Really depends on your needs. The FireworX does a lot off great non-standard effects but the reverb is weak. The TC M3000 is great box for reverb and bread and butter effects. The SPC-2000 is an update to a real classic group of presets that have been used on many recordings. For me, it would be either the M3000 or the SPX-2000 but I have not got to hear the SPX-2000 so I am only guessing on it's sound.

Frankly, I always thought the SPX were for people doing Live Reinforcement... Never had the 2000 in my hands, hated the 1000.
Now, I have the Fireworks and I have the M3000.
The Fireworks is absolutely fantastic if you do Sound Design. I see myself using it a lot on a group as an insert, rather than on an effect send. It inspires me when I'm looking for new textures or weird sounds... That is if you want something drastic. Run something through switch from one program to the next one and just listen! For music, the choruses, flangers,... are great. Long tc electronic tradition. I use it a lot for music especially on loops, with rythmic delays and stuff like that. Not especially easy to edit, there are many blocks in each programs and a lot of parameters. The navigation using rotating and push buttons is not the easyest. Once you know how to use it, it gives you a lot of control... I agree with AudioGaff that reverbs are weak. It is definately not to box to use if you're looking for something realistic or long lush sounding halls with no looping.
The M3000 on the other hand is exceptional in terms of realism. There are 400+ programs to choose from. There is a basic level for parameter adjustment, then you can dig a much deeper in the expert mode.

I bought a PCMCIA card with more programs for Post Production. A cheap investment that turns it into a even better workhorse. It has small to XL rooms and car interiors that are very convincing. I use it everyday.
The best thing is that the unit has two engines. In split mode, you have two reverbs! It has also a few algorythms that you can use on Dolby Surround mixes. The output is the LtRt encoded. If you dematrix it you have a LCRS signal. Great if you do movies...
Forget about the Yamaha...

Frankly, I always thought the SPX were for people doing Live Reinforcement... Never had the 2000 in my hands, hated the 1000.
Now, I have the Fireworks and I have the M3000.
The Fireworks is absolutely fantastic if you do Sound Design. I see myself using it a lot on a group as an insert, rather than on an effect send. It inspires me when I'm looking for new textures or weird sounds... That is if you want something drastic. Run something through switch from one program to the next one and just listen! For music, the choruses, flangers,... are great. Long tc electronic tradition. I use it a lot for music especially on loops, with rythmic delays and stuff like that. Not especially easy to edit, there are many blocks in each programs and a lot of parameters. The navigation using rotating and push buttons is not the easyest. Once you know how to use it, it gives you a lot of control... I agree with AudioGaff that reverbs are weak. It is definately not to box to use if you're looking for something realistic or long lush sounding halls with no looping.
The M3000 on the other hand is exceptional in terms of realism. There are 400+ programs to choose from. There is a basic level for parameter adjustment, then you can dig a much deeper in the expert mode.

I bought a PCMCIA card with more programs for Post Production. A cheap investment that turns it into a even better workhorse. It has small to XL rooms and car interiors that are very convincing. I use it everyday.
The best thing is that the unit has two engines. In split mode, you have two reverbs! It has also a few algorythms that you can use on Dolby Surround mixes. The output is the LtRt encoded. If you dematrix it you have a LCRS signal. Great if you do movies...
Forget about the Yamaha...

hmm...

spx 2000 rev-x verbs sound great to me, I use a tweeked wood room alot. And the classic's are usefull too and now sound waaaayyy better than before.

Plus the software for tweeking and saving presets is way cool.

my $0.02

next time
jfg