The plans in the near future are to upgrade to a better set of fronts after the reciever is upgraded with a possible amp.
I mainly use the setup for movies, but occasionally like to sit down to a good musical performace. Any suggestions as to whether either of these two are for me or if I should step back a notch and get a fresco?
Here is my opinion for what its worth! I listened to both the "Matinee" and the "Motif" and there is a quality difference in them. You said you will be upgrading and as the center is extremely important in a multi-channel system why would you go backwards and grab a Fresco or a Vignette? Your vocals and main music come out of your center channel, How many times have you been at someones home or even in your home with older 5.1 systems and struggled to hear the words in a movie or music. I have been there and it sucks. Never, never cheap out on a center channel, it is the main part of any 5.1 system speaker wise. You can have Summits in the front and Vistas as your rears but unless your center is good your 5.1 system will "SUCK"!
I dont know how you will be using the center channel, will it be mounted or on a shelf? Whats nice about the Motif over Matinee is the Motif comes with a stand the speaker sits on. It is platsic but is adjustable, so you can change the pitch of the speaker up and down. This is a very nice touch and helps if your putting below the screen as you can raise the front angle and point it up at you. You could basically put it on the floor and still have it pointed up to you and its also incldes wall mounts. The set back to wall mounting a Motif Or Matinee is no adjustemnt in angle like the way higher priced "Stage" ! The Stages bracket that you see in the website at ML is the exact bracket for both wall mounting and table sitting.
Talk to people hear on the site, I and other have the Motif in a Ht(aka 5.1 or 7.1) set up and love it. There is a quality difference that more than justicifies the extra $300. Its a no brainer if your deciding between the Matinee or Motif since there is only a $300 difference in price. Jump on the Motif at $1695 new or lower used and youll never be sorry. The Motif works well with Vista's, Vantage's, Sources, Purity's and if your going to be changing you fronts and on limited budget my guess is you'll be grabbing on of those I named.
Why get Motif?
1) Blends well with Vistas, Vantagess, Sources, Purity.
2) True ESL Panel (unlike Fresco or Vigs)
3) Dual 5.25 woofers ( Touch more natural sound in action movies over 4.0")
3) Adjustable stand!
4) Can choose color besides black (available in dark cherry)
5) Wider coverage area with panel.
6) Part of the ESL series( Not entry design series)
7) Wider coverage area
8) Sweet vocals on movies and Music
9) With the Motif you wont have to change the Center as you keep updating your fronts!
I love my Motif, I use it for Movies!
1)action Movies
2)Comedy Movies
3) dramas
4) Horror
5)Sci-fi
6) Muiscals ( Delovely- beyoung the sea and others)
I can hear ever word said and dont ask anyone what that person said!
I use it for Muisc
1> SACD in Multi-channel
2> Dvd-Audio Multi-channel
3> Dvd Concerts Multi Channel
Motif appears to be all music type friendly. It does well with Male Vocal as well as Femal vocals. Works well with Heavy Meta, Rock, New Age, Progressive Rock, Techno, Classical, Opera, Jazz, Blues, Country, etc.
Plus everyone seems to be looking for a used one and its one center you never can find used, everyone that has one loves it for its performace and Price. You buy it and you can resale it anyday you desire. I want a STAGE but at this point cant Justify the $1300 extra!
Hope this helps, if you lived in Northern Arkansas or Southern Missouri I would say come on over and listen to mine. Anyone in my area is more than welcome to drop me a line and i'll be glad to let them hear my system if it helps them decide whats right for them!
Best of Luck and let me know what you decide to get.
Sincerely, Mike
PS> My Vote is Motif!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
