to the task.

I also turned the room around 90 degrees so that we are now watching TV along the long wall. This allows me to have more than two people watching (SoCal houses have small rooms, folks). As expected, this also widened the sound stage considerably for those scenes with lots of atmosphere. For example, when Treebeard screams after seeing the horrors of Saruman's minions in LOTR-TT, the sound really does go all around the room evenly rather than fading too far behind before weakly returning to the fronts, as it did with the Axioms.

Anyhow, those are my first impressions on the sound. Next I'll be working on:

- Selecting a flat screen TV (I'm still using a gingantic 42" CRT that juts out way too far into the middle of the floor, I'm considering that 46" Westinghouse monitor).
- Hiding the speaker cables (this will not be elegant since I have to go overhead)
- Replacing the SVS water cooler with a small box sub
- Trying out different amps (I'm currently using an Outlaw 7-channel, but I think I'm going to go 2 & 3 channels, possibly Anthem, since I really don't need 7)